Words of Wisdom

Wednesday’s Words of Wisdom

“You can’t possibly hear the last movement of Beethoven’s Seventh and go slow.”

— Oscar Levant, explaining his way out of a speeding ticket

Every Wednesday brings Words of Wisdom here at the Color in my Piano blog in the form of a musical quote or joke, intended to bring inspiration or humor to the middle of your week. Have suggestions? Send me a message here.

Questions

Forum Q&A | Making Mistakes

Our previous Forum Q&A was about items students like to see in incentive prize boxes.  Thanks for all the responses!

It is time for new topic!  Our new Forum Q&A topic was submitted by Hannah (thanks so much!):

What do you do for students who stop and get frustrated at every tiny mistake they make? How can we encourage them and help them to know it is okay to make mistakes every now and then?  How can we help them find ways to improve and prevent mistakes without stressing further stressing them out?

Please leave your thoughts in the comments section below this post!

Giveaways

Sep 2012 Giveaway Winner: Noteworks app

It’s time to announce the winner of the Noteworks app giveaway… *drumroll*

  • #23 Julie

Congrats, Julie!  Please check your inbox for an email from me.

Thank you to everyone who entered and shared ideas about improving your students’ note identification skills.  It was so fun to read all the comments!

Still interested in the Noteworks app for iPad?  Hop over to the iTunes store — at $4.99, this app is definitely worth it.  🙂

Early Childhood Music, Group Classes, Music Camps, Printables

Instruments of the Orchestra Study – FREE Orchestra Stage Pieces

With my music homeschool class, we have been studying the instruments of the orchestra.  We started this endeavor a long time ago, starting with completing the Musical Instruments Workbook.  We have also used Robert Levine’s book: The Story of the Orchestra, and frequently played this review game for remembering the names/families of the instruments.

When I found this “stand-up symphony” download from the St. Louis Symphony website, I knew this would be another great way to review the instruments — as well to as learn where the members of the orchestra sit onstage.

This was such a fun class project!  Over the course of a couple of months, we cut out the figures, colored them, and then folded/taped them so they could stand.  Continue reading “Instruments of the Orchestra Study – FREE Orchestra Stage Pieces”

Music History

Introducing…Mozart and Bach Lapbook & Biography Set (GIVEAWAY)

Introducing the addition of a new series of resources to the Color In My Piano shop…

Remember the lapbooks that I blogged about from my recent music history camp?  I finally have Bach and Mozart listed in the shop!  I’ve been using these composer studies with my weekly homeschool music history class too.

Each composer study costs $10 and includes teacher pages, the biography booklet (picture above on the right), and the pages for assembling the lapbook.  Here’s what the inside of the Mozart lapbook looks like:  Continue reading “Introducing…Mozart and Bach Lapbook & Biography Set (GIVEAWAY)”

Music Theory, Reviews, Technology

Review: NoteWorks iPad app & Giveaway

Noteworks – (Links: Free iPhone versionfull iPhone version for $4.99, Free iPad versionfull iPad version for $4.99)  

This app is designed for students to practice identifying notes on the staff and finding the corresponding piano keys.  Noteworks features an adorable little “Munchy” who eats the notes when the student identifies the notes correctly!

Continue reading “Review: NoteWorks iPad app & Giveaway”