September Music Lesson Resource

Not Simon Says- just Simon.

Anyone remember the classic Simon game? Growing up, I had the round plastic memory game toy that created a lit up and noisy sequence for you to copy, adding one new button at a time. Did I know who Simon was? Nope. Did I care? A little. Did I still play that thing for maybe an hour straight, constantly trying to beat my personal record? You better believe it.

I’ve transitioned this 70s, 80s, 90s electronic game into a fun music game my students are so motivated by. The best part, no cutting, no laminating, no prep period! Just some easy instructions.

I first introduce this game with instruments, having my students pick any three instruments from the music cabinet they’d like. Literally any. We’ve used steel drums, cabasas, xylophones, etc. We line them up, and I start by hitting one instrument. My student repeats. I hit that same instrument, then add another one. My student repeats. I hit those same two, then another (could be the third instrument, could be one of the first two- make your own pattern!). This goes on and on, adding one beat to the sequence at a time until your student (or you!) loses track.

Want to up the challenge? Take this to the piano. Start by hitting one note. Your student repeats in the octave above. Hit that same note, then another. Your student repeats. Adding one note at a time, you are creating a melody for your student to repeat. This is a great way to work on recognizing intervals, ear training, or memorization in general! 

Want to up the challenge even more? Follow the same steps listed above, but slowly create the melody of one of their songs and see how many notes in the sequence it takes them to recognize it. “Simon” meets “Name that Tune!”

The intense focus I see in my kiddos during this game is unmatched. I am also deeply humbled when we switch roles, and I am the one who has to repeat and remember the sequence. Oh how they love when I get stumped (often)! 

And there you have it. A quick, easy, no printing/laminating/prepping required game your students are sure to love!

-Mikaila Vieyra, LPMT, MT-BC

Image ID: A 1978 Simon Game- it is a black circular toy with four lit up buttons colored green, red, blue, and yellow