How to Better Prepare Our Students for Recital Day

        The time for our Winter Recital is fast approaching. There are some things you can do as parents and students to be more prepared and make it a fun and valuable experience.
        The first obvious thing is to make sure your student(s) is practicing. Most of them are in the process of memorizing or polishing their pieces. I encourage the students to memorize their performance piece, and this takes practice. (I don't ask them to memorize the Christmas song.) I am always amazed at how much a good performance increases a student's self-confidence. Effective practice is vital to a good performance.
          At least once during this preparation process, record the student playing his/her recital piece. The student should perform it as well as they can. Wait about an hour before listening to the recording. Listen to it three times: once following along with the music; once with eyes closed to listen for expression and interpretation; and finally, with the music to critique and make notes of sections that need to be practiced and corrected, and any dynamics and expression that need to be added.
         Give the students the opportunity to play on at least 10 different pianos. It doesn't have to be in front of anyone. They can go to a piano store and try several. (Brigham Larson Pianos would be a good place for that.) The church around the corner probably has several they can try. This will give them experience with the different feel of the pianos. It will also solidify their piece because of the different sensory experiences they are having associated with playing their piece.  When possible, do it with both the performance piece and the Christmas song.
         Another thing you can do to help your children feel prepared to perform at the recital is to give them opportunities to perform for people before the time of the recital. (Grandma and Grandpa won't mind hearing their recital pieces more than once, believe me!) As part of our practice incentive, they can earn extra credit by performing for several different people on different pianos. Not only will playing for someone help, but playing on different pianos, in different surroundings will help them feel more comfortable performing.
       This Saturday (November 21, 10 a.m., my house), they will have the opportunity to perform for the other students. We will go over their stage presence and how to introduce themselves and their pieces. This should become a part of their practice over the next few weeks. Speaking loudly, slowly, and clearly will be important, especially for the special guests at this December recital. Some of the residents of Mountain Air Care Center may have a hard time hearing the students announce their numbers. Practicing speaking clearly and loudly at home where they do that more naturally will make it easier to do at the performance.
        The Thanksgiving holiday, although it may seem busy, may provide the perfect opportunities for your students to practice some of these steps to preparing for the recital, which will be December 12th.
        Thanks! Karen

Best practicer this week:  Samantha!
Wesley has memorized both his recital pieces so he got to move up TWO extra spaces, as well!

Good work, both of you!

       

Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and life to everything. ~Plato

              We are fast approaching the holidays and recital time. This is my favorite recital of the year! I love the tradition of holding this recital at an assisted living facility. It gives the students a chance to see what joy music can bring to others. It gives more value and purpose to the time they have spent practicing and preparing.
              This year, we are holding the recital at Mountain Air Assisted Living in Payson, Utah. Right now, they have 11 residents, although they have room for 15. They are expecting a couple more by Christmas.
              The residents of Mountain Air love visitors. They enjoy playing Bingo and board games. They love going for rides in the car. And they especially love it when people sing or play for them. They were even delighted with the few scales and chords I played to test out the piano.  The residents will be thrilled to hear the students play the pieces they have worked on over the last few weeks.
            As part of the festivities, the piano students and I will be making Christmas tree decorations to take as gifts for the people of Mountain Air. On Saturday, November 21, at 10 a.m. we will have our November group lesson. At this group lesson, the children will play their pieces for each other and then we will make the decorations.
            Angie, the director of Mountain Air has invited the students to stop in any time between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. any day and try out the piano. You can check in with her--her office is to the right--or just let one of the nurses know you are there. The piano is in the front room to the left just as you walk in. Be sure to bring some music with you and play a couple of your favorite songs for them!
            The recital itself will be on December 12, at 2 p.m. The address for Mountain Air Assisted Living is 153 South 900 East in Payson. Dress is nice casual. Just make sure you bring your best smile! A Santa hat, reindeer ears, or any other festive adornment is welcome, as well.

Our Top Practicer this week:   Wesley!! Great job! (Keep practicing, Everyone! And don't forget the extra credit activities!)
       *Also, if you have your recital piece memorized by the group lesson on November 21, you can move up an extra line!
   

       

Make the Metronome your friend, not your enemy. ~ Vinnie Colaiuta

      Mention the word "metronome" in mixed company and you will get mixed response. The mix in our group includes ex-music students, current music students, parents of music students, and ongoing musicians who are not taking lessons now but are continuing their endeavors to improve their playing.  Each has a different relationship with the metronome, some positive and some not so positive.
      For many parents, the first thought is "Ugh! That thing drives me crazy with its incessant tick-tick-ticking!" Some students and ex-students may feel their heart racing to keep up with the tempo the metronome marks out for them, creating sweaty palms and shortness of breath.
      Others of us, however, smile at the thought of using the metronome in our practice sessions. Warm-ups, scales, and finger exercises can become a relaxing, almost zen experience with the rhythmic repetition. Learning a particularly challenging passage in a new piece will be less intimidating with methodical use of the metronome, giving us control and confidence.
      Introducing students to the metronome early in their musical experience prepares them to use it as a tool in the future when their repertoire becomes more difficult. Understanding the difference between "beat" and "rhythm" and how it applies to the music they are learning will help them give structure to the pieces they play.
      There are different types of metronomes and different places to find them. Of course, there is your local music store. (Visit Boothe Brothers in Spanish Fork. They have several styles in a variety of price ranges and you can see how they work and how they sound before buying.) You can order online. (Amazon.com has a bunch, as well as Wittner and eBay.) And you can find apps and online free metronomes. (JoyTunes app, simple.bestmetronome.com)
       As the renowned drummer, Vinnie Colaiuta, says "Make the metronome your friend, not your enemy."  (To see Vinnie's amazing drumming click here.)

This week's practice results:   Olivia practiced the most this week! Ava, Wesley, Krista, and Isaac all got extra credit this week, as well! You are all doing great! The practicing is showing in how well you are prepared for your lessons.

     

A Quick Update

     No blog entry this week. (I know. Everyone is heartbroken.)  But, here is the update for the practice contest:

     This week's top practicer was Daniel! He actually tied with someone else, so I had to make an executive decision. Daniel's performance at lesson was more polished than that of the person he tied with. (This is where focused practiced vs. just playing through your pieces comes in handy.)

     You will notice, however, that Wesley's marker is ahead. That is because he practiced AND he did extra credit which moved him up two, for the second week in a row! Extra credit can be used to advance one level 6 times. Use it to your advantage!

      Keep up the good work, Everyone!

Practice Does Not Necessarily Make Perfect!

          I had a neighbor a few years ago that changed the old cliche from "Practice makes perfect" to "Perfect practice makes perfect." In a sense, that is true, however, I don't believe most pianists can play every piece perfectly the first time they play it through. So, I am going to share with you some things to expect when your child practices, and some ways to encourage them.
        Your student will come home from lesson time with an assignment sheet all filled out (hopefully). Generally, to begin the lesson, we do Rhythm, Scales, then Technique, and Learn Notes. These teach and review many of the things the student will need to be able to do the rest of the lesson which is the Lesson book and Recital piece. Then they finish up with Theory.
        Did you notice that we do more to prepare for the Lesson and performance pieces than actually on the pieces themselves? That means at least a third to half of the student's practice time should be spent on those activities.
        Rhythm Menagerie is just one line per day, tapped or clapped no less than three times through. The student can have fun with this by using different surfaces or body parts to make the rhythm. For ideas, go here.
        Students using Scale Sheets will usually have three scales to work on every week. It takes three weeks for them to pass off each scale. They have scale maps which show them where to place their hands. Next week, I will post a tutorial video on how the scale sheets are played.
         Some students are in scale books, which have a little different format. They can be doing anywhere from one to three scales at a time.
        Technique builds finger strength and dexterity. It also teaches execution of articulations in music, such as legato, staccato, proper wrist and arm movement, and more. Building these skills is what gives a pianist's playing expression, meaning, and soul.
        Learn Notes is strictly for teaching note reading. It helps the students memorize the placement of the notes on the staff and on the piano, and the note names. The notes are broken down into easy-to-tackle groups so the task of learning notes doesn't feel so daunting and gives the students easily attainable goals.
       The Lesson book and Recital piece come next. It is sometimes thought that practicing just entails playing a piece through from start to finish a certain number of times. That is not the case. Many times, I will assign sections at the end or in the middle of the piece before the student is given the beginning. Sometimes I will give little warm-up exercises to do before starting the piece at all to get a certain pattern into their hands and minds.
        Look for notes in their Assignment sheet or on the music itself for how the student is to practice the piece. If you hear consistent mistakes, have them stop and go over that little section several times. That may be all they do during the time they practice their piece. It could be just going from one note or chord to the next note or chord several times.
       Consistency in practicing is the most important thing. Practicing at least 5 days a week will encourage progress and success. Most chldren won't accomplish this without parents reminding them, at least at first. Make piano practice a part of your daily routine, just like brushing your teeth.

(For more ideas, see this blog post by A.E. Krupp
   
       This week's practice results:  Kaelys practiced the most this week! As you can see from the photo, this could be anyone's contest. Ava, Wesley, and Olivia did extra-credit activities that moved them up an extra level. Very exciting!

     

Disney Practice Incentive

          We are one week into our practice incentive adventure. All of the students have worked hard and shown great enthusiasm. I realize that every week is different and there might be some weeks when your family won't have as much time to devote to piano practice. I have created some extra-credit activities to help the kids earn extra levels without having to rely solely on their practice time.
          The activities are as follows:
                       1. Do 5 theory pages
                       2.  Sight read 5 pages of music.
                       3.  Compose an 8-measure piece.
                       4.  Perform 3 different times. Can be for parents, over Skype, friends, etc
                       5.  Pass off a scale sheet or 6 scales. *
                       6.  Pass off "Learn Notes" sheet.  *
                       7.  Learn and perform a duet with someone. * (It counts if you perform
                             for me.)
                       8.  Attend a concert. * (Not Rock!!) Or watch 2 full-length concerts online.
         
           To move up a level on the practice chart, the student must complete 3 of the first 4 activities, or just 1 of the last 4 starred activities.  They can do any activity more than once. They can combine activities to reach 3, or do 3 of the same one to get extra credit. They can earn up to 6 levels this way.
           I will have music and extra theory pages and composition activities in my theory lab the kids can use while here to complete some of the extra credit. If your child wants to do some sight reading at home but doesn't have books available, you can borrow some from me. Just give me a call and I will see that they get a book at their next lesson.
            Here is a list of websites you can look up to find concerts. A musical play would be great, too. The concerts don't have to be classical. You can go to Jazz or New Age, as well. (Anything except Rock. Sorry. No Taylor Swift...) Don't forget to check for concerts at our local high schools!

• BYU        http://arts.byu.edu/
• UVU        https://www.uvu.edu/music/events/musicevents.php
• Covey Center        http://www.provo.org/community/covey-center-for-the-arts/community-production
• Utah Valley Events Calendar        http://www.utahvalley.com/events/
• Salt Lake Temple Square          https://www.lds.org/church/events/temple-square-events/temple-square-performances?lang=eng   
• Mormon Tabernacle Choir        https://www.mormontabernaclechoir.org/events.html

             I have posted some practice tips in the sidebar of this blog. I tell the kids, "There are 1,140 minutes in every day. I'm sure you could spare some of those minutes for practicing the piano." Just include it as part of homework time. 

           Congratulations to Samantha. She is our top practicer this week. (Just remember, we could have more than one student move up two notches in a week if you finish some extra credit!)

 Good luck to you all!  

Disneyland Adventure Practice Incentive

         It is said that Disneyland is the happiest place on Earth. This past weekend I got to see for myself if that statement is true. I would have to say it is definitely a very happy place!
         In honor of Disneyland's 60th anniversary and my first trip there, I have decided to have a Disney-themed semester in Blue Skies Music Studio. The students are learning Disney songs for our December recital. Along with that, we have a Disney practice incentive going on.
         I have created a chart with Mickey markers with each student's name on it. As they practice, the markers will be moved up and the student will be awarded a Diamond. In order to move up one level the student must practice. It doesn't matter how much they practice (minimum 10 minutes). If they have practiced at least 10 minutes, they will be allowed to move up one level.
         Each week, the student who practices the most out of all the students will move up two levels and be awarded a large diamond. (We already have some stiff competition with two students practicing well over 100 minutes each in one week!)
         I have also provided some Extra-Credit activities, since I know that some weeks it is difficult to get the practice time in. Any student who completes activities that qualify on the Extra-Credit for Practice Challenge sheet will be moved up accordingly. If you or your student have other ideas for activities and want to see if they could be used for extra credit, ask me about it. I can be somewhat flexible on this. If I allow a student to do an activity that is not on the Extra-Credit sheet, I will post the idea here or email it to everyone so any other students who want to do the same thing will have the option.
         Every weekend, on Friday or Saturday, I will post a picture here on my blog of the chart so the students can see who the winner for the week is. I will also post the winning student's practice time. It will help the students see what they need to do to stay in the race. As you will see from the pictures below, all the students are starting at the beginning. Good luck to you all!
         On your marks! Get set! Go!!!

Major Scales & Triads and Inversions

     Over the past few weeks, we have been learning about the building blocks of music: Scales and Triads. Scales are the foundation upon which all music is built. Understanding scales and being able to play them quickly and skillfully helps in being able to sightread and tackle a new piece with greater ease.
     Ask your student what is the significance of the sentence "We Were Happy When We Were Here." They should be able to explain how that sentence relates to the building of a Major Scale. They should have the ability to make a Major Scale starting on any key of the piano.
     They also learned about the Primary Chords (I, IV, and V) and how they fit into songs built on a Major Scale. We will continue to explore this concept and introduce the students to harmonization, different accompaniment styles, and arrangements.
     Over the next few weeks, we will continue to explore scales and learn to identify key signatures.
     Triads are three-note chords that accompany and harmonize with the main melody of a piece. The students learned to invert the triads, creating the 1st and 2nd inversions of several different triads. They learned the concept of "Root", both the root identification and root position.
    Learning the Scales and Primary Chords is the beginning of understanding the construction of music. I hope to give the students opportunities over the next few months to try their hand at composing their own pieces, and possibly finding their own musical voice.
   

Practice Piano Like You Play Video Games

Learning a new skill, whether it is dribbling the soccer ball, hitting or throwing a baseball, or playing the piano, takes dedication and practice. That means repeating the same thing over and over again. Sometimes so much repetition can be tedious and boring. With video games, kids are accustomed to a certain amount of repetition in order to complete the required tasks to beat the level and move up to the next level. Their sense of accomplishment seems to be a great motivation, (not to mention all the stuff that burns up and explodes without getting them into trouble!).

At group lesson this month we talked about the similarities between practicing and video games. We explored different ways to practice to make practicing difficult phrases and passages a little more interesting. Each idea covers specific challenges. These are taken from a great practice companion called The Piano Student's Guide to Effective Practicing by Nancy O'Neill Breth.

Some of the ideas we discovered were:

Countdown: Draw a vertical line separating two parts that are hard to connect smoothly. Play up to the line, relax your hands, and float into the second part while counting up to 5. Finish the phrase. Repeat, but this time count to 4. Repeat until you get to 1. Then play three times without stopping. This is great for accuracy, balance, continuity, coordination, speed.

Baby Steps: Play a passage once from each white key (C, D, E, etc, up to the next C). Use the same fingering each time. This only works on passages that are only white keys. Variation: If there are black keys included in the passage, move up and down by octaves. Baby steps helps articulation, evenness, fingering, and speed.

Making Sense: Play the melody of one phrase in three different ways, using dynamics to vary the shape each time. Add the accompaniment and listen again. Choose the one that makes the most sense to you, and write in those dynamics. Use pencil, in case you change your mind later. Helps balance and expression.

Zeroing In: Play a scale or arpeggio passage at half speed, slowly. Play very expressively, with deep tone quality and dramatic dynamics. Then play the passage up to speed, listening for the same qualities you achieved in half speed. This is good for expression.

Stop & Go: Whenever you miss a note or rhythm, stop and play it correctly four times. Excellent for accuracy, continuity, and memory.

The Guide has 58 practice ideas altogether. It lists them in alphabetical order and also lists them according to the skills they promote. These tips are used by even the most advanced pianists when learning a new piece. They never go out of style. They will help the student become more independent in their progression.

And, Students, don't forget to do your theory assignments and come to Group Lessons to learn the Cheat Codes!!!

P.S. I am including a link to a YouTube video of LangLang and his interpretation of video games: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b85hn8rJvgw

Put Your Back Into It!

Last weekend I had the very fun opportunity to travel to Scottsdale, Arizona and attend the concert of Anderson & Roe, a piano duo that consists of Greg Anderson and Elizabeth Joy Roe. They are powerful pianists that played moving lyrical pieces to loud boisterous rock songs. Greg's arrangements were mesmerizing and showed off the strengths of these two pianists.

They alternated between playing on two pianos and playing on the same piano. Many of the pieces they played on the same piano required a choreography of sorts to keep them from pushing each other off the bench. One in particular, Stravinsky's Rite of Spring, was actually written for two pianos. Anderson & Roe opt to play it on one piano because it was written on the eve of World War I and because of the complexities of the music, when played on the same piano shows the struggle for control of the piano keyboard, just as the world struggled in battle.
I had the opportunity to visit with them a few minutes and found them to be down-to-earth friendly people, enjoying the opportunity to share their love of music. I mentioned to Liz that she must have pretty strong fingers to play with such force and Greg said that she uses her back very effectively.

At group lesson on Wednesday I showed the kids a video of Anderson & Roe and we talked about their form, posture, and how they handled the loud and fast sections. Liz indeed puts her back into it and we talked about how the kids could do the same as they play with different dynamics. I also suggested that they experiment with playing their scales very fast just like the duo plays their runs. (We'll see if the kids really try it!)

There is really nothing like a live concert to help one appreciate the Arts. We have some wonderful venues close by to take advantage of. I participated just this weekend in A Little Night Music sponsored by the Payson Lion's club and held at the Payson Civic Center. A fundraiser to benefit Huish Theater will be held February 4 at 7 p.m. at Payson High School. Tickets are only $5! My piano tuner, Brigham Larson, also sponsors concerts. Check out his website for information.

One of our best resources is BYU. I am including a link for information about some family friendly concerts and shows. Be sure to check these out and make an effort to attend one live performance every year. In this age of YouTube and digital everything, a live production feels like a rare treat.

The Piano Tuner

Saturday was one of my favorite days of the year...the day the piano tuner comes! Brigham Larson has been taking care of my piano for many years now. I remember when he worked out of a little house in Provo, then to Mapleton, and now he has a workshop, piano showroom, and concert hall in Pleasant Grove. I trust Brigham's work and his advice. He knows pianos inside and out, and plays wonderfully, as well!

The students will attest to the fact that the high F# was a gimp. It thunked and did not behave properly. We were all frustrated with it! Brigham discovered that the key was split, (likely from old age...the piano is close to 120 years old) and fixed it right up. He glued the wood and then reinforced the sides with thin wood. It works wonderfully now.

Alex had the opportunity to come up and watch Brigham work. He got to see first hand the tools Brigham uses, both old style and new age. It was interesting to see the tuning wrench and the muting tool that allowed Brigham to focus on one string at a time.

When he was done, Brigham treated us to a short but sweet jazz concert, ending our Saturday morning visit with him on a great note!!! (Pun intended :D )

Here is Brigham's link

Our Christmas Recital

We had a wonderful recital on December 14th. It was a privilege to play at the Continuing Care wing of the Mountain View Hospital in Payson. Although the patients listened from their rooms, visiting with them afterward, singing carols with them, and giving them handmade Christmas ornaments was a reminder of the Spirit of Christmas.

All the students performed well. They have grown and progressed and it is fun to see them develop musically. I enjoy working with each one of your children. They each have a unique approach to the piano and developing their musical talents.

Please have a delightful Christmas and joyful New Years' holiday and I will see you all in January.

10 Performances

The November group lesson consisted of the students playing their recital pieces for each other. We played a game where they would roll a letter die that also had stars on it. When it would land on a letter, they would have to think of a music word that started with that letter. For example, the letter F might be Forte. The letter C might be crescendo. If the die landed on the star, the student played his/her recital piece for the group. This really helped the kids see how close they were to prepared for playing on the recital.

They were then given the opportunity to make a Performance record and instructed that by December 14th, the recital date, they need to play their recital piece--memorized--for 10 different people on 10 different pianos, for 10 total performances. In other words, they can't play for a room full of 10 people and count it as 10. They can, however, play it for each of those 10 people, but at different times and on different pianos. If they have to play on the same piano a couple of times, that's okay. The most important part of this is playing their piece 10 different times for 10 different people.

It really is easier than it sounds. When they visit their friend down the street to hang out, if their friend has a piano, they can say, "Hey! Let me play a song for you!" and then they can play it. That would count.

Speaking of the Recital... It will be held December 14 at 4:30 p.m. The kids need to arrive at 4. It will be held at Payson Mountain View Hospital. We will be playing for the Extended Care patients. I will be emailing more information next week. If any of your families want to perform other numbers for the patients, that would be welcome. Please just let me know. Also, Please bring a treat to share.

I am looking forward to this fun Christmas Recital/Service Project/Party, and I know the students are, too.

We'll Be Bach!

Johann Sebastian Bach composed many pieces for the keyboard. He played clavichord, harpsichord, and organ. (Be sure to ask your children the difference between a clavichord and a harpsichord.) Bach composed during the Baroque period so many of his pieces contain ornaments. These are described on page 12 of the September Piano Explorer magazine. You can listen to examples of Bach's music on the Piano Explorer website at peforkids.com. (There is a link to this from my website, under Resources.) The students watched a demonstration of a clavichord being played, heard a young lady about their age play the harpsichord, and got into the spirit of Halloween listening to Bach's Toccata for organ.

To mix things up a bit, we then pulled out the conga drums and held a drum circle. Each student had a drum . We started out playing written rhythms all together, and then branched out to improvising and jamming. The kids came up with rhythms to fit within the steady beat of the lead drum, and discovered sounds and rhythms that coordinated with each other. It was great fun! And very noisy! Definitely my kind of noise. :D (Thanks to Mrs. Erickson from Payson Jr. High for letting us borrow the drums.)

The magazines the children brought home are a gift from me. They will be receiving a copy every month until next September. (Merry Christmas early.) Look through them to find word searches, practice tips, compositions by children around their age, jokes, etc.

September Group Lesson

2nds, 3rds, 4ths, and 5ths
What kind of Interval is this?
We stepped and stacked
And counted back,
Skipped lines and spaces
What funny faces!!

An interval is the distance between notes. Two notes next to each other is a 2nd, skip one note and you get a 3rd. There is an odd-even pattern that gives a clue. Ask your student what that might be. (See if he remembers!)
Sound-wise, a 2nd is just moving up the scale, a 3rd up sounds like an arpeggio or cadence. A 4th sounds like "Here Comes the Bride." (The boys weren't too thrilled with that one!) A 5th is "Twinkle, Twinkle" from Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star. A 6th starts My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean. A 7th just sounds weird, and an 8th--or octave-- sounds like the same note (only higher or lower).

And so it starts...

Welcome to the new school year and the new Blue Skies music year. It appears that everyone had a fun, busy summer, including me. I am looking forward to life settling back into a routine, as well as life can.

In trying to be better organized this year, I have made up a Group Lesson schedule for the year, which can be seen here. I plan on sticking as closely to this schedule as possible. Please notice that our group lesson/recital in December is actually a visit to the Extended Care facility at Payson Hospital. The piano students will be playing a recital piece, as well as a Christmas song. We will sing Christmas Carols with the patients, so bring your best singing voices. If any other family members or siblings of my students want to perform something, maybe play an instrument or sing, that would be welcome, as well!

I have added another element to my blog. On the top left-hand side I have put a section called "Tips for Parents." In this section, I will write about what to expect from your child's practice sessions, as well as ideas for getting them to practice consistently.

In the studio, I will have a star dish that I will be filling with crazy marbles each month as they practice. If it gets filled up by the end of the month, they will all get a treat at group lesson. Since consistent and effective practice is essential for the progress of the student, I will be focusing quite a bit on this subject this year.

Be sure to check out the music games in the sidebar, as well.

I look forward to working with your children. They are great kids and really brighten my days. Thank you for letting me work with them.

Two Important Dates to Note

April is flying by and May will soon be upon us. The Recital will be held May 7th at 2 p.m. at Peteetneet, upstairs in the Music Room.
We will have a Group Lesson at 5:30 on Wednesday April 27th. The students should have their recital pieces memorized by this date as they will be playing them for the other students and we will be going over Recital Etiquette and Protocol.
Dress for the students for the recital is Nice Dress. The girls can wear pants if they prefer, but they should be dressy pants. The boys don't have to wear a tie, but they should wear dress pants and a nice shirt. No Jeans.
Important Dates: April 27 at 5:30 at my house--Group Lesson
May 7 at 2 p.m. at Peteetneet--Recital

February Group Lesson

We had our February group lesson. That is a bit of a misnomer, since we had it in March! We did a Steps & Skips activity which demonstrated the similarities of steps and skips in the musical alphabet, on the keyboard, and on the staff. It was a neck-and-neck race between Matthew and Brykelle to get to the top of the staff.
Then we mapped out rhythms with rhythm blocks and talked about measures, bar lines, and really fat notes. (You'll have to ask the kids about that one!)
We learned about Johann Sebastian Bach and his 20 children. We listened to his music and and did a word search using words from his life.
**Our next group lesson will be held Tuesday, March 29 at 5:30 p.m.
***Parents, please watch this month for notes in reference to the students practicing their recital pieces which will be assigned in the next couple of weeks. The recital will be held the first week of May. I will let you know an exact date and time by the beginning of April.

Musical Eras

Our group lesson for the month of November was about the Musical Eras and their characteristics. We talked about Baroque and the rigid rhythmic qualities and the ornamentations. Then comes Classical, which loosens up a little and includes more fluctuations in dynamics. Romantic is flowing and emotional. Impressionism, which overlaps Romantic and Modern, creates pictures with music. And Modern jazzes it all up!
Last month, Makenna won a Beat the Teacher candy bar. This month, they all won a Beat the Teacher candy bar. You are all going to have to work harder for next month! I'm going to practice a lot this next month!
I sent home a piece of music with each them which is just one part of a four part piano piece. We will put them all together at December's group lesson.

September Groups

September's Group Lessons were productive, as well as fun. The more advanced group reviewed the order of the sharps and learned the order of the flats. (Ask them what Funny Clowns Go Dancing And Everyone Boogies is significant for!)They were very quick at identifying the sharp key signatures in the Circle of Fifths.
The younger group had fun playing Snakes, War, and a new game I invented, Stepping Up.
We are starting a new challenge, "Beat the Teacher." It is simply this: practice more minutes/hours than the teacher in a month and you will earn a candy bar. I will have a chart recording my practice times during the week, so at lessons each student will be able to see how they measure up. There is space on their practice record each week to record how long they have practiced. Please remind them to record their practice times, as well.
Good luck, Kids!!!