This week, I’ve been running my third and final summer music camp! Below is a peek at some the activities we did during camp.
You may not be surprised to learn that I chose lapbooking as the method of learning during our world music camp. Lapbooking works so well for studying composers and it works very well for studying countries, too. 🙂
Continue reading “2013 Music of the World Camp – Sneak Peek”
“Life is for the living.
Death is for the dead.
Let life be like music.
And death a note unsaid.”
— Langston Hughes, from The Collected Poems
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.
Have you heard about the new podcast for piano teachers created by the folks at TeachPianoToday.com? I have enjoyed listening to the first few episodes since they launched their podcast last month (click here to listen to Episode 1 and Episode 2).
So, I was honored when Andrea asked if I would be willing to be a guest for Episode 3, which has been released today! Click the link to listen to our conversation about the challenges of relocating and starting a piano studio again from scratch.
While you are there, be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss TeachPianoToday’s future podcasts and blog posts!
Sebastian Sharp and the Case of the Missing Manuscript is a motivational game created by Michelle Sisler from KeysToImagination.com. This game is designed to help motivate students to practice throughout an entire school year.
Here is a summary of the storyline for the game:
Aunt Bernice has invited her nephew Sebastian and niece Elise to visit. When Sebastian began playing a piano piece in the Misterioso Music Room, a ghostly man suddenly appeared on the piano bench next to him, asking for help. The man said, “I don’t know how you know this song — I JUST wrote it! My manuscript is missing and I must find that song! I think someone in this house stole my music. I must find it!” The student’s job is to help solve Sebastian Sharp and The Case of the Missing Manuscript. Each day the student practices the required amount set by the teacher, s/he will earn a step in the Misterioso Manor. As students visit each room of the Misterioso Manor, they will earn 15 clue cards which will lead them to discover WHEN the ghostly composer lived, WHO the musician was, WHAT piece Sebastian was playing, WHO stole the manuscript and WHY, and WHERE s/he hid it.
Below is a preview of the vinyl boardgame, which measures 2′ x 3′ and can be hung on the wall using thumbtacks. The kit contains 24 game pieces for your students (you can order more if needed). The game pieces have a sticky bottom so they can stick and re-stick to the vinyl board. Students can move their game pieces forwards or backwards on the board, but not diagonally. When students land on or pass a space with a question mark, they earn one of the eight suspect cards. When students move to a red space with footprints, they earn one of the clue cards.
Continue reading “Review: Keys To Imagination’s “Misterioso Manor” Motivational Game”
Some months ago, I found some fun faux keys at a craft store for $1 each (pictured below). I bought 12 of them.
(Can you guess where this is going?) 🙂
Continue reading to find out what I did with them! Plus, download a free 15-page resource of worksheets and more for major + minor key signatures and scales.
Read on.
Continue reading “Music Key Worksheets & More”Your Cart is Empty
