TV Theme Song Sightreading Quiz Game for Band: Score, Parts, and Listening Links

This is truly a trivia quiz game and sightreading exercise all-in-one. Retro and New TV trivia knowledge and sightreading skill are put to the test in TV Theme Song Sightreading Quiz Game for band.

This activity is designed to be enjoyed by full ensembles, instrument section classes, or even in private lessons! The the 26 TV theme excerpts used in this resource are:

• From varying decades of television
• Only 4-6 measures in length, using the most recognizable portion of each one
• IN THE ORIGINAL KEY (this is important if you are concerned with playability, however it is great for challenging students and introducing them to sightreading skills in unfamiliar key signatures. This is also to make each excerpt as recognizable as possible, and matching the provided listening link.
• WRITTEN WITH ORIGINAL RHYTHMS... mostly (see above)
• Marked with appropriate tempos
• Untitled on student instrument parts for quiz game guessing (each excerpt is numbered for rehearsal purposes).
• Chosen for a challenging sightreading experience in mind... not necessarily familiarity. Many of these shows are REALLY VINTAGE, which makes it more exciting for a student if they do know the answer! Older shows and sitcom themes are also more melody-driven, which make them more appropriate for this activity.

Students will sightread themes from shows like:

1. Family Matters
2. The Simpsons
3. Diff'rent Strokes
4. The Office
5. Full House
6. The Big Bang Theory
7. ...and 20 more!!

The resource download includes:

• Director's score with answer boxes and QR style listening links
• Instrument Parts (Picc, Fl, Ob, Bsn, Eflat Cl, Bflat Cl, Bass Cl, ASax, TSax, BSax, Horn, Tbn, Euph, Tuba, Snare, and Mallets
• Link to a custom Youtube Playlist with each TV theme included
• Link to a custom Spotify Playlist with each TV theme included
• BONUS: Link to a GOOGLE SLIDES ACCOMPIMENT. This slides presentation is to use on overhead projector, and includes direct listening links for ease of checking answers with full band groups or small groups.

How to play:

1. SUGGESTED: before game play, allow students to google lists of most famous TV shows of all time, to jog their brain.
2. SUGGESTED: Before game play, review challenging key signatures, and play through the 12 major scales. Most themes (not all) in this activity are in a major key.
3. SUGGESTED: Students can either play as individuals, as a section, or in small groups of three (their neighbors to the left and right).
4. Start google slides accompaniment on page 1. DO NOT CLICK TO NEXT SLIDE UNTIL STUDENTS HAVE ATTEMPTED TO SIGHTREAD THE EXCERPT.
5. Start on Excerpt #1. Give any pertinent sightreading prep info, then play the line!
6. Repeat as many times as needed before allowing students to guess out loud.
7. Instruct students to write in their "guess", then take guesses from volunteers.
8. If no one has a correct guess, you can provide a "hint". Example: "This show has to do with a boat, and a bunch of people stranded on a deserted island."
9. Once the guesses are made, CLICK TO THE CORRESPONDING SLIDE on google slides accompaniment to hear the TV theme and see the correct answer.
10. Remain on that page until the next sightreading round reaches step 9.

Please email me at newmanmusicacademy@gmail.com or here on TPT if you have any question about how to implement this lesson. Follow Newman Music Academy by hitting the green star.

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