Rumix – A Family Music Card Game
A pack of 62 cards in 4 colors.
Play
· Memory Games
· Group Games (similar to Snap)
· Matching Games (similar to Foursomes and Rummy)
The cards contain pictures of musical notes.
NO NEED FOR MUSICAL KNOWLEDGE
Individual and Group Games
Rumix explores the numerical aspects of musical intervals, chords and scales.
This is done playing various card games according to construction rules of the above mentioned concepts.
GAMES RULES
Rumix – a group game in which sequences and series of cards are formed. Scales are formed by color. Chords and same note series are formed using at least 3 different colors. Accidentals' slides are used as necessary. Using regular Gin Rummy Rules create parts of scales, chords and same not series.
Squirrel – a group game in which every player reveals the top card of their pile in turn. The highest note wins all the cards on the table regardless of color. In case of a draw, there is a redeal– again the highest note card winning.
Game rules are similar to the game Snap.
Fours – create sets of 4 same note cards (in different colors). Create groups (no order) of 4 same color cards. Create sequences (up or down) of notes of the same color. This is done by asking for a specific card or taking a card from the stock.
Parrot – a solitaire game in which scales are formed. In the example shown – F scale. Using accidentals it can either be a major or a minor scale. Cards are moved from the tableau to allow for similar color cards to be grouped and then moved to the foundation. Accidentals' slides are used as necessary.
Game rules are similar to the solitaire game Free Cell.
Pear – a solitaire game in which pairs of cards are moved to the foundation if they sum up to a given interval – say a third. In this case the pairs C/E (above) or C/A (below) would be a correct pair. Using accidentals' slides (supplied with the pack) chromatic intervals can be formed.
In an advanced version of the game even chords can be constructed (D/F/A for example).
Game rules are similar to the solitaire game Pyramid.
Rumix Focus Groups
Activity Summary and Results
In the course of 4 weeks, 8 separate groups played with 8 Rumix packs. The groups were made up of adults and children usually in a family setting. After playing the games in the Rumix pack, the participants were asked to rate their impressions by answering a short questionnaire. The answers ranged from 1 (negative impression to 5 (positive impression).
Participants Data
No. of groups: 8
Total number of participants: 31
Adults: 14
Children: 17
Participants with musical background: 10
Results
General Satisfaction |
4.5 |
Design |
4.75 |
Meaning* |
4 |
Game Rules |
4 |
Participants Interactions |
4.85 |
Meaning – Significance of note position on staff; note names.
Game preference (No. of groups). (Each group chose more than 1 game)
Pairs 4
Squirrel 4
Fours 6
Rumix 4
Solitaire games were not tried by the focus groups.