(Card Games) Crazy Eighths; Note Nabber; Primary Pounce; Scale Scramble; and Wacky Words (Walter and Wanda).

(Card Games) Crazy Eighths; Note Nabber; Primary Pounce; Scale Scramble; and Wacky Words (Walter and Wanda), Three Cranky Women/Neil A. Kjos, 2008. www.kjos.com; [phone]; $8.95 each, except Wacky Words: $13.95 each.

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Kjos Music Press and Three Crazy Women have released a collection of colorful and engaging card games designed to help kids review and practice a variety of musical concepts including note names, scales, key signatures, primary chords and rhythm reading. While the games are typically for two to eight players there are several that could easily be adapted for classroom use. They are perfect for small group settings and seem particularly useful for beginning instrumentalists just learning to read music. The games add an element of fun to traditional review of music literacy and theory concepts and provide teachers an easy opportunity for assessment of student learning through careful observation of game play.

Crazy Eighths

Using rhythm pattern cards in their hands, players construct measures according to the designated time signature. Players add or subtract "Crazy Eighths" wild cards, featuring either one or two eighth notes, to fit their cards to the time signature. Eighteen Rhythm Wizard cards instruct players to perform the rhythmic patterns in fun and imaginative ways, like clapping the rhythm forward and backward or holding your nose and beeping the rhythm. The game ends when one player uses all his or her Rhythm Cards. It includes standard time signatures in 2, 3, 4, 6 and 9, and less typical time signatures in 5 and 7. Teachers might adjust the difficulty of the game by selecting only cards displaying Time Signatures to be reviewed or introduced. The Crazy Eighths game represents a fun way to practice and review time signatures and note values while emphasizing math skills.

Note Nabber

Players race to construct the complete musical alphabet (A-B-C-D-E-F-G) using Note Cards. Wild cards can replace any missing note and Note Nabber cards allow a player to steal one carol from another player's hand. Additional special cards (Haydn, Liszt and Baroque Cards) add interest and vary the game play. The game ends when one player obtains the entire musical alphabet. Optional scoring awards players 25 points for each Note Card in their hand they can successfully name. Note Cards display quarter notes in both treble and bass clef and cover four octaves. Teachers might adjust the game by including only those notes they wish to review or introduce.

Primary Pounce

Players turn over the Cat Card, identifying the major key of play. Players then flip cards and race to "pounce" on the key signature and primary chords (I, IV and V) associated with that major key. The player with the most cards at the end of the game is declared the winner.

Players must have prior knowledge of their major keys, key signatures and primary chord spellings. This game is recommended for two to eight players and seems particularly appropriate for young piano students just learning these concepts.

Scale Scramble

Players frantically trade cards with each other to collect Note Cards representing an entire scale. Once a player has assembled the complete scale, he or she yells "Scale Scramble?" and the game is over. Teachers can adapt the game to meet student needs, emphasizing major, minor or other modal scales in any key. Teachers may also opt to use a "Go Fish-style" form of game play to eliminate the frenzied scramble and give all students an opportunity to participate equally. This game seems particularly appropriate for small groups of beginning instrumentalists just learning their scales.

Wacky Wanda and Wacky Walter

These collections of large flash cards feature words spelled out by musical notes on the staff. Players must identify each word to earn points. The "Wacky Wanda" game is perfect for beginning note-readers, displaying three to seven-letter words in either the bass or treble clef. The "Wacky Walter" game is more advanced, featuring longer words, integrating notes in both the treble and bass clefs on every card, and utilizing text letters not included in the musical alphabet. Students may play as individuals or on teams, earning points for each word correctly identified. The games can also be played in reverse: Students must notate the given text word on the board or individually on manuscript paper as a fun written assessment. Beginning recorder students will enjoy reviewing treble clef notes using the "Wacky Wanda" treble clef cards. Each game also recommends several alternative modes of play for use in varied classroom settings. Both "Wacky Wanda" and "Wacky Walter" could be easily integrated into existing music curricula as a fun, alternative way to review and practice staff note names.--Reviewed by Sarah J. Bartolome, University of Washington