“If I were not a physicist, I would probably be a musician. I often think in music. I live my daydreams in music. I see my life in terms of music.”
— Albert Einstein
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 an email off to admin[at]colorinmypiano.com.
Just added to the Printables page: “The Listen & Sign Game.”
This printable corresponds to the game originally described in this post – a game I used in a Piano Mini-Camp held about a month ago. Continue reading “Just Added: “Listen & Sign” Game Printable”
Have you missed me? Due to some technological difficulties, I’ve been unable to post blog entries since late last week. I’m so relieved to finally have things worked out!
Due to the delay, however, our July monthly forum is being extended until (probably) Thursday – so if you’d still like to share your thoughts about piano method books, please do so now!
Meanwhile, here’s a peek into what’s coming up over the next few days/weeks:
“Musical compositions, it should be remembered, do not inhabit certain countries, certain museums, like paintings and statues. The Mozart Quintet is not shut up in Salzburg: I have it in my pocket.”
— Henri Rabaud (1873-1949), French conductor and composer
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 an email off to admin[at]colorinmypiano.com.
Check out this series of 4 videos about Roland’s V-Piano. They claim: “This is the future of the piano.” Thoughts?
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUh21Eje56g&feature=related
In continuation of a description of the music theory activities at our Piano Mini-Camp a few weeks ago, here are more details concerning the activities we used:
Rhythm Dictation Game
This rhythm dictation game by Natalie was a real hit with the students! I printed off two sets of cards and put the students into groups of two so that they could work together. Here’s how the game works:
I tried to clap rhythms according to the approximate level of the groups of students I was teaching, and increased the difficulty of each rhythm as they became accustomed to the process. I also tried to vary the time signatures between 2/4, 3/4, and 4/4. I kept the rhythms to just 2 measures long, unless we were in 2/4 time or unless the students were more advanced.
I think it’s important to have the students be able to clap the rhythm back in its entirety before beginning to dictate it using the cards, because it helps increase their musical memory. Otherwise, they will dictate only 1 or 2 beats at a time, and constantly be asking you to “do it again!” If they can remember it themselves, they can then re-clap it to themselves as needed as they work on dictating it. Continue reading “Music Theory at our Piano Mini-Camp (3/3)”
In continuation of the series about music theory at our piano mini-camp, here are the descriptions of a few more of the activities we did:
Music Adventures Board Game
In my music theory classes, one of my goals was to cover as many areas within the broad scope of “music theory” as I could. The gem stones activity covered 5FPs/scales/key signatures; the rhythm dictation game covered rhythm and ear training, and the Hear & Sign game covered more ear training. This game, called “Music Adventures,” focuses mostly on music terminology, but also on note reading and identifying intervals.
You may recognize this game from the picture on the right: I created this piano-bench-sized board game earlier this year, and it is available for download on the Printables > Other Resources page.
To prepare for this game, we first quickly reviewed some music terms on the chalkboard. Then I set the students loose in teams of 2 to play this music board game. You can vary the length of this game by using either one die or two dice. I had lots of things I wanted to do in my 30-minute classes, so I gave each team two dice. We played this game one time, on the second day of camp.
Susan Paradis’ Music Bingo
I used Susan’s Music Bingo game at a group lesson about a year ago and it was a huge hit, and I thought this was a good opportunity to use it again! I used this game on the last day of camp, and it was quite a fun way to end the day.
To cover the spaces on the Bingo sheet, instead of using the red markers picture on the right we used the same colored glass stones that we used for the gem notes on keyboard & staff activity. One less thing to haul along from home with me to camp. =)
Stay tuned – there is one more post about our music theory activities coming soon!
As promised, here’s more about the Music Theory classes at our Piano Mini-Camp a few weeks ago. I didn’t create formal lesson plans per-se, but the next three posts will serve as a general outline of the activities we did over each of the three camp days.
Gem Notes on the Keyboard & Staff
Using Susan Paradis’ wonderful resources, I created an activity for teaching 5-finger patterns (5FPs) and scales. We used colorful glass stones (from the dollar store) to build 5FPS/scales on her table-top keyboard printable and one of her grand staff printables. After printing everything out on cardstock, I cut out the table-top keyboard so that the students each had one long keyboard and then put each grand staff in a sheet protector.
The students really enjoyed using the colorful “gems.” One little student kept asking me, “Are they REAL GEMS?!” =)
With the younger students, we learned just about 5FPs: how to build them (WWHW) in various keys, and how to make them minor (lower the 3rd). With the more advanced students, we learned about the entire scale (WWHWWWH) in various keys, and how to make them minor (lower the 3rd, 6th, and 7th for natural minor).
We first created the 5FP/scale first on the keyboard (pictured above), and then created it on the staff. The reason I had the student do both is because I think students sometimes fail to make the connection from the keyboard to the staff and vice versa. I intended this activity to be a way to build their understanding of the connection between their playing and what they see on the staff when it comes to 5FP/scales.
In order to notate a sharp or flat on the staff, we used different shaped gem stones (which I also found at the dollar store): an oblong shape. I’m sure you could also just use the different colors to represent the notes with accidentals.
We spent about 10-15 minutes each day on this activity. Each day, we reviewed what was covered the previous day and then added something new to the process (like learning about minor) or tried out other key signatures.
Make A Keyboard Activity
On the first day of camp, I started each theory class with another Susan Paradis activity: Make A Keyboard. I strongly recommend printing this printable onto cardstock paper so it will last longer.
I chose this activity mostly as a warmup activity to get their minds working before moving on to more complex activities. But it’s a good activity to see whether the students remember how the keyboard is laid out without looking. One student had all her black keys in groups of two at first, and couldn’t figure out why she had extra black keys!
I handed each student a small zipper bag with all the piano key pieces inside and told them to “make a keyboard.” This activity took less than 5 minutes to complete. It worked very well as an opening activity!
Stay tuned – more music theory activities from our mini-camp are coming soon! Meanwhile, check out the recent responses to the July Forum topic about piano method books and be sure to contribute your thoughts!
New printable just added:
Piano Lessons Flyer Template (.doc)
Advertise for new piano students by filling in this free Piano Lessons Flyer Template! Just edit and print in Microsoft Word (.doc) and you’ll be ready to post your flyers all over town.
Directions
View the flyer template large below:
Piano Lessons Flyer Template (32.5 KiB, 26,807 hits)
Each day at our piano mini-camp, we opened the day with an opening activity that involved all 11 of the campers together before sending them off in their individual groups to their first class.
On the first day, the opening activity was to create name tags to wear. My colleague found foam sheets that she cut to size and attached ribbon to. Each student wrote their name with marker and decorated their name tag with stickers. They turned out very cute! And they are definitely more durable than cardstock paper. (Mine is pictured on the right. Although I am married, I had the students address me as “Miss Joy” because it is easier to say.)
The second day, we played a rhythm name game to help the students learn each other’s names. Here is the link to the game we played. We found that it was a little bit complicated to be doing complicated body percussion while chanting, so I would recommend simply clapping or tapping one’s thighs to the beat.
On the final day, we made egg shakers which the students could decorate and take home. We filled plastic easter eggs halfway with rice (or however much the student desired to create the sound they wanted) and taped them closed with colored electrical tape (strongly recommended over glue). The students then added stickers. My egg shaker is pictured at right.
I was able to incorporate the egg shakers into my Music Theory class during a dictation game so they could put them to good use! More information about the activities we did in my Music Theory classes coming soon!
This month’s discussion topic is about using method books (i.e., Alfred, Faber, Bastien, etc.) in the piano studio:
What do you look for in a method book? What features are most important to you? Do you use the same method series for all your students, or do you use a variety? If you use a variety of different method books in your studio, how do you decide which one is right for each student? Do you use a method series all the way through the final level, or do you take them out at some point?
Post away! =)
Photo credit: ragingtornado | CC 2.0
“I am tired before the concert, not afterward.“
— Artur Rubinstein
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 an email off to admin[at]colorinmypiano.com.
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