I try to keep music theory fun and interesting for my students. I never want them bored in orchestra so when I need to explain something more dense, like music theory, I try to stick to the below tricks. Recently one of my 8th grade students received a Music Theory Certificate of Achievement at her music camp! 1. STUDENT FOUR MEASURE COMPOSITIONS I keep it short to keep their interest and restrict what they can and cannot use. For example, only quarter notes and eighth notes and only use D, E, F#. I always have them work in pairs. They show me their piece, then they practice it together while others finish. I ask for volunteers to perform their composition and they love announcing the title and saying their names as the composer. They get a sticker if they can play their whole composition together and with the metronome. 2. CHANGE A METHOD BOOK LINE I take an easy line or one that we have been working on in class frequently and use it to teach a new theory concept. For example, if the line is in natural minor, we discuss what harmonic minor is, and then play the line in harmonic minor. I alternate between harmonic and natural to drill in the difference and then we will either increase the tempo or change between natural and harmonic half way through, etc. 3. ENTHUSIASTIC REPETITION I show enthusiasm a lot when we "stumble" upon something we have been talking about in our repertoire. I try to make it sound fun and exciting so they will too. For example, if I want them to identify arpeggios, I'll stop rehearsal, get really excited, call a measure, demonstrate the arpeggio on my violin or viola, and ask who knows what that is called. And then I ask what the scale degrees are. I repeat this same overly enthusiastic cycle until they have clearly gotten it. They think it's fun and they remember the concept.
