Higher or Lower, a Musical Game Show

There are many musical "ear training" programs out there.  They are great for kids and adults who wish to learn or fine tune interval and chord fluency (and much more).  I decided to apply the same concept, game show style, to a quick little activity with my 3, 7, and 8 year olds.  It was simple, silly fun for a morning that was spent in pajamas and avoiding housework.  

Here is what we did:
The Prep

• Each child decorated two signs.  One was labeled "higher" the other "lower".
• The kids were then lined up in a row and blindfolded (sounds ominous, I know).
• The contestants were introduced and the rules explained.

The Game
The contestants listened to a series of intervals (played on a laughably old and outdated keyboard) and raise their "higher" or "lower" signs to describe what they heard.

What they liked the best
Admittedly, this game was too simple for the older 2 and the 3 yr. old didn't quite get it.   They still had a lot of fun.  

• The big game show voice was a hit  (with the kids only, as it made me cringe)
• My kids LOVE being blindfolded.  I'm it sure why, but it made them crazy!
• The game was simple so they got all of the answers right.  A nice ego boost.

Alternative for younger kids or simple settings:


The silliness of the game show may allude your young child, but the simple principle will not.  From a young age, kids can learn to listen and identify sounds.  This aids in musical awareness and development.  You can find a huge selection of animal sounds or various musical instruments on the web.  Simply, find the pictures to correspond and making it into a matching game.


For an easy travel game, quiz your child on higher and lower using whistles or songs.  Or, let them take control (you know they will love that!) and let them test you instead.