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A great activity for teaching a pre-reader of music is what I call Follow the Leader. To play Follow the Leader, the parent or teacher plays a note or short series of notes, and then the child must do the same. At first, use only the notes B, A, and G (the notes introduced in Unit One of the curriculum). Over time, expand the game to include longer strings of notes, then the whole scale, and finally the entire range of the instrument. This game is fun, easy, and great for improving a child’s hole covering, tonal memory, rhythm, confidence, and ability to play by ear. It is also a good way to introduce new songs, piece by piece.