How it works
This music word scramble opens on ten short words from the easy list, such as Drum, Choir, Flute and Bell, with a hint under each mix, a word bank at the foot and the answers on page 2.
Read the full guide
First words, instruments, terms
Easy is 14 first words, among them Bell, Harp, Song, Duet and Flute. Instruments has 14, each with its family or its build as the hint: a woodwind with a double reed is Oboe, a brass instrument with a slide is Trombone. Music terms runs from Melody, Rhythm and Harmony to Allegro, Staccato and Fermata. New scramble deals another ten from the list on the sheet.
Hints that teach the word
Allegro is fast and bright, adagio is slow, forte is Italian for loud or strong, and a fermata tells the player to hold a note longer. Each meaning follows Wikipedia's article on the word, so with hints on the terms list doubles as a vocabulary review.
- Orchestra has the same letters as carthorse, and Staccato the same as toccatas. The sheet never prints either word as the mix.
- Piano is on the easy list as the instrument. In a score the same Italian word means soft or quiet.
Questions and answers
Does the music word scramble print with an answer key?
Yes. Press Print: the sheet comes out first and the answers follow on a page of their own, on Letter or A4 paper. To hand out the puzzle alone, untick Print the answer key under More options.
Why are Note, Beat and Scale not in the music word scramble?
Their letters also spell tone, beta and laces, so a pupil could write a second right answer. Organ (groan), Bugle (bulge), Triangle (integral) and Legato (gelato) were left out for the same reason.
What grade is the music word scramble for?
The easy list of four- and five-letter words suits early readers. Instruments fits an elementary music class learning the families of the orchestra, and Music terms fits older pupils in band, choir or general music. That is our suggestion, not a standard.