Let's Play Music is a three-year foundational music theory and piano course for children beginning with ages 4-5. It emphasizes singing, classical music, note reading, ear training, and piano playing. Its active and playful classes teach intermediate skills and concepts!
Sound Beginnings is a parent and tot class for children ages 0-4. Each musical activity teaches music concepts, preschool concepts and encourages family bonding!
Like "Button, Button, Who's Got The Button." I hold a candy heart between my hands. The children place their hands palms together in front of them while I slide my hands between theirs to the beat of the song. I secretly drop it in one child's hands and the rest of the class gets to try to guess who was so special and loved to get the candy heart! They get SO excited, Love it! Of course, they're all so special and loved ;)
We were all movin' and groovin' to our puppet show we call The Pirate Ship. It's great fun and usually the highlight of the class time for the kids. One curious student asked me, "Who made this song anyway?"
The composer is Johannes Brahams and the title of the piece is Hungarian Dance No. 5.
So there you go you little cutie!
Doing puppet shows to classical music is our way of teaching classical form, tonalities, and themes. The children experience the music and characters as they move the puppets to the music and "act" out each part. Lots and lots of experiencing here allows the child to fully understand these concepts (and many others) of classical music.
I had a question come my way about how to correct a child's hands at the keyboard. Well, here's a relatively short answer made long for you :)
Their children were having a hard time keeping round "bubble hands". Their hands kept drooping below the keys as they would play. Well, this would not do. It's harder to play this way, but injuries could also occur. The correct way of playing is to have rounded fingers, and wrists level with your forearm. So, How do you correct your child's playing position and keep his hands from drooping?
To make sure it wasn't a matter of forgetting or something that just needed more time, I made sure the parents were reminding them to keep a "bubble hand" by saying things that helped them correct it like, "Your bubble popped! Can you fix it?" She was constantly doing that and wanted to know what else she could do. Then I realized the problem was probably caused by them sitting too low at the keyboard. And this brings me to the point of the post.
These little chillins are short! Piano's are for big adults. Your child really should be boosted up on the piano bench 3-5 inches so that their relaxed, ready-to-play forearm, is above the keyboard. Make sense? Their wrists won't fall below the keyboard anymore if they're raised up. I can imagine their "bubbles" would flatten a lot with the weight of their arms working against them. So, a stack of books under the bum should do the trick. While you're at it, place a stack of books or a footstool under their feet too, as their weight should be slightly on their feet.
This video should make it clearer for you :) This is for an adult, but it can still give you an idea.
If you watch little pint sized pianists on youtube, that can give you an idea too. Like this video:
I love Christmas for many obvious reasons, but one thing I especially love about the whole season is all the music that accompanies it. This is the time of the year when you really realize the impact a song can have on you. You can hear the same words spoken over and over, but when those words are put to music, that is when they touch the heart and really sink in. Since music is such a special part of Christmas to me, I always feel the spirit of Christmas more when it is integrated into the celebrations.
My favorite Christmas hymn is Silent Night. It touches my heart when I hear it sung right. I absolutely love when the congregation at church sings it all together. Beautiful! I was excited to be invited to play the violin as part of the program and was happy to sing in the choir as well.
I hope your holidays were wonderful and bright and perhaps filled with music!
Now, onto a new year and a new Let's Play Music semester! Can't wait to see you all this week!
Every student has their ups and downs. Sometimes it's hard to get them to want to practice. I was having one of those days with my son. You know the line, "Why do I have to practice, I hate practicing!!!" Well, earlier that day I was searching for piano concerts at the Mesa Arts Center and came upon an amazing pianist, William Joseph. I remembered this when my son was asking "Why" and said, "I'll show you, come here" As we watched the clip of this man playing, my son got very excited. I said, "See, this is why. This guy used to be just like you and now look how awesome he is. How often do you think he practiced?" Son: "A lot! Can we watch it again?" After about 5 times, he went back to the piano and practiced on his own. Sometimes we just need a little motivation, or inspiration.
Kendra here: My 2.5 year old also enjoyed watching it and wanted to watch it again and again and again!
