How to Develop and Assess Music Reading Skills with Boom Cards
Music Literacy Boom Cards are a valuable addition to your music lesson plans providing FUN authentic assessment of music reading skills.
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Do Boom Cards actually teach real music reading skills?
Absolutely! Our Music Literacy Boom Cards follow a methodical, sequential approach—much like instrumental method books.
These digital activities build foundational skills and adapt to a wide range of learners—from elementary students to middle schoolers, even adult beginners. Whether you’re teaching in a classroom, private studio, or homeschool setting, Boom Cards are a flexible, effective addition to your music literacy program.
What’s in this post? Click to open the Table of Contents
Develop a Well-Rounded Music Literacy Program
To build confident, independent music readers, use a variety of learning experiences and methods:
- Songs with singing games.
- Fun aural and visual music activities.
- Iconic music reading.
- Rhythmic and melodic pattern identification.
- Standard music notation and dictation.
- Interactive digital tools like Boom Cards.
Using a variety of activities keeps lessons interesting, accommodates different learning styles, and builds foundational music reading skills.
Four Sequential Steps to Music Literacy
Step 1: Start with Song-Based Music Literacy Activities
Introduce each musical concept through singing, movement, and games. Focus on one concept at a time, and provide plenty of repetition.
💡 Need ideas?
Step 2: Reinforce Melodic Skills with Solfege Warm Ups
Use short, targeted solfege patterns as part of your daily warm-up. Modulate through different keys to match student vocal ranges and help introduce movable Do.
💡 More tips here:
Step 3: Practice with Music Dictation Boom Cards
Once students can read and perform the targeted musical element, use Rhythmic and Melodic Dictation Boom Cards for practice. Students listen, drag-and-drop symbols, and receive immediate feedback. The game-like format keeps even reluctant learners engaged.
Dictation Boom Cards help students:
- Practice independently.
- Learn through trial and error.
- Stay motivated.
Learning Through Mistakes
When students make mistakes, require them to listen again and fix their mistakes. Making and correcting mistakes is a natural part of learning and an important step in developing solid music reading skills.
Step 4: Assess with Pattern Identification Boom Cards
Once students have demonstrated proficiency with a Music Dictation Set, they’ll find the corresponding Pattern Identification simple. Using Boom Cards for evaluation provides accurate assessments, makes assessments enjoyable, and helps to build student confidence in their music reading skills.
Steps 3 and 4 are Interchangeable
Dictation is more challenging than identifying a musical pattern. This is why I recommend Path 1 as outlined below. Students are “uber-prepared” and confident for assessments.
Path 1
- Practice: Dictation Set
- Assess: Pattern Identification Set
Path 2
- Practice: Pattern Identification Set
- Assess: Dictation Set
💡 Or—use dictation sets for both practice and assessment by allowing students to submit their best scores.
Where Should I Start?
Boom Cards are sequential and flexible—start at a level where most students will experience early success. This builds confidence while also teaching them how to use the technology.
Answer these questions.
- What are my students’ current reading levels?
- Are we 1:1 with devices, or sharing?
- Will I use Boom Cards in centers, whole-class, or for homework?
Tip: Start at a level where you expect all or most of your students to be successful.
🎯 Differentiation Made Easy
Our Music Literacy Boom Cards Bundles are designed for varied pacing:
- Assign different sets to different students.
- Or, assign a full series and let students work at their own pace.
This is especially useful when some students take private lessons and others need more support.
Suggested Boom Cards Sequence
Beginner Readiness Sets
- Identify Same/Different Patterns (Free)
- Identify Higher/Lower on the Staff (Free)
- Aurally Identify Melodic Direction (Free)
- Music Staff Skills Video Lessons
Rhythm & Melody Series
Each bundle includes 7–8 sequential sets. Start with the free primer set in each:
- Rhythmic Dictation Bundle
- Identify Rhythmic Pattern
- Melodic Dictation Key of C
- Melodic Dictation Key of F
- Melodic Dictation Key of G
- Identify Melodic Patterns Key of C
- Identify Melodic Patterns Key of F
- Identify Melodic Patterns Key of G
Note: If your students aren’t ready for ledger lines, start with Key of F. Then move to G and C.
Note Names Series
Scaffolded decks for learning pitch names:
- Treble Clef Note Names – 6 Sets
- Bass Clef Note Names – 6 Sets
Try a Free Set Today
Ready to get started?
- Create a free teacher account at Boom Learning.
- Choose a free set from our Music Literacy Boom Cards.
- Preview the deck in your library.
- Assign it using FastPlay or FastPin.
You’ll be amazed how quickly your students catch on—and how much fun they have learning!
More Ways to Use Music Literacy Boom Cards
🎯 Innovative Ways to Use Boom Cards in Music Class
Use them for:
- Whole-class instruction with manipulatives or hand signs.
- Centers or stations.
- Practice at home.
- Pre/post assessments.
- Early finishers or reward days.
Final Thoughts
Education is evolving—and so are the tools we use. Boom Cards offer more than just digital “games.” They’re a flexible, effective part of a well-rounded elementary music literacy program.
When paired with songs, warm-ups, and clear goals, Music Literacy Boom Cards help students develop the skills they need to read, write, and perform music for life.
Invest in the Boom Cards Mega Bundle and Save BIG!
Get all 81 sequential decks in this Boom Cards Mega Bundle and save over 35%! It’s the easiest way to build a complete music literacy system for your classroom, studio, or homeschool.
P.S. Boom Cards aren’t just for kids—my mom uses them to keep her sight reading skills sharp! 🎶
Bonus: Our Melodic Dictation Sets Match Boomwhackers!
Boomwhackers are always a “hit” with kids—and they’re budget-friendly! I invested in 4 classroom sets and recommend them to anyone in the elementary music classroom.
💡 Tip: I added octavator caps to just 2 of my sets. The caps lower the pitch by one octave, giving you two full octaves of notes. But, they’re hard to remove once attached, so I suggest leaving them on permanently.
Note: Since Boomwhackers are set in the Key of C, the function of the notes will shift in different keys, (in the key of F, F=Do, etc.).
Meet the Author
Terri Lloyd is an experienced music educator with over 25 years of teaching in elementary music classrooms. She holds a Master’s in Education, an Instructional Technology Certificate in Curriculum Design, and a Bachelor of Music. Her resources are designed to help music teachers develop students’ music literacy and performance skills while enjoying learning.
She presents music education workshops, develops curriculum, and writes for her blog. She is on the music staff at her church and leads a children’s program. She performs as a active community musician with a local Big Band, pit orchestras, and at various events.
I am a preschool music teacher. Our elementary music teacher quit unexpectedly. I am stepping in until a new teacher can be hired, which may not be until the 2021 school year. Thank you for these great activities to help me start this journey.
You are VERY welcome Christy. In these unprecedented times, we all need to support each other. Best wishes!