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Evening · Music
Crack the basics of music theory — major scale + chord
Eight notes, then three at once. They play C major on any piano they ever see.
45 min ages 8–13· Screen-free
How to do it
Use a real piano, a keyboard, or a free piano-app on a tablet. Find middle C. Walk up the white keys: C-D-E-F-G-A-B-C. That's a C major scale. They play it. Talk about why those eight notes sound 'right' together — that's centuries of human music. Now: C + E + G played at the same time = C major chord. They play it. Add F + A + C — F major. G + B + D — G major. Three chords, hundreds of songs. Look up easy 3-chord songs together (Twist and Shout, Stand By Me). They play the chords while you sing.
What you'll need
A piano, keyboard, or piano app
Simply Piano or Yousician have free tiers
FreeMusic-theory printable
PrintableOpen