Source: mesmrswhitesclass.blogspot.com via Dana on Pinterest
Month: June 2012
Quaver’s Marvelous World
I am so excited about this music teaching resource! If you are looking for a fun, fresh, new way to introduce music theory concepts to kids this is it! Although it is designed for classroom use, I am finding it very useful in private piano lessons. My students love the entertaining and engaging videos. There is also a companion website where kids can explore the music concepts in-depth, and it is so much fun!!! I cannot say that enough because with kids, it’s all about fun.
If you order the DVDs, you will get awesome teaching guides, worksheets, and access to online helps as well. A word of warning, though – the DVDs are expensive. Each DVD contains 2 episodes for about $69. I was so impressed with the youtube previews and their website that I felt it was worth the investment – especially since I can use it with all my students – and I am not disappointed! You can get more information on their website at www.quavermusic.com
Have you tried Quaver’s Marvelous World in your studio? If so, I’d love to hear your thoughts on it and how you use it.
Summer Piano Shorts: Arpeggios Make Great Intros
This is the first in a series of what I call Summer Piano Shorts. These are just quick piano experiments for my piano students who are taking the summer off from lessons. You can download a copy of this worksheet to use at home or with a student. They will be able to play a nice intro for songs using arpeggios. Look for a Summer Piano Short every Monday!
Be Back Soon!
This is a just a quick post to let you know that I will be back to regularly posting next week. This weekend, my daughter and I are performing in a dance production called Dancing The Word: A Reflection of Mirrors. The show is about a girl finding out where true beauty comes from. What an important lesson for young people to learn! My daughter is dancing and I am singing and acting. Such a joy to be able to do this with her!
See you next week!
First Piano Lesson Activity: Piano Keyboard Pattern Cards
Young children often get confused at the piano and can’t remember where the notes are because they get lost in the sea of white keys. Of course as piano teachers we always direct them to look for the black key patterns of 2 and 3, so while reading a post from Sheryl Welles at Notable Music Studio I got an idea for this simple keyboard patterning game. It is great to use at a first piano lesson.
What you need:
Foam Sheets in 2 different colors (purchase at a craft store or a dollar store)
Piano Keyboard Printable (enough for 3-4 octaves)
Glue
Timer
The cards will look like this:
To Play:
After introducing the student to the 2 and 3 black key groups on the piano, use this quick game to test their understanding. Have them line up the cards in a keyboard pattern. Time them and see how fast they can do it!
To extend the learning, have them make a set to take home. At home they can teach younger siblings or parents the keyboard pattern!
The Music Store Field Trip
A Music Store Field Trip can be very exciting for a child who is learning to play the piano. The Music Store Field Trip is a lot different from a visit to the Piano Store because at the Music Store Field Trip you will get to experience other instruments in addition to the piano. If you live nearby a large music store then this is the field trip for you! It’s FREE, FUN, and Entertaining.
First you and your child/student will enjoy being around so many pianos. It’s a whole new world where playing in public can be a much different experience than the that of a piano recital. Also, the music store employees often gladly give FREE performances! It’s so awesome to see kids’ faces light up when they watch a good piano player play.
Next you can play the synthesizers and turntables and feel like you’re a recording artist! Kids love the fun digital sounds they can make!
At the music store we went to, they had these cool hand chairs –
A wall full of guitars makes you just want to try playing one – or two – or ten!
Getting Dad involved makes this field trip even more fun and cool! If Dad is doing it, it must be cool, right?
Sometimes kids don’t realize that there are more piano books out there besides the ones they use for their lessons. This information often motivates them to learn more songs!
The best part of the Music Store Field Trip? A happy, motivated music student!
So, take your kids or music students on a Music Store Field Trip – you will be so glad you did and they will too!
Have you ever taken kids on a Music Store Field Trip? If so, what one thing made it so awesome?
Activities for Waiting Students and Siblings
One of the most distracting things that can happen during a music lesson is for a waiting student or a little sister or brother to interrupt and ask, “What can I do now?” To eliminate this problem, or at least minimize it I set up a Waiting Activity Area in my piano studio. Here is a mini tour of it:
For those who like to color, Hello Kitty music coloring pages. Kids can look inside the bag for more coloring activities.
Kids who like puzzles and challenges can choose this.
Great practice on staff notation. Color by Note sheets!
For those who love to build things, LEGOS! Of course they must build something related to music!
A game to practice the music alphabet. Kids can stack the cups in order or build chords!
Each of the activities in the center have something for the kids to show me when they have completed it, so they do get it done. I’ve also made my ipad or iphone available with music apps to play in the waiting center.
I’d love to hear what kinds of things you keep in your studio for waiting students and siblings. Make a comment below!
…Oh and come back tomorrow for the post about the music store field trip that I promised!
You’re Gonna Laugh At This!
While reading a few posts on Piano Addict, I came across this joke…
The doorbell rang and the lady of the house discovered a workman, complete with tool chest, on the front porch.
“Madam,” he announced, “I’m the piano tuner.”
The lady exclaimed, “Why, I didn’t send for a piano tuner.”
The man replied, “I know you didn’t, but your neighbors did.”
Kids & Keys 