Music Learning Resources
Welcome students, parents, and teachers to our treasure trove of music learning resources! We hope they’ll add a lot to the music learning in your home, classroom, or studio. Many of our resources are free and may be downloaded by anyone with a Hoffman Academy Basic or Premium account; just be sure to log in first. Please remember that Premium resources should only be used by students with a Premium membership. Check out this blog post for more details on how to organize and use the resources: Make the Most of Music Learning Resources. We will be adding more all the time, so come back often to see what’s new!
CATEGORIES: Fun | Motivation | Repertoire | Theory | Technique | Seasonal
Featured Resource
FEATURED
Spring Time Egg Hunt
March 19, 2018
This multi-level spring-themed game will make young students hoppy to review music theory and sight reading!
In addition, please download and prepare your appropriate level of each resource linked below. All resources are best printed on card stock, in color where applicable.
Pentascale Dice
Unit 1-2
Unit 3-5
Unit 6 (Major)
Unit 6 (Minor)
Note Flashcards
Unit 1
Unit 2-3
Unit 4+
Heartbeat rhythm cards
Download Rhythm Flash cards Unit 1 & 2
Download Rhythm Flash cards Unit 3
Download Rhythm Flash cards Unit 4
Download Rhythm Flash cards Unit 5
Download Rhythm Flash cards Unit 6
FUN
Music Money
February 13, 2018
Music money is a fun, printable tool that can be used at parental discretion for motivational campaigns. While we don’t recommend using a tool like this all the time, we like to use it for 6-week periods to increase excitement and knowledge around a certain topic that would benefit from extra focus, such as increased practice time or sight reading.
FUN
Musical Term Review Dice
November 20, 2017
Level: 1 or 2+
Fun dice game for reviewing the musical terms we’ve learned in units 1 and 2.
Download Musical Term Review Dice: Unit 1 
Download Musical Term Review Dice: Unit 2
FUN
Velcro Piano Puzzle
November 13, 2017
All Levels
A fun puzzle to review the black and white keys, letter names, and sharps and flats on the piano. For detailed instructions and ideas on using this resource, click here.
Need: 3/4″ velcro sticky-back dots such as these
FUN
Dynamics Dice
November 13, 2017
Level: Unit 7+
Fun dice to play games and explore dynamics at the piano.
Dice are a fun way to keep home practice fresh. Keep the dice relevant to your level near the piano. Before playing a piece, roll one die and try playing the piece using that musical concept.
Check out this blog post for suggestions for using these dynamic dice in your home practice.
FUN
Music Bingo
November 2, 2017
Level: Unit 2+
Play Music Bingo as a fun way to learn the symbols of written music. Instructions on PDF.
FUN
Instrument FlashCards and Word Search
November 2, 2017
Level: Must be able to read.
Double-sided flashcards for identifying and naming the most commonly instruments used in Western music. Search the puzzle to find the names of many of the most common instruments in Western music. Print double-sided on cardstock. Game suggustion on PDF.
FUN
Paper Finger Puppets
October 12, 2017
There are countless ways to use finger puppets to lightheartedly engage and motivate young students. Print, cut, and size your own paper version with this super fun template! Download Scuba and Princess for free; Premium edition includes that popular pair plus Mr. Hoffman and many more! What do Scuba and Princess think of their new look? Paper Puppets Video
Download Free Paper Finger Puppets
Download Premium Paper Finger Puppets
FUN
Origami Piano
October 12, 2017
Create your very own paper piano with this fun and easy Origami project. Click here to watch a demo: Origami Piano
FUN
Unit 1 Review Dice
October 12, 2017
Level: Unit 1+
Ready for some review? Toss this origami dice to turn it into a game! Dice sides include each of the major repertoire pieces in Unit 1, plus one that suggests, “You Pick!”
MOTIVATION
Piano Party Packet
March 5, 2018
Whenever a student completes a unit, one fun way to celebrate his/her progress is to host a piano party. This packet contains everything you need to plan and host one.
1) Piano party planner
2) Piano party games
3) Piano party invitations
4) Piano party thank you cards
MOTIVATION
Pentascale Punchcards
January 25, 2018
Punchcards for tracking completion of all 12 major and minor pentascales.
• Punchcard 1: Units 1-4
• Punchcard 2: Units 5-6
MOTIVATION
How to Practice When You’re on Vacation
November 21, 2017
All Levels
Don’t want to lose your chops during busy vacation season? Here are some tips for keeping up your skills when you don’t have access to a piano.
MOTIVATION
Parent Guide
October 12, 2017
A good piano learning experience depends on teacher, parent, and student working together. This book will guide and motivate you to make piano lessons a great experience for your child.
THEORY
Note Flashcards
May 14, 2018
Flashcards for reviewing notes on the keyboard and staff. Pages should be printed front-to-back; use cardstock for best results.
Download Note Flashcards (Level 1)
THEORY
Interval Race
January 25, 2018
Level: Units 4+
A worksheet or game for two players to practice quickly identifying intervals in music.
THEORY
Note Finder
December 20, 2017
Level: Units 2+
Fill in the circles with the correct answers to keep your note reading sharp.
Download Note Finder – Easy
Download Note Finder – Medium
Download Note Finder – Difficult
THEORY
Pentascale Matching Game
December 18, 2017
This matching game is a great way to review the notes in all 24 major and minor pentascales.
Download Level 1-2 (Sharks)
Download Level 3-5 (Car)
Download Level 6 (Ice Cream Sundae)
THEORY
Pineapple Matching Game
November 20, 2017
Level: Units 2-4
A fun matching puzzle for reviewing the note names and locations on the staff and on the keyboard. We have included optional color or black-and-white graphics for your printing preference.
Instructions
Print the puzzle on cardstock and/or laminate for best results. Cut out the shapes, mix them up, and arrange face-up on the floor. Assemble all the shapes to match letter name, staff, and keyboard position for each note.
Download Pineapple Matching Game (in Black and White)
Download Pineapple Matching Game (in Color)
THEORY
Dynamics Flashcards and Reference Sheet
November 20, 2017
Level: Units 7+
Use these flashcards to for learning the names and meanings of dynamics terms. Plus a handy reference sheet with the most common terms and symbols used for dynamics. These terms and symbols let performers know how loud or soft to play.
Instructions
1. Print the resource double-sided on cardstock.
2. Cut out flashcards and practice reviewing the terms.
THEORY
Tempo Memory Matching Game and Reference Sheet
November 14, 2017
Level: Units 7+
A memory matching card game for learning the names and definitions of each tempo marking.
Game Suggestion
Print all cards on cardstock and cut along the lines.
Shuffle cards and lay out with the word side down.
One or more players takes turns trying to match the correct term card with its definition, turning over two cards at a time to see if they match. Refer to the tempo term reference sheet to check for the correct definition.
THEORY
Alphabet Cards
November 2, 2017
All levels
Printable alphabet cards for games to aid note reading fluency.
THEORY
Tempo Dice
November 2, 2017
Units 7+
Dice are a fun way to keep home practice fresh. Keep the dice near the piano. Before playing a piece, roll one die and try playing the piece using that musical concept.
Read our blog post for some suggestions for exploring tempo using the dice.
THEORY
Heart Beat Mat
October 12, 2017
All levels
Printable heartbeat mat for rhythmic dictation activities. Print on cardstock for best results.
THEORY
Rhythm Cards
October 12, 2017
All levels
Print out these rhythm cards on cardstock for best results. We like to keep them in an accordian file marked with each symbol.
- Use the heartbeat mat with the rhythm cards to dictate songs along with Mr. Hoffman in the lesson videos.
- Use the cards to compose various rhythms with the heartbeat mats. Practice tapping or clapping and saying your composition.
- When playing a difficult passage in your music, try dictating it on the heartbeat mat with your teacher or parent for extra practice.
THEORY
Staff Paper
October 12, 2017
All levels
Use this staff paper (also known as “manuscript paper”) for dictation exercises and for your original compositions. “Extra large” means the staff is large for beginning composers, with fewer staffs per page.
THEORY
Solfège Flashcards and Reference Sheet
October 12, 2017
All levels
Solfège is a great tool for learning music, for sight-reading, and for understanding music theory. Use this handy reference sheet as you sing the solfège syllables and perform the handsigns to the songs you’re working on in your daily music studies. Solfège handsign and syllable flash cards provide extra opportunities for making practice fun! Learn more in our blog post, “What is Solfège?”
THEORY
Tempo Indications Reference Sheet
October 12, 2017
Levels: Unit 7+
This sheet uses fun animal graphics to quickly reference the definitions for the most commonly used tempo terms.
TECHNIQUE
Piano Posture Checklist Sign
March 5, 2018
All levels
A printout that can be folded into a triangle to stand up on the piano as a reminder of the four piano posture checklist items that should be in place at the beginning of every lesson.
TECHNIQUE
Piano Posture Reference Sheet
October 12, 2017
All levels
Playing the piano is so much more than just picking out notes on the keys. Sound, look, and feel your best by following the tips for good piano posture found in this handy chart.
REPERTOIRE
Too Ra Loo Ra Loo Ral Sheet Music + Tips
March 2, 2018
A famous Irish lullaby arranged as a lead sheet in honor of St. Patrick’s Day, with tips for how to play. (Level 2)
REPERTOIRE
Irish Washerwoman Sheet Music
March 2, 2018
A famous Irish tune graded in two different levels in honor of St. Patrick’s Day.
REPERTOIRE
Galway Piper Sheet Music
March 2, 2018
A famous Irish tune graded in three different levels in honor of St. Patrick’s Day.
Download Sheet Music (Prep Level)
REPERTOIRE
What Child is This? Sheet Music
December 14, 2017
Download sheet music for the English folk tune of Greensleeves: the melody commonly used with the Christmas lyrics of “What Child Is This?”, written in 1865 by William Chatterton Dix.
Download Sheet Music (Prep Level/Units 2-5)
REPERTOIRE
Silent Night Sheet Music
December 13, 2017
Download the sheet music for the beautiful German Christmas carol, “Silent Night,” composed in 1818 by Franz Xaver Gruber to lyrics by Joseph Mohr in the small town of Oberndorf bei Salzburg, Austria.
Download Sheet Music (Prep Level/Units 2-5)
REPERTOIRE
Deck the Halls Sheet Music
December 13, 2017
Download the sheet music for this traditional Welsh Christmas and New Year’s carol dating back to the sixteenth century, with an English translation of the lyrics credited to Thomas Oliphant in 1862.
REPERTOIRE
Materials for Lesson 1
October 12, 2017
Free sheet music and audio tracks for Hoffman Academy Piano Lesson 1. To get sheet music, audio tracks, and activity pages for all other lessons, click here and sign up for premium membership.
REPERTOIRE
Svivon Sheet Music
October 12, 2017
Unit 1+
Learn to play a traditional Hannukah song with this free printable sheet music and the “S’vivon” Hoffman Academy Bonus Lesson Video.
REPERTOIRE
In the Hall of the Mountain King Sheet Music
July 14, 2017
Level: Unit 3+
Printable sheet music for the Hoffman Academy Bonus Lesson Video “In the Hall of the Mountain King.”
REPERTOIRE
Jingle Bells Sheet Music
October 12, 2017
Level: Unit 2+
It’s Jingle Bell time! Print the sheet music and learn to play this traditional holiday favorite as featured in the “Jingle Bells” Hoffman Academy Bonus Lesson.
REPERTOIRE
Für Elise
October 12, 2017
Learn to play Für Elise like Mr Hoffman! Premium Members may print sheet music for various levels of difficulty and learn to play this timeless classic as featured in the “Für Elise” Hoffman Academy Bonus Lessons: Preparatory Level, Level 1, or Level 4.
Not a Premium Member? You may purchase this sheet music here.
Watch Mr. Hoffman play Für Elise
Download Preparatory Level Sheet Music
Download Level 1 Sheet Music
Download Level 4 Sheet Music
Download MP3 of Für Elise recorded by Mr. Hoffman
SEASONAL
Summer Fun Piano Passport
May 1, 2018
Summer is right around the corner, and we’re kicking things off with our new Summer Fun Piano Passport! If you’re up for the challenge of having a blast while practicing piano this summer, then this is the passport for you! Set off on a musical adventure and have more fun with the piano than you’d ever imagine.
SEASONAL
St. Patrick’s Day Packet
March 2, 2018
1) Coin Notes (Units 2+)
2) Lucky Alphabet Clovers (Units 1+)
3) Leprechaun Color By Note (Units 2+)
4) Ready to explore some traditional Irish music? We have arranged three famous Irish tunes for piano in various levels, which you can download here.
SEASONAL
Valentines’s Day Packet
February, 7 2018
1) Compose Your Own Valentines Song (Unit 2+)
2) Chocolate Heart Alphabet Chords (Unit 2, Unit 10)
3) Valentines Intervals Candy Hearts (Unit 7)
4) Guide Note Valentine Words (Unit 2)
5) Valentine Steps and Skips (Unit 2)
6) Valentine’s Day Cards (All Levels)
SEASONAL
Christmas Packet
December 1, 2017
1) Christmas Tree Notes and Rest Match (Units 4+)
2) Christmas Math (Units 4+)
3) Guide Note Stockings (Units 5+)
4) Santa and Reindeer Finger Puppet (All levels)
SEASONAL
Thanksgiving Packet
November 1, 2017
Download these fun Thanksgiving printables, all in one packet:
1) Note Geography Coloring Page (Unit 2+)
2) Turkey Color by Note (Unit 3+)
3) Thanksgiving Dinner Worksheet (Unit 3+)
SEASONAL
Halloween Packet
October 12, 2017
Download these fun Halloween printables, all in one packet:
1) Halloween Math (Units 2+)
2) Ghost Intervals (Units 7+)
3) Pirate Pumpkin Notes (Units 2+)
4) Ghost-Themed Paper Finger Puppets (All Levels)