Teaching intervals such as step, skip leap and repeat is an essential step in helping students to learn to read music fluently. When students are able to recognize steps skips and leaps in musical notation, it is much easier for them to predict what the music will sound like as well as be able to sing or play it accurately.
What is a step skip and leap?
Step, skip, and leap are all terms we use to describe different types of intervals. An interval describes the difference in pitch between two notes.
Step – The interval between two notes that are directly next to each other on the staff
Skip – The interval between two notes that have exactly one note between them on the staff
Leap – The interval between two notes that have two or more notes between them
Some links to help teach step skip leap and repeat:
- Steps & Skips Ear Training exercise (Violin)
- Steps & Skips Ear Training exercise (Piano)
- Steps, Skips & Leaps Note Reading exercise
- Steps, Skips & Leaps in Mozart’s Eine Kleine Nachtmusik
Step Skip Leap Repeat Lesson Plans
Need a little more help teaching step skip and leap? This series of 4 lesson plans with Powerpoint file and worksheets will help you completely meet this expectation. In Ontario, this is a grade 4 music expectation but will be applicable to other curriculums as well.
Don’t forget to pin this page so that you can save these tips for teaching step, skip, leap and repeat for later.
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