Estimated reading time 2 minutes
Table of Contents
Why Use Color Coded Hand Icons for Music Learning?
Does your student have a problem telling the right hand from the left? Many special needs students have problems with left hand/right confusion. On piano this can be a real issue. Read more to learn about color coded hand icons for music learning.
This article uses musical terms. For definitions, see the Glossary at the end of the post.
Hand Icons
Hand Icons used in this post (churien.deviantart.com/art/hand-template-blank-272630198) by Churien is licensed under CC BY (creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0). Modified by Geoffrey Keith.
Many students do not know their left hand from their right hand. Have the student make an L with the left hand. (The right hand just makes a corner.) This mnemonic helps many students remember the left hand, which then allows them to tell the hands apart.
Simple, uncolored hand icons placed next to the clefs may be enough for some students. However, other students benefit from color coded hand icons for music learning.
Color Coded Hand Icons for Musical Scores
Mobile users: for best results reading the music, tilt your screen 90o to the right.
This example shows the placement of the color coded hand icons in the musical score next to the clefs. The green hand icon goes next to the color coded G clef. The pink hand icon goes next to the color coded F clef.
Each hand icon has the finger numbers written in to help the student with fingering. However, some students will need to have their fingers color coded to correctly finger the music.
In piano music, RH stands for right hand and LH for left hand. Add RH and LH to the hand icons to reinforce the meaning of these terms.
Color Coding the Player’s Hands to Match the Color Coded Hand Icons in the Musical Score
Color code the player’s hands so they match the color coded hand icons next to the musical clefs. The pink and green wrist bands help with left and right hand confusion. The right hand has a green band and the left hand has a pink band. I bought girl’s colored hairbands at CVS and repurposed them as multisensory tools.
Conclusion
Using color coded hand icons for music learning is particularly important for special needs piano students. Some students will also need their fingers and hands color coded as well.
Look for where the students get confused and teach to their needs. The next color coding post discusses color coding the clefs. Until next time.
© 2020 Geoffrey Keith
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Glossary
How to Overcome the Fear of Performing in Front of an Audience
Do you feel terrified about playing for people? Do you want to know how to overcome the fear of performing in front of an audience? We know from psychology that our fears can be blown out of proportion through self-talk. However, a simple mental exercise can short circuit self-talk. Read more to find out how to defeat self-defeatism. Estimated reading time 2 minutes.
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The Gifted Dyslexic and Insight Learning (Part 4)
Have you ever wondered if you’re gifted and dyslexic? Or are you a parent of a child who’s gifted and dyslexic and want more information. Sometimes it can be difficult to recognize giftedness. Ronald Davis states, “This would commonly be recognized as daydreaming or simply not paying attention. The student is actually paying attention but has shifted to an imaginary world that is more interesting” (“The Gift of Learning” 38). How is this a sign of giftedness? Keep reading “The Gifted Dyslexic and Insight Learning” to learn about the last of our four dyslexic strengths. Estimated reading time 3 minutes.
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What Exactly Is a Ballad and How Do You Write One?
“What exactly is a ballad and how do you write one?” Ballads have been around for a long time but remain a popular song form to this day. Keep reading to get the definition and some expert advice for writing your song. Estimated reading time 2 minutes.
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What Exactly Do I Do with the Circle of Fifths?
“What exactly do I do with the circle of fifths?” The circle of fifths chart organizes musical keys and modes. Also, it helps you understand the relationships in music, making various tasks easier. Keep reading to learn more. Estimated reading time 3 minutes.
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