Category Archives: piano camps

Just Added: Rainy Rhythm Game

By joy (admin) | Published: 22 September 2011

I’ve mentioned before that during grad school, I took an Early Childhood Music course.  One of the things we discussed was using the “sound before sight” philosophy – where the student is exposed to and experiences the concepts before being taught the name or the written notation.  I’ve been doing my best to use this [...]

Also posted in beginners / elementary Level, early childhood music, games, group keyboard classes, other resources, printables, private lessons, rhythm, studio class / group lessons | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Carpet Squares for Working With Groups

By joy (admin) | Published: 12 September 2011

Many months ago, I bought a bunch of carpet square samples from a flooring store.  Even though I was still in grad school at the time and didn’t have any real use for them (yet), I had a plan for them.  And they were incredibly cheap.  :) During last week’s Piano Readiness Class, I got [...]

Also posted in beginners / elementary Level, games, group keyboard classes, intermediate level, settings:, studio class / group lessons | Tagged , , , | 8 Comments

MiniMusic Kit for Early Childhood Music Classes

By joy (admin) | Published: 11 August 2011

In my last post, I mentioned the MiniMusic kit by Paula Manwaring (Kjos Publishing) that I purchased while I was at the NCKP conference.  The photos and description of this curriculum on the Kjos Publishing website do not do it justice!  So I decided to show you some photos I took myself.  I think many [...]

Also posted in 2011 NCKP, beginners / elementary Level, conferences, early childhood music, resources / links, studio class / group lessons | Tagged , , , , | 9 Comments

Improvisation Activity: Rory’s Story Cubes

By joy (admin) | Published: 22 April 2011

Before I begin, allow me to give credit where credit is due for this wonderful idea: I got this idea from Laura on her blog (click here).  I was so thrilled to see her idea of using these “story cubes” for improvisation with piano students! Meet “Rory’s Story Cubes.” Rory’s Story Cubes consist of a [...]

Also posted in beginners / elementary Level, composition, early childhood music, games, improvisation, private lessons, studio class / group lessons | Tagged , , , , , | 7 Comments

Interview: Keri & Carolyn from Piano Stars

By joy (admin) | Published: 21 March 2011

Meet Keri and Carolyn.  They are two cousins and piano teachers out of Canada who teamed up to establish their successful piano studio, Piano Stars.  They also sell some unique and original piano teaching materials on their website (click here) and on Etsy.  When I stumbled across their Etsy shop one day, I just had [...]

Also posted in games, interviews, studio business | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Just Added: Rhythm Value Posters

By joy (admin) | Published: 28 February 2011

Just added to the Printables > Other Resources page: “Rhythm Value Posters” (Click the above link and scroll down to the r’s.) These posters are perfect for games.  They could also be hung up in your music studio as a reference if your walls need some life. Below is a game that can be played [...]

Also posted in beginners / elementary Level, by student's level, ear training, games, intermediate level, movement, other resources, rhythm, studio class / group lessons | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Just Added: Printable Musical Dice

By joy (admin) | Published: 7 February 2011

Just added to the Printables page: Musical Dice! This is one of the projects I was working on over Christmas break!  I’m happy to now have it finished and posted.  =) Here’s what the pdf contains: Basic Accidentals (6-sided dice) | This die allows for three possible rolls: sharp, flat, and natural. Basic Intervals Unison-3rd [...]

Also posted in games, other resources, printables, private lessons, studio class / group lessons | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

DIY: Ribbon Rings for Music & Movement Activities

By joy (admin) | Published: 10 January 2011

I got the idea for this craft from Kara’s Creative Place blog (thanks for the brilliant idea, Kara!).  Ribbon Rings (Kara’s example is pictured at right) are a fun prop for movement activities with young students during group lessons, camps, or early childhood music classes.  Kids love fluttering the ribbons of these props while they [...]

Also posted in beginners / elementary Level, early childhood music, games, intermediate level, studio class / group lessons | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

DIY: Musical AlphaGems

By joy (admin) | Published: 8 November 2010

I recently have made what I have decided to call “Musical AlphaGems.”  These fun little gems have many uses: they fit well on my DIY Silent Mini Keyboards and also work well on paper printed of the staff (such as this one by Susan Paradis, which is pictured in the second photo below). I got [...]

Also posted in games, music theory, other resources, settings:, studio class / group lessons | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

2010 MMTA Conference (4): Functional Skills are Important by Martha Hilley

By joy (admin) | Published: 29 October 2010

What follows are the notes I took from a session with Martha Hilley at the 2010 Michigan Music Teachers Association conference. FUNCTIONAL SKILLS ARE IMPORTANT TO EVERYONE ~ by Martha Hilley “Functional skills” include skills such as harmonization, improvisation, transposition, rhythm, and theory.  There are many fun ways to incorporate functional skills into group/private settings.  Today [...]

Also posted in conferences, improvisation, private lessons, rhythm, sightreading, studio class / group lessons | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment
Rss Feed Tweeter button Facebook button Technorati button Linkedin button Webonews button Delicious button Digg button Stumbleupon button Newsvine button Youtube button