Material
- SET A- A series of 13 bells, each a semi-tone higher than the one below, from middle ‘c’ to the ‘c’ of the octave above. They are on black or white bases corresponding to the black and white piano notes.
- SET B – A set of bells identical in sound to set ‘A’ but all on a plain wooden base.
- A wooden board with black and white spaces each the size of the base of the bells and in the order of the keyboard of the piano.
A wooden board with black and white spaces in the order of the keyboard of a piano - A striker and a damper.
Direct aim
To aid perfect pitch. To hear gradations of pitch in the scale.
Indirect aim
To develop the discrimination of sounds which helps the child discriminate between the finer sounds of the letters as an aid to reading.
Control of error
With set ‘A’ out on the board in order, the child compares his arrangement of set’B’ with it.
Age of interest
3½ years and onwards.
Teacher’s presentation
- Place set ‘A’ on the board in the correct order (of the piano keyboard).
- Strike the first bell with the striker hammer then use damper.
- Ask the child to strike a bell in set ‘B’ and see if it is identical.
- Strike the one to be matched each time before striking a new one in set ‘B’.
- When the pairing bell is located put it by its pair by the board.
- Use the damper each time to stop the resonance in time for the next bell.
- The child continues until all are matched, or the teacher may give one or two only for pairing.
Additional game
The child grades the bells in order, from the lowest to the highest.
Language
High, low, soft, loud, etc. Also the names of the notes.