Piano Prep Test - are there any games or web sites to improve note recognition?

[maxmillie]

My ds is 7 and has been having piano lessons in term time for a year. He is about to do his prep test. Hi playing seems amazing to us (not musical) and he can read music well enough to play all the required pieces (I can't keep up anymore). He occasionally struggles with the high or low notes though and has to pause to think about which they are.

Are there any good games or websites he could use to test/improve note recognition? I've googles but not seen anything that seem suitable.

I have marked the notes in pencil on the piano (more for me really) - but not sure if that is helping or hindering.

[xing]

we used this flash card:

www.amazon.co.uk/89-Color-Coded-Flash-Cards/dp/0739015575/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1338555414&sr=8-2&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21

[DeWe]

I would be a little wary of writing the notes on the piano, as if he comes to rely on that, obviously he won't have that in the exam.

Do you mean struggles recognising the notes from the written music or by ear? If you mean by ear then I'd say it would come with practice. I know at that stage dd1 couldn't recognise more than just over 3 octives, and with practice she can now place most notes on the piano by ear.

If it's reading, then flashcards may well work well, or I know dd1 learnt reading music quicker when she started writing some of the notes out herself. You could probably make a game out of you giving a note and him having to write it on the treble/base clef. Again, it's mostly practice, but it's probably helpful to do a few extra stuff.

[maxmillie]

yes I thought it was a bit dodgy - tbh I dont think he can really see them as it is just lightly in pencil it is more for me to try and keep up with him to know if he is doing his practice right - I havent got a clue (thought surprisingly i seem to be able to hear if he gets a wrong note and so does he - maybe I am more musical that I thought)

Yes it is when reading it from the book he occasionally gets a note and isn't sure and has to stop playing which interupts his flow and sometimes he loses his place.

I have bought the flashcards and the snap which I think shoul dbe helpful (for me too!) - thanks for the advice.