“A creative artist works on his next composition because he was not satisfied with his previous one.”
— Dmitri Shostakovich
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.
Rhythm Lab app — $2.99 *for iPad only*
Rhythm Lab is an app created by Jon Ensminger (a piano teacher in Michigan) that is designed to help students improve their sense of rhythm. The app provides a series of graded rhythm examples for students to tap using the large, on-screen buttons. The app even evaluates the accuracy of the students’ performances.
I frequently use printed rhythm cards with my students during their lessons, but I have also been using this app recently with a few of my older students who really need help with rhythm and who have their own iPads at home. During the lesson, we practice a few rhythms and discuss strategies for accurate and musical rhythm performance (e.g., helping the student feel the meter beforehand). Then I can ask students to practice certain rhythms on their own at home. For students to use at home, Rhythm Lab is better than printed rhythm cards because the app can provide students with instant feedback.
There are a variety of one- and two-handed rhythms available, divided into 10 levels. The simplest rhythms feature basic rhythms and time signatures (2/3, 3/4, and 4/4). The more advanced rhythms feature mixed meter (5/4, 7/8, etc) and various tuplets. Continue reading “Review: Rhythm Lab app”
At last Saturday’s Piano Party, I wanted to play the Spell-A-Keyboard game with my students as a team game, but indoors. Since I couldn’t draw keyboards with chalk as I did when we played the game outdoors, I realized that I needed to come up with some other way to provide a floor keyboard for each team.
So, that is why I decided to create this:
It is not as large as a floor keyboard, but it could substitute for one in a pinch. It is just the right size for beanbag games! Perhaps you can find other uses for this large keyboard.
Directions: Download the “Large Keyboard Printable” pdf from the Printables > Other Resources page. Print the pdf on four pieces of cardstock paper. Cut on the dotted lines and then tape together as indicated. When assembled, the keyboard measures approximately 20 inches x 13 inches.
Large Keyboard printable (137.1 KiB, 19,937 hits)
You can print the printable more than once if you want to create a longer section of keyboard.
Let me know if you come up with other creative uses for this keyboard!
Having lived in my town for just over 2 years now, my studio is comprised mostly of beginner and elementary level students. A few months ago, I felt that a handful of my beginners were ready for some early elementary level supplemental books — things that would get them moving around the keyboard more and help prevent them from becoming too “method-ized.” (You know what I mean, right? I don’t like my students to become overly Faber-ized, Alfred-ized, Bastien-ized, or whatever). 🙂
Two years ago at the National Conference on Keyboard Pedagogy, I attended an Exhibitor Session for Willis Music led by Glenda Austin. Most of the session was about composer William Gillock (no longer living) and his wonderful compositions for students. I remember that Glenda introduced the session by stating that many experienced teachers are well aware of Gillock’s extensive output of music for students, but that many younger teachers might not be familiar with his music. I enjoyed that session so much — it was great to learn more about Gillock and his music that has stood the test of time.
Jon George is another composer who has left behind a huge output of wonderful pieces for students. While I am relatively new to his music, no doubt many of you have made great use of Jon George’s music over the years! A few months ago, I decided to order a few of Jon George’s early- and mid- elementary level books to use with my students. I’m so glad I did, because I am thrilled with what I found!
Kaleidoscope Solos – Book 1, by Jon George
Early Elementary.
I love this book. It is very difficult to find such good writing for beginner students. This book contains some of the best writing for the early elementary level that I have ever encountered.
The pieces in this book require students to play with their hands starting at different places on the keyboard, which helps prevent students from getting “locked” into positions such as the Middle C position.
As a teacher, I do my best to encourage students to shape phrases and play musically even when they are beginners and these pieces make it easy to do so! These melodic pieces are inspiring to students and appealing to the ear. The student of mine who received this book is thriving with these pieces. I will be utilizing this series much more in the future.
There are 4 more books available in this series, progressing to an intermediate level. Continue reading “Review: The Music of Jon George”
Remember back in April when I visited Jody and her Piano Cottage? In her waiting room area, she had a blank notebook lying around for students to draw artwork.
After being inspired by Jody, I ordered a blank, hardcover notebook from Amazon for my own waiting room area. It has been a few months now, and I thought I would share a peek at some of the artwork students have created!
Yes, even my cat Coda made it into the notebook! 🙂
Last week was a busy week and I didn’t manage to get a single blog post posted! Hope you missed me — I’m back! 😉
On Saturday, I held a kick-off Pizza Piano Party with my students who are under age 14. My goal with this get-together was for students to get to know each other (especially the new beginners) and to generate some excitement for the new year. Before and after eating our pizza, we played a few simple music games.
First, I let students color and cut-out their own paper piano (download the blank printable here from twink.net). This was a good activity for students to work on as everyone arrived. It also allowed students to chat openly and get to know each other as they worked.
Next, we played a game I called, “Find the Music Note.” It is a musical twist of the old “Find The Thimble” game. I read about this game somewhere online over a year ago — let me know if you have any idea whom I should credit for this game idea.
To play this game, you need something musical to be the thimble. I found the plastic red eighth note pictured below at a thrift store a couple of years ago, knowing it would be useful for something one day! I think it was originally a balloon weight. You can any small little object for this game. I have some music note and piano buttons I bought from a craft store — something like that would work well.
Each round of the game, there is a “Hider” and a “Finder.” The Finder must close their eyes as the Hider finds a good place to hide the “thimble.” All of the other students must pay attention and watch where the Hider puts the thimble. Once the Hider has returned to his/her seat, the Finder may open his/her eyes. As the Finder walks around the room, everyone else must help tell the Finder whether they are getting closer to or further from where the thimble is hidden. Instead of saying “hot” and “cold” as the traditional game goes, I asked students to vocalize high sounds and low sounds. (So they wouldn’t wear out their voices too much, I asked them not to make loud sounds — just high/low.)
We played a few rounds of this game until everyone had a turn to be either the Hider or the Finder. My students had such a blast with this simple game! It is a good party game to use with young students of varying levels.
Next, we played an indoor, team version of the Spell-A-Keyboard game. If anyone is interested, here is the printable for making the floor keyboards pictured below.
The last game we played was what I call the Rhythm Name Game (read about this game here). I use this game frequently at group events because it works well with a group of students at varying levels. Students of any level can stand to improve their sense of rhythm, ear training, and musical memory! This game works well as the last game because gameplay can continue even when students gradually leave with their parents.
I am looking forward to more monthly Piano Parties this year!
This summer, Canadian composer Rebekah Maxner has released a new book, “Madge’s Notebook: A Piano Tribute to The Hunger Games.” When Rebekah emailed me to ask if I’d be willing to review her book, I told her I wasn’t sure if she would want me to review it since I have not yet read the popular “Hunger Games” books. (I know, am I out-of-the-loop or what?) 🙂 She replied that she nonetheless would like to me to review the books — after all, the music should be able to stand on its own. I’m glad Rebekah felt that way, because I enjoyed checking out her music!
“Madge’s Notebook” is intended to be a book of music that will appeal to intermediate students — in particular, tweens, teens, and adults. Rebekah states that the purpose of the book is to meet today’s piano students where they are and to use their interest in book literature to foster interest in piano literature.
This book is one that Rebekah imagines the characters from “The Hunger Games” would have on their piano. The passage in “The Hunger Games” series that inspired Madge’s Notebook is found in the second book of the series, “Catching Fire.”
“Madge’s Notebook” is 28 pages long and contains 11 pieces. The Table of Contents divides the pieces into three sections: (1) Folk Music of District 12, (2) Classics from a Time before Panem, and (3) Piano Music by Madge for Katniss.
Many of the pieces are original compositions, but there are also some interesting pieces inspired by famous piano pieces. Although at first I thought they might be “simplified arrangements,” I think it is more suitable to think of the pieces as “inspired by” famous piano works. The pieces seem to evoke the original classical work, rather than exist merely as a simplified version. Very creative! Continue reading “Sheet Music Review: Madge’s Notebook by Rebekah Maxner”
There are a number of really wonderful facebook groups for piano teachers (the Art of Piano Pedagogy and Professional Piano Teachers come to mind). These groups are a great place to share ideas with other teachers and ask questions.
In particular, I have observed a number of threads asking for repertoire suggestions for a particular student/situation and have been amazed at the collective knowledge and experience shared by the teachers who respond! It is unfortunate that these threads get lost and forgotten over time among the ever-growing number of threads that take place in these facebook groups. Wouldn’t it be great to have a more permanent place where teachers can share their favorite pieces of repertoire for various situations?
Well, now there is! I’ve created a public Google Spreadsheet containing a few different lists:
CLICK HERE to learn more about this spreadsheet. Please take the time to add a piece or two to the list, and please feel free to share about this project with your piano teaching colleagues across the world. The more the merrier!
Wendy Stevens from ComposeCreate.com has some published great new Halloween pieces through Willis Music that you may want to consider for your students this Fall, especially if you are holding a Halloween recital this year.
I don’t know about your students, but my students love pieces where they can tap, knock, snap, etc. during pieces. In this Early Elementary level piece called “The Candy Nabber,” students get to knock on the fallboard during the piece. It also has an optional teacher accompaniment.
Watch the video here:
Click here to view an excerpt of the score on Hal Leonard’s site.
In another Early Elementary solo by Wendy called “A Scream on Halloween,” students get to play a cluster of high, white keys to represent a scream.
Check out this video of Wendy playing her composition:
Click here to view an excerpt of the score on Hal Leonard’s site.
Both of these pieces are great sounding, well-written piano pieces that students will love to learn. Bravo, Wendy!
Disclosure: I received complimentary copies of these two pieces for review, but my reviews are honest as always!
A blog reader kindly sent me these photos of her students completing Bach & Mozart lapbooks as part of a music camp this summer!
These students look like they had a blast!
They also played a “Name That Tune” game that turned into a musical hats game. I can see that the students loved all the hats. 🙂
Thanks for the photos, Mary! If anyone else has photos of their students with lapbooks, please email me! 🙂
“To send light into the darkness of men’s hearts — such is the duty of the artist.”
— Robert Schumann
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.
Remember when I gave a sneak peek at these music history booklets last month? Well, I’m pleased to announce that the Eras of Music History Kit has just been added to the Shop! The kit contains a variety of printable pdf’s for studying the Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and Modern Eras of Western music history.
The four era booklets are the core component of this resource. Each era booklet discusses the stylistic characteristics of the music, the evolution of the piano, and the popular forms composers used. The back of the booklet features a list of major composers and a list of important works from the era. The information has been carefully researched and written in a concise, clear way intended for students age 7+.
This kit also contains a pdf for creating a composer timeline.
There are a few more pdf’s included in the kit:
Most importantly, purchase of the Eras of Music History kit includes a license to be able to print from the pdf’s as much as desired throughout your teaching career, as long as you are using the printed materials with your own students.
The resources within this kit are suitable for all kinds of settings:
And, as you might have guessed, this kit works great alongside a composer lapbook study. 🙂
This resource is designed to make it easier to incorporate more music history into our students’ musical education. Maybe it will be just right for you and your students over the next school year! View the Eras of Music History Kit in the Shop here.
Your Cart is Empty
