Ice Cream Interval game

Being able to read notes on the staff intervallically is crucial for sight-reading.  I like to tell my students that reading music is at least 80% interval reading, and only 20% note identification.  To help my students learn to identify intervals quickly upon sight, I created the Ice Cream Interval game.

When you purchase the Ice Cream Interval Game pdf from the Shop, you will receive a pdf with 60 different ice cream scoops, the ice cream cones printed “Unison” through “Octave,” and 4 blank ice cream cones.  The pdf also includes instructions for two different games to play.

The first game is simply to identify the interval on each ice cream scoop by placing it on the correct cone.  This game can be played with one player during a private lesson or in the waiting room area, or it can be played non-competitively with a group of students.  The students can either take turns identifying intervals, or they can simultaneously sort the intervals until the cards are gone. Watch a video of this activity during a piano lesson here.

The second game is a competitive game for a group of students.  Each student receives a blank ice cream cone.  On their turn, they must draw a scoop card and identify the interval.  If the student answers correctly (the other students may check his/her answer), they may add the scoop to their cone.  If s/he answer incorrectly, the scoop goes to the bottom of the pile and the student loses their turn.  At the end of the game (after an allotted amount of time or when the scoop pile is gone), the player with the most scoops on their cone is the winner.

If your student has learned only the smaller intervals, you can sort out the appropriate cards in advance.

You can download a freebie sample of the Ice Cream Intervals game on the Printables > Games page, by scrolling down to the I’s for Ice Cream Intervals game.  It’s perfect for preschoolers or other young beginners, because the scoops are limited to 2nds and 3rds on the keyboard.

Ice Cream Intervals sample

  Ice Cream Interval game - SAMPLE (2.9 MiB, 20,058 hits)

You can purchase and download the full edition of Ice Cream Interval game by clicking the Purchase button below.  I recommending printing the PDF onto sturdy cardstock paper (lamination optional).  Cutting out all the ice cream scoops will take some time, so I recommend watching in a good movie while you cut.  🙂  Enjoy!

Price: $8.00


Ice Cream Intervals – Extension Pack

20141014_140034 NIKON web

New!  Introducing the Extension Pack, which nearly doubles the amount of ice cream scoops by providing 48 harmonic (blocked) intervals to add the original melodic (broken) intervals.  The intervals in the Extension Pack range from “2nd” to “octave.”  Please note that no cones are provided in the Extension Pack, so you won’t want to purchase it unless you also have the original Ice Cream Intervals game.

Price: $4.00

Level:Beginner through intermediate (intervals unison through octave)
Pages:10 pages — Ice Cream Interval Game
6 pages — Extension Pack
Format:PDF (email delivery)
Terms of Use:Studio License

STUDIO LICENSE
Permission is granted for the purchasing teacher to make unlimited printouts and use the digital files for the purpose of teaching their own students. Sharing printouts or the digital files beyond that purpose is not permitted. The purchaser is not permitted to resell the item(s), or alter, modify, or create derivative works.

The Ice Cream Intervals game has been purchased by over 1000 teachers! Check out what a few of them have to say below.


“I have really enjoyed the ice cream intervals game. My students love it, and it’s such a great way to reinforce intervals without it feeling like a chore.” –Lisa B.

“I’ve purchased many of your resources and especially enjoy the Ice Cream Intervals and composer lapbooks!” –Susan

“My very first printable was your Ice Cream Intervals and it’s still a studio favourite! Thank you for all you so generously share with the global “colourful piano” teaching community.” –Rose P.

“I love all tools you created those years especially Ice Cream Interval game …I used at my summer camp and theory classes several times. Please continue to enjoy being mom, teaching and sharing amazing ideas. Wish you all the best!” –Sachiko J.

“I think I’ve been reading your blog from the beginning! I love all the perspectives you offer on the blog and all the resources you’ve created. Some of my favorites are the Ice Cream Intervals game and the music history timelines. I look forward to following you for many years.” –Lynnette B.

“I’ve been following your blog since college and have always enjoyed it. One of my favorite resources of yours that I love using are the ice cream interval cards. Kids love them and we always talk about favorite flavors of ice cream. It’s such a great visual to work on intervals!” –Emily

” I have loved using so many of your ideas and sharing them in my teaching. The ice cream intervals are so colorful and fun.” –Saundra

“One of my favorite resources is the Ice Cream Intervals-I once held a studio wide challenge to sort all the intervals they were familiar with to continue to beat their own time to earn a certificate for ice cream. :)”. –Melinda