Fifteen Keys – A Key Signature Game
In our state theory test, students in the 6th grade need to know all of the major key signatures.  Minor keys are added in the 7th grade.  Like many teachers, I show them how to use a chart to help with accuracy and possible careless mistakes.
This year I made a board game to give students some guided practice in using a chart and learning key signatures. First we downloaded a blank key signature chart and filled it out.
I encourage you to use a chart with the game, too, unless your students are very experienced in key signatures. One good thing about this game is that by using the chart, even beginning students can play.
I had fun making the cards for this game.  Some of the cards have silly riddles and puns on the word “key.”  I hope your students enjoy the humor. I thought of more riddles after I made the cards, and if you think of any, let me know!
This game is similar to the Nine Keys Game, except that this one has all new cards and the Nine Keys Game only has, well, 9 key signatures, rather than 15!
I’ve played this two ways. The longer version has the tokens moving all over the game board, backwards and forwards, which makes it fun, but takes a little longer to finish.
Ages
- This game is for middle school students, but I’ve successfully played it with younger students.
-  Remove the minor key cards from the deck to play with students who are learning only major keys.
- The game is also good for group lessons or music camps.
- It helps if students have a basic understanding of key signatures, but it is not a requirement if they use the chart.
Objectives
- To learn to quickly identify all the major and/or minor key signatures.
- To learn how to draw and use a key signature chart.
This is great, Susan! I’m going to use it as part of my Piano Improv camp next week. Thanks for sharing your wonderful resources! I’ll be sure to share pictures of my students playing the game 🙂
Looking forward to trying your game with students…thanks for sharing your creativity!
You’re very welcome!
Thank you for this Susan. I will try it out on my students. I love your website.
Yay! Thanks for using the b-card template! Makes it so much easier to print and use on short notice!
Mary,
I’ve really been stressing the Circle of Fifths in my studio so I am excited about these games. I’m wondering if this can be adapted to private lessons? I usually let my younger students play a game the last five minutes of the lesson if the lesson has gone well! (as an incentive!) Thanks for making this available to us!
Cindy, I made this game from private lessons. I suggested it can be used in groups, but I tested it in private lessons.
For order of sharps I like “Father can go driving after eating breakfast.”
For oder of flats: “BEAD geese can fly”
Thanks, Mary. For sharps, I use “Father Charles Goes Down And Ends Battle.” Then students can see the flat keys are in reverse: “Battle Ends And Down Goes Charles Father.” I also use BEAD Greatest Common Factor, and I’ve used the one about Fat Cats.
I am so excited, Susan. Key Signatures, major and minor, is a theory focus in my lesson plans for this year. Even my 3rd graders are proud to know about 5 sharps and seem anxious to challenge themselves to even 6 and 7 sharps and flats. It seems that internet access has exposed these little ones to so much information that they are open to anything and have no concept that something is “too hard” for them. Thank you, Thank you for this challenging game.
Will you be creating a new design for the Studio Calendar? I so enjoyed using the beautiful border last year.
Lavinia, thanks for your comment. And about the calendar, I’ve already made it. I type it all in by hand, but it’s done and when I have time I’ll post it.