Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Keys and Scales are Sets

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Music theory lessons can be very tricky for some people. Children with a basic understanding of musical concepts take on the task of transposing music and identifying scale sets. This would be a good topic to address prior to discussing...
Handout
Fun Music Company

Working Out the Key

For Students 2nd - 12th
"Gimme an E minor!" Or any key for that matter. But how do you figure out the key of a piece of music? Here's a worksheet that shows young musicians three easy steps to help them identify the key of a piece of music.
Worksheet
Curated OER

Missing the Major Scales 2

For Students 6th - 12th
Any musician can tell you, you have to know your scales, key signatures, and notes when reading sheet music. Kids are quizzed on major scales and the notes found with in each scale. They fill in the missing notes and identify each scale.
Handout
Fun Music Company

Transposition

For Students 2nd - 12th
Up a perfect fifth, down an octave. Transposing a piece to suit the range of singers, and instrumentalists, is a key skill musicians must perfect. This worksheet explains how to transpose and gives learners a change to practice.
Organizer
Fun Music Company

Keys and Circle of Fifths

For Students 2nd - 12th
How sharp are your young musicians? Can they perfectly identify the sharps and flats in each key by completing a circle of fifths diagram? There is solid theory behind this exercise.
Worksheet
Fun Music Company

Treasure Island Clues: Scales

For Students 2nd - 12th
Which Beatle received the most fan mail? To answer this music trivia question, young musicians must employ their knowledge of scales, key signatures, and leading notes to find the letters that spell out the name of one of the famous mop...
Organizer
WHB Elementary School Band

Circle of Fifths: Major Keys

For Students 2nd - 12th
How many sharps and flats are their in each of the major keys? Help keep your young musicians sharp with a printable template that models how to identify the signature for the major keys' sharps and flats.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Melodies and Math: Creating Music with Non-Traditional Instruments

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Review the 4/4 and 2/4 time signatures in music with a helpful music theory lesson plan. Young musicians experiment with electronic sounds and create their own musical performance using instruments made from materials found in the...
Handout
Fun Music Company

Relative Major and Minor

For Students 2nd - 12th
It's all relative. Young music theorists are asked to count to three and identify the relative major and minor keys of keys that share the same signature.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Band On Line

For Teachers 6th
In 1996, using the Internet to enhance learning was a new innovation. While the instructional activity here is a bit outdated, it could still provide a basic understanding of how technology can enhance music appreciation. Members of the...
Handout
Fun Music Company

The Harmonic Minor Scale

For Students 2nd - 12th
The harmonic minor scale, including the use of accidentals, is the focus of a one-page worksheet that includes instructional information and practice exercises.
Organizer
Fun Music Company

Writing Major Scales

For Students 2nd - 12th
Designed as an assessment of understanding, this one-page worksheet asks musicians to demonstrate their understanding of scales by drawing C, G, and F Major scales on the provided staffs. 
Website
Other

Dr. Brian Blood: Music Theory and History Online

For Students 9th - 10th
An exhaustive resource with everything concerning music theory. From ear training to music history, this site covers it all.
Interactive
Music Theory

Music theory.net: Key Signature Calculation

For Students 9th - 10th
An explanation of key signature calculation for advanced music students. Discusses the use of sharps and flats in music composition, with illustrated examples. (You may need to download Flash player to view this site.)
Handout
Toby Rush

Music Theory: Key Signatures [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th
A music theory worksheet regarding key signatures. Requires Adobe Reader [PDF].
eBook
Other

Music Fundamentals

For Students 9th - 10th
This is like a music theory textbook online. It includes great explanations and assignments, although there is not a way to check your completed assignments. It begins with the basics and goes through triads. Midi files are included.
Interactive
Music Theory

Music theory.net: Key Trainer

For Students 9th - 10th
A terrific tool for music teachers and students! Test students' knowledge of key signatures with this online quiz. Click "toggle" to check answers along the way, or click "setting" to customize the quiz.
Article
Other

Music Theory First Aid for Struggling Students

For Students 9th - 10th
This site provides music theory information on such topics as rhythm, intervals, scales, chords, etc. Also, there is a fine section which describes the basic concepts of form and structure.
Website
Music Theory

Music theory.net

For Students 9th - 10th
An online beginning music theory and ear training site. This site is for students to use at home to reinforce what they learn in class.
Unit Plan
Other

Tone Savvy: E Music Theory

For Students 9th - 10th
This site provides good online learning games and exercises for music theory. It also has a lot of options for teachers if they choose to subscribe.
Handout
Toby Rush

Music Theory: Circle of Fifths [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th
A music theory worksheet regarding the circle of fifths.
Interactive
Music Theory

Music theory.net: Steps and Accidentals

For Students 9th - 10th
Provides an explanation of half steps, whole steps, flats, and sharps. Illustrated examples accompany these definitions.
Unit Plan
BBC

Bbc: Music Theory

For Students 9th - 10th
This resource presents a fun and interactive way to learn all about the elements of music. It offers links to information, definitions, assessments, and examples of melody, harmony and tonality, structure, tempo, metre and rhythm,...
Unit Plan
Other

Tone Savvy

For Students 9th - 10th
You will find many free games that will help you develop your music theory knowledge. Learn rhythmic dictation, key signatures and intervals as well as several other topics concerning music theory.