Category Archives: group classes

4 New Composer Lapbooks

Over the past week, I have added four new Great Composers & Their Music lapbook studies to the Color In My Piano shop! The first one is John Cage.  I mentioned this lapbook before, when I blogged about my October Piano Party.  I think this composer study was my favorite one to teach so far! [...]

Also posted in music camps, music history | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

My October Piano Party

Last week, I blogged a little about my first “Piano Party” – the first of hopefully many more group classes I hold for my students!  On Friday, I held our 2nd Piano Party for October. I was so glad to observe my students greeting each other by name as they arrived.  They recognized each other from [...]

Also posted in music history | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Fingerplay Puppets

Thanks to Pinterest, I recently came across a blogger who designed some charming little finger puppets to go along with a few fingerplay songs she enjoys singing with her son!  Her name is Kate, from the picklebums.com blog, and she generously offers each of the printables pictured below for free.  I assembled a set of [...]

Also posted in Preschool / Early Childhood Music, resources / links | Tagged , , , , | 3 Responses

My New Monthly Group Lessons: “Piano Parties”

Now that I have enough students to do so, I have begun holding monthly group lessons with my students.  I tried it a few times last year, but ended up with a poor turnout both times.  Fortunately, now I have enough students to make it worth the effort.  I call them “Piano Parties.” Right now, [...]

Also posted in games, settings: | Tagged , , , | 20 Responses

3 New Composer Lapbook sets Now Available

Three new Great Composers Lapbook & Biography sets have been added to the ColorInMyPiano Shop! They are: Robert Schumann…

Also posted in music camps, music history | Tagged , , | 1 Response

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 endeaver 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 [...]

Also posted in beginners / elementary Level, music camps, other resources, Preschool / Early Childhood Music | Tagged , , , | 4 Responses

Freebie: Signs for Beginner Piano

Over the last few months, I’ve created a collection of signs to use with my Piano Readiness and Homeschool Music classes: I use them during class when I am teaching or reviewing concepts.  They can be useful for games too.  For example, I like to have students hold up or point to the correct symbol [...]

Also posted in beginners / elementary Level, other resources, Preschool / Early Childhood Music, private lessons | Tagged , , , | 7 Responses

Freebie: Music History Periods Lapbook Study

Last week, I blogged all about my recent Music History camp and I also promised a free download of the lapbook of the music history periods.  The pdf is ready for download!  Read on for the details.

Also posted in advanced level, beginners / elementary Level, intermediate level, music camps, music history, other resources | Tagged , , , , | 6 Responses

Introducing…The Color In My Piano Shop!

Greetings! I have a big announcement today: I have just added a “Shop” page to ColorInMyPiano.com, where I have listed a few items for sale!  Don’t worry…I’ll always share lots of freebies too, but I have some bigger projects that I’d like to make available in the shop.  :)  Right now, I’ve got two items [...]

Also posted in private lessons, rhythm | Tagged , , | 3 Responses

Blickenstaff’s Performance Practice “Rules of Thumb”

Last October, well-loved pedagogue Marvin Blickenstaff appeared at the Ohio Music Teachers Conference I attended.  I blogged a summary of my notes from a great session he gave called “Performance Practice Made Easy”, which was all about “Rules of Thumb” to give for students during group classes about playing musically.  If you would like more details [...]

Also posted in 2011 OhioMTA, advanced level, intermediate level, resources / links | Tagged , | 1 Response

Spell-A-Keyboard Game

This morning with my homeschool music class, I played this game with my students: As I was lesson planning last night, I was trying to think of a new way to practice the names of the piano keys.  My homeschool music class is mostly a music history class, but we’ve been learning basic music/piano concepts [...]

Also posted in beginners / elementary Level, games, games, music camps, private lessons | Tagged , , , , , | 11 Responses

Rhythm Value Cards for Dictation and More

Here they are…the rhythm value cards I mentioned in my post yesterday!

Also posted in ear training, games, games, music camps, printables, private lessons, rhythm | Tagged , , , , , | 15 Responses