This piano game is designed to help younger students learn the names of the keys. Each time the child answers correctly, he gets another scoop of ice cream. Before long, he’s got a towering jumbo ice cream cone that he’s really proud of. You can print this game for free and to play with your piano students.
Jumbo Ice Cream Cone
Purpose: Review the names of the keys on the keyboard.
Materials: Jumbo Ice Cream Printout.
Preparation: Print the printout on card stock and cut out each piece.
Set Up: Give the child a cone and have him sit facing you. Keep the ice cream scoops with you.
How to Play in a Private Piano Lesson: In this fun game, the student gets to build a super tall jumbo ice cream cone.
Hold up a scoop of ice cream for the child to see. If the child can correctly say the letter name on the first try, he gets to add the ice cream to his cone. If he isn’t able to name it on the first try, help him by pointing out how we can identify that key by looking at the black key groups. Then place that scoop of ice cream back in the pile to come back to later.
Display another ice cream scoop. If the child can correctly name this key on the first try, he gets to add it to his cone, and make his ice cream cone even taller. Continue play with all the cards. When a child cannot correctly answer on the first try, review with him and then place it back in the pile to come back to. The game is over when the child has correctly identified all the keys and built a jumbo ice cream cone.
How to Play in a Group Piano Lesson: In this fun game, kids compete to build the tallest jumbo ice cream cone.
Print multiple copies of the game. Have students sit in a circle and give each student an ice cream cone. Hold up an ice cream scoop and ask the first student to name the key. If they answer correctly, hand the scoop to the student to add to their cone. If they answer incorrectly, place the scoop at the pack of the pile and then quiz the next student with a new scoop.
Go around the circle several times, giving each student multiple opportunities to earn scoops. At the end of the game, the student with the tallest jumbo ice cream cone wins.
Be Creative
You can use this same printable to play a variety of fun games with your piano students, so be creative. We use these ice cream scoops a ton in my group Intro to Piano class, and the students love it.
Print this Jumbo Ice Cream Cone Piano Lesson Game for Free
To print this piano lesson game for free, just click the link or click on the image at the top of the page and the PDF will open in a new tab. I hope you and your students have fun!
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Thanks for the piano games, they will be a great add on to our lessons
I’m excited to use these with my beginner students.
I hope they have fun!
Thank you so much. I am using this game in my June Notecrusher Course :)
You’re welcome. Your class sounds like fun!
I use a giant keyboard on my floor and when I have very young beginners I have them drive a card around on the keys to whatever key I say. They love it! Thanks again
LOVE this idea. How fun! Thanks for sharing!
I have a 5 yr old beginner who loves ice cream and cupcakes…and she has been out for a month due to illness. This will be a great refresher for her.
One of the games that I enjoy with my students is
“Cousins !” It’s a review for students who are music readers without them feeling like I am questioning their “abilities”. I can make the game as big or small as I need to based on the students abilities I have that afternoon.
I scatter on the table or around the studio: one or two sets of piano key cards (like the scoops of ice cream),treble clef note cards, bass clef cards, and a set of musical alphabet letters. My students have to find the “cousins”… everything A, B, C….they are basically sorting cards. It’s fun for beginners and becomes a race for students who have been reading “forever”. When I don’t have much prep time, it’s a lifesaver. I think it would be a good group game ;give each student a letter and let them search around the room for their “Cousins”.
I like the idea of doing this in a class situation. The ones who are less sure of themselves can be helped by the ones who know more in a less threatening way. Thanks Kristin!
What a fun way to review key names after summer break!