Goodday ya'll
It was a tremendous adventure we had in Musicland with Valerie, Lila,Katelyn and Maggie as learned about Caves and Castles, our friends inMusicland, and Rhythm, Tempo and Dynamics etc. I believe each of thestudents have absorbed many aspects of music, and I hope that you willcontinue to nurture the enjoyment of music in your child's life.
My original goal was that the kids will learn the names of the noteson the piano, have age-appropriate control of left and right handfingers, and play Twinkle Twinkle Little Star by heart. Although noone was ready to play "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" by heart,hopefully the building blocks are there and the printed sheet music(with alternate words) is found in the back of the Musicland ActivityBook.
WHATS NEXT?
"Alumni" of Musicland Adventures 1 get 50% for a future group classsession with other kids since the similar material will be repeated.My regular piano students began formal private lessons at age 7,though age six is probably a good age to start in my opinion.
For your child's age at present, I truly recommend "Music for YoungChildren" more information and local area teachers found athttp://www.myc.com/. Maggie had enrolled in the Sunrise program this pastsummer.
YELLOWCAT PUBLISHING GAMES
Here is the website where I purchased the Musicland books for myprogram. Here is a link to their games too.http://www.yellowcatpublishing.com/category.cfm?id=5If you are interested, I have on hand a few items to sell: MusiclandPlay at the Piano game $5, F Clef Deck $5 and G Clef Deck $5, RhythmKitchen Rhythm reader (4 stories, $6). The game we used in class withthe full-colour piano keyboard game is available on order for $12.95plus $3 shipping.
KINDERCONCERT SERIES
The NAC offers terrific concerts for children aged 3 to 8.All concerts are held in the NAC Panorama Room on the floor. Bring acomfy cushion and join in the fun!http://nac-cna.ca/en/family/kinderconcerts.cfmBuy tickets online, about $6.50 each.
Best wishes,
Deborah Tang
I am a new Suzuki Piano Teacher with many years of experience teaching classical piano at the beginners and intermediate levels to children of all ages. I am creating this blog to capture some of my rough notes from teacher training, pedagogy books, workshops and experiences from my own studio. The earlier entries are taken from the lesson notes for the pre-Twinkle level class I had taught outside the formal Suzuki method. Your comments and feedback are most helpful. Enjoy!
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Lesson 9: Beethoven's Concert
Lesson Overview
1. Music Performance. I played half of a lengthy song called "Fantasiein D minor by Mozart" so the kids could identify all aspects of speed- adagio, moderato allegro and even presto; and dynamics - forte andpiano sounds.
2. Felt piano game. We built four octaves of the Musicland keyboardtogether. Placement of the black keys is a "reverse" exercise.
3. Read the same information from the previous lesson.
We played Twinkle Twinkle Little Star in steps. Use one finger and let the wholehand leap to the next note.
* Cat leap to Giant; play cat cat giant giant
* Step up one to Orange Clock; clock clock giant (lean on this longer)
* Stepping down and playing notes twice; fairy fairy elf elf dragon dragon Cat
The tune will seem familiar to you, just try your best to play in the correct time though slow.
In fact this song is in the last page of the Musicland Activity Book.
Sorry this is short, but we'll see you next time.
Deborah
1. Music Performance. I played half of a lengthy song called "Fantasiein D minor by Mozart" so the kids could identify all aspects of speed- adagio, moderato allegro and even presto; and dynamics - forte andpiano sounds.
2. Felt piano game. We built four octaves of the Musicland keyboardtogether. Placement of the black keys is a "reverse" exercise.
3. Read the same information from the previous lesson.
We played Twinkle Twinkle Little Star in steps. Use one finger and let the wholehand leap to the next note.
* Cat leap to Giant; play cat cat giant giant
* Step up one to Orange Clock; clock clock giant (lean on this longer)
* Stepping down and playing notes twice; fairy fairy elf elf dragon dragon Cat
The tune will seem familiar to you, just try your best to play in the correct time though slow.
In fact this song is in the last page of the Musicland Activity Book.
Sorry this is short, but we'll see you next time.
Deborah
Lesson 8: Tick Tick with Albert Alarm Clock
LESSON OVERVIEW
1) Winding Albert Alarm Clock in Musical Time: TEMPO
2) Structural components of "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star"
The students learned about tempo, which is the speed at which themusic is to be played. However the kids can relate to real worldexamples as you will see on pg 14 of the Activity Book.
ADAGIO - italian for a slow, walking pace could be the rate ofmovement for a snail or turtle perhaps.
MODERATO - italian for a moderate pace; like walking, gliding
ALLEGRO - italian for fast; think of a racecare, firetruck etc.
We danced to a few songs to illustrate the tempo changes ie. TheLittle Caterpillar (lullaby-like), Flight of the Bumblebee (find thisclassic xylophone song on youtube if you like), and "Let's All Make aGreat Big Circle" at the three different tempos.
The kids should have been practising the UP scale, CDEFG while singing"Step-ping Up So High!"
Components of Twinkle Twinkle
i) A giant skip (interval) C leap to G, say Cat to Giant.
ii) GFEDC down scaleENRICHMENT: iii) Play the down scale sequence repeating each note twice.
HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT
1) Read the Orange chapter about Albert Alarm Clock. (read ahead oftime and choose to summarize or paraphrase to keep it brief)
2) Tempo Review Pg 14
3) Play the UP scale sequence, starting at every "Cat" on the piano*
4) Review the giant leap, Cat to Giant*
5) Play the DOWN scale sequence(s), with one finger.*
* Refer to the hand formation tips above! We have two more classes to bring us to the end of the session,Musicland Adventures 1. These books maybe used again for further studyeven for private lessons.
Musicland Piano Keyboard GAME:
Comes with a spinner and a full 88 keycolour-coded keyboard. The students will leap up (sometimes down) thekeyboard from Home to Musicland. $12.95 website price. If you areinterested we can do a combined order and split the shipping cost.Please let me know!
Thank you for reading.
1) Winding Albert Alarm Clock in Musical Time: TEMPO
2) Structural components of "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star"
The students learned about tempo, which is the speed at which themusic is to be played. However the kids can relate to real worldexamples as you will see on pg 14 of the Activity Book.
ADAGIO - italian for a slow, walking pace could be the rate ofmovement for a snail or turtle perhaps.
MODERATO - italian for a moderate pace; like walking, gliding
ALLEGRO - italian for fast; think of a racecare, firetruck etc.
We danced to a few songs to illustrate the tempo changes ie. TheLittle Caterpillar (lullaby-like), Flight of the Bumblebee (find thisclassic xylophone song on youtube if you like), and "Let's All Make aGreat Big Circle" at the three different tempos.
The kids should have been practising the UP scale, CDEFG while singing"Step-ping Up So High!"
Components of Twinkle Twinkle
i) A giant skip (interval) C leap to G, say Cat to Giant.
ii) GFEDC down scaleENRICHMENT: iii) Play the down scale sequence repeating each note twice.
HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT
1) Read the Orange chapter about Albert Alarm Clock. (read ahead oftime and choose to summarize or paraphrase to keep it brief)
2) Tempo Review Pg 14
3) Play the UP scale sequence, starting at every "Cat" on the piano*
4) Review the giant leap, Cat to Giant*
5) Play the DOWN scale sequence(s), with one finger.*
* Refer to the hand formation tips above! We have two more classes to bring us to the end of the session,Musicland Adventures 1. These books maybe used again for further studyeven for private lessons.
Musicland Piano Keyboard GAME:
Comes with a spinner and a full 88 keycolour-coded keyboard. The students will leap up (sometimes down) thekeyboard from Home to Musicland. $12.95 website price. If you areinterested we can do a combined order and split the shipping cost.Please let me know!
Thank you for reading.
Hand and posture at the piano
Hey Parents
Just to remind you that YES we will have a class on Wednesday Nov 11,because I believe it's still a regular work day/ school day except forthe minute of silence. Though please let me know if you think there isa reason you can't make it or we should postpone it? Please take amoment to read the important notes below, with the lesson overview,homework assignment, optional game purchase. And remember to ask meabout the FREE PIANO!
POSTURE & HAND FORMATIONAt this young age, the students should own an adjustable piano benchat home. However, since these aren't formal piano lessons it's ok tosit on pillows or a phone book to prop up the height so that the armis nearly parallel with the floor (as safely enough as possible). Byage 7, this will not be a real issue. Sit up straight and tall. Have afoot stool at the bottom to support the feet (and prevent them fromsliding forward and playing with the pedals!)
It is very wrong to make a flat, grotesque cat claw like shape of thehand!!!!!! I'm stressing this because I saw this on Wednesday. Oddlyenough, this happens when we put too much stress on the child to make"curved fingers". Instead, emphasize a relaxed hand. Turn the handsover like you're cradling a snowball or giant soap bubble. Turn thefingers to the keyboard again and all the fingers will be relaxed. Theidea is keep the little joint closest to the finger nails, strong soas not to bend inwards. The fingers will hold up the weight of thehand and arm. Use the one chosen finger, let the other inactivefingers just hand around and stay in relaxed shape; use the hand asone unit connected to your arm at the wrist. Try it for yourself!Please come and see if you need me to explain this better in person.
Play the sequence C-D-E-F-G with the same finger, say middle finger,everywhere on the piano. Maggie is able to do this (possibly random)but she is exploring this unique sound of notes in a recognizablesequence.Enrichment: If you play A-B-C-D-E you will get a noticably different mood.
Just to remind you that YES we will have a class on Wednesday Nov 11,because I believe it's still a regular work day/ school day except forthe minute of silence. Though please let me know if you think there isa reason you can't make it or we should postpone it? Please take amoment to read the important notes below, with the lesson overview,homework assignment, optional game purchase. And remember to ask meabout the FREE PIANO!
POSTURE & HAND FORMATIONAt this young age, the students should own an adjustable piano benchat home. However, since these aren't formal piano lessons it's ok tosit on pillows or a phone book to prop up the height so that the armis nearly parallel with the floor (as safely enough as possible). Byage 7, this will not be a real issue. Sit up straight and tall. Have afoot stool at the bottom to support the feet (and prevent them fromsliding forward and playing with the pedals!)
It is very wrong to make a flat, grotesque cat claw like shape of thehand!!!!!! I'm stressing this because I saw this on Wednesday. Oddlyenough, this happens when we put too much stress on the child to make"curved fingers". Instead, emphasize a relaxed hand. Turn the handsover like you're cradling a snowball or giant soap bubble. Turn thefingers to the keyboard again and all the fingers will be relaxed. Theidea is keep the little joint closest to the finger nails, strong soas not to bend inwards. The fingers will hold up the weight of thehand and arm. Use the one chosen finger, let the other inactivefingers just hand around and stay in relaxed shape; use the hand asone unit connected to your arm at the wrist. Try it for yourself!Please come and see if you need me to explain this better in person.
Play the sequence C-D-E-F-G with the same finger, say middle finger,everywhere on the piano. Maggie is able to do this (possibly random)but she is exploring this unique sound of notes in a recognizablesequence.Enrichment: If you play A-B-C-D-E you will get a noticably different mood.
Lesson 4: Resting
Hello Everyone.
Musicland Adventures, Musicbytes 4
1. Lesson Overview
2. Homework Assignment
3. Other
4. Free Heintzman piano, delivery included!
LESSON OVERVIEW: Resting With Green Elf
Katelyn dressed as Blue Fairy; Lila the pink princess; convincedMaggie to wear a blue princess outfit, and Valerie wore a green-purpledragon outfit until it got too warm.
The students learned about the concept of a rest (musical notationwhich denotes silence) and we used the song B-I-N-G-O as an example ofwhen a note is substituted by "Shhhh!" You can read the story from thechapter in green again. It was a very quiet, calm and sleepy classbecause we also had some quiet time and listened to lullabies :)
A whole rest (looks like a hole or Green Elf's belt) = long rest forfour beats like,Teddy bear sle-e-e-ep!
A half rest (looks like Green Elf's hat) = a long rest for two beats like,Teddy bear stand-ing, stand-ing.
A quarter rest (like a squigge) = a rest for one beat, which wouldreplace a quarter note like,Teddy bear walk, walk, walk, walk.
Refer to page 10 and 11 in the Activity Book. For example, all the children were able to recognize that the notes were printed as Red Giant, Orange Alarm Clock, Brown Beethoven, Yellow Cat, PurpleDragon, Yellow Cat
HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT
1. Read and speak the song in time, on pg 10. You can also play thiswith your child. They are beginning to understand the concept that themusic on the page tells you what notes you're supposed to play.
2. Play the song on pg 11 following the notes specified. Guide yourchild to use the specified fingers, or else choose to use one samefinger for all the notes, that's ok too.
3. Keep on reviewing Caves, Castles, finding Yellow Cat, PurpleDragon, Green Elf etc.
I was shocked when even Maggie said, here's a cave, here's a castle!
PLEASE BRING
Please bring the Trace and Play book or next week. We are ready towrite some music.
Have a good week!Just a reminder that my co-worker is still offering his 100 year old Heintzman piano for grabs, delivery included!
Musicland Adventures, Musicbytes 4
1. Lesson Overview
2. Homework Assignment
3. Other
4. Free Heintzman piano, delivery included!
LESSON OVERVIEW: Resting With Green Elf
Katelyn dressed as Blue Fairy; Lila the pink princess; convincedMaggie to wear a blue princess outfit, and Valerie wore a green-purpledragon outfit until it got too warm.
The students learned about the concept of a rest (musical notationwhich denotes silence) and we used the song B-I-N-G-O as an example ofwhen a note is substituted by "Shhhh!" You can read the story from thechapter in green again. It was a very quiet, calm and sleepy classbecause we also had some quiet time and listened to lullabies :)
A whole rest (looks like a hole or Green Elf's belt) = long rest forfour beats like,Teddy bear sle-e-e-ep!
A half rest (looks like Green Elf's hat) = a long rest for two beats like,Teddy bear stand-ing, stand-ing.
A quarter rest (like a squigge) = a rest for one beat, which wouldreplace a quarter note like,Teddy bear walk, walk, walk, walk.
Refer to page 10 and 11 in the Activity Book. For example, all the children were able to recognize that the notes were printed as Red Giant, Orange Alarm Clock, Brown Beethoven, Yellow Cat, PurpleDragon, Yellow Cat
HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT
1. Read and speak the song in time, on pg 10. You can also play thiswith your child. They are beginning to understand the concept that themusic on the page tells you what notes you're supposed to play.
2. Play the song on pg 11 following the notes specified. Guide yourchild to use the specified fingers, or else choose to use one samefinger for all the notes, that's ok too.
3. Keep on reviewing Caves, Castles, finding Yellow Cat, PurpleDragon, Green Elf etc.
I was shocked when even Maggie said, here's a cave, here's a castle!
PLEASE BRING
Please bring the Trace and Play book or next week. We are ready towrite some music.
Have a good week!Just a reminder that my co-worker is still offering his 100 year old Heintzman piano for grabs, delivery included!
Lesson3: Flight Training
Hey Parents!
MUSICBYTES 31. Lesson overview2. Homework3. Yellowcat Publishing website4. Free piano5. Dress up for next lesson!
OVERVIEW"Flight Training with Blue Fairy". See Chapter 4 in the storybook, blue pages. Learn the Flight Rules: Note, Key Finger (NKF)
Which note is on the music sheet?
Which key is it on the piano?
Which finger should I use?
We started with a game of CAT Bingo to review the note values. I was quite impressed that the kids could recognize a whole note, half note and pick out the dot to make three beats. Plus the eighth note pairs and quarter notes. They're good at picking out the Caves and Castles, and also Cat, Dragon and Giant etc on the coloured keyboard I have for the Musicland Game.
HOME ASSIGNMENT
1) Trace the child's hands on the back of the book and date it. LabelUP hand for the right hand and DOWN for the left hand. Number thefingers 1 for thumb through to 5 for pinky. Sing the song, "Where isThumpkin" and wiggle the fingers.
2) Keep playing "Pancakes" on the two black key caves, and "PumpkinPie" on the three black key castles. Practice this as a structured activity. For free play, let them play any combination of black keysonly (it may sound "Chinese").* Remember to keep the hand in a gentle formation, like you're holdinga soap bubble. The little finger joints shall be strong.
3) Practise the song Flying High in the activity book, blue pages.Follow the instructions, perhaps an adult could play the other songsin the section too following the characters in the story.. This is an intro to note reading.
4) Review the Blue Fairy Flight Rules - NKF (see above).
YELLOWCAT PUBLISHING
http://www.yellowcatpublishing.com/product_details.cfm?id=36&cid=5 Yan had asked me about the Musicland Keyboard game we were playing. Here it is online from the Yellowcat store. If you are interested inthat or anything else, perhaps you can let me know and we can do agroup order because shipping from the USA is very expensive.
FREE PIANO
My co-worker is offering his 100 year old Heintzman piano, includingfree delivery (really?). I have some reservations about older pianos,but I haven't seen this one, and Heintzman is supposed to be a goodCanadian built brand. It is an upright piano. Please let me know ifyou are interested or if you know someone who is, ASAP. He got it forfree so he wanted to give it for free too.
DRESSUP
It's October 27 but maybe the kids will enjoy a bit of dressup astheir favorite musicland character, even if it is not in the exactcolour. For example, if I can convince Maggie to dressup as agreen/Purple Dragon or Red Giant ladybug, that would be cute.
Please remember to bring the Activity Book and Trace and Play book.
Deborah
MUSICBYTES 31. Lesson overview2. Homework3. Yellowcat Publishing website4. Free piano5. Dress up for next lesson!
OVERVIEW"Flight Training with Blue Fairy". See Chapter 4 in the storybook, blue pages. Learn the Flight Rules: Note, Key Finger (NKF)
Which note is on the music sheet?
Which key is it on the piano?
Which finger should I use?
We started with a game of CAT Bingo to review the note values. I was quite impressed that the kids could recognize a whole note, half note and pick out the dot to make three beats. Plus the eighth note pairs and quarter notes. They're good at picking out the Caves and Castles, and also Cat, Dragon and Giant etc on the coloured keyboard I have for the Musicland Game.
HOME ASSIGNMENT
1) Trace the child's hands on the back of the book and date it. LabelUP hand for the right hand and DOWN for the left hand. Number thefingers 1 for thumb through to 5 for pinky. Sing the song, "Where isThumpkin" and wiggle the fingers.
2) Keep playing "Pancakes" on the two black key caves, and "PumpkinPie" on the three black key castles. Practice this as a structured activity. For free play, let them play any combination of black keysonly (it may sound "Chinese").* Remember to keep the hand in a gentle formation, like you're holdinga soap bubble. The little finger joints shall be strong.
3) Practise the song Flying High in the activity book, blue pages.Follow the instructions, perhaps an adult could play the other songsin the section too following the characters in the story.. This is an intro to note reading.
4) Review the Blue Fairy Flight Rules - NKF (see above).
YELLOWCAT PUBLISHING
http://www.yellowcatpublishing.com/product_details.cfm?id=36&cid=5 Yan had asked me about the Musicland Keyboard game we were playing. Here it is online from the Yellowcat store. If you are interested inthat or anything else, perhaps you can let me know and we can do agroup order because shipping from the USA is very expensive.
FREE PIANO
My co-worker is offering his 100 year old Heintzman piano, includingfree delivery (really?). I have some reservations about older pianos,but I haven't seen this one, and Heintzman is supposed to be a goodCanadian built brand. It is an upright piano. Please let me know ifyou are interested or if you know someone who is, ASAP. He got it forfree so he wanted to give it for free too.
DRESSUP
It's October 27 but maybe the kids will enjoy a bit of dressup astheir favorite musicland character, even if it is not in the exactcolour. For example, if I can convince Maggie to dressup as agreen/Purple Dragon or Red Giant ladybug, that would be cute.
Please remember to bring the Activity Book and Trace and Play book.
Deborah
Lesson 2: Rhythm Kitchen
Hey Everyone
We learned about music notation in the Rhythm Kitchen last class. We also played a few matching games related to music from "LittleEinsteins". I have attached a copy of the Rhythm Kitchen story inChapter 3 of the Adventures in Musicland Storybook. I found that theoriginal story format was too long so I will continue to "rewrite" thestory and send these to you. You can print it off and tape it insidethe book if you like.
1. Please review the Rhythm Kitchen food items on pg 6 in the ActivityBook. For example, Valerie was very good at picking out the notepattern that would match with the spoken word syllables for the fooditem. BREAD... is a long sound, like a whole note; AP-PLE-PIE is likethree quarter notes; PEA-NUT BUT-TER SAND-WHICHES is like a group ofeighth notes joined together and "sand" being a longer sound like aquarter note. Children understand food!
2. Play the two black key-CAVES and three black key-CASTLES in abroken format with one finger still to match patterns like PAN-CAKESand PUMP-KIN-PIE respectively. Invent other food words to use.
3. Continue to find Cat, Dragon, Elf and Giant and other ones too if you like.
Get ready for "Flight Training with Blue Fairy" next time.
Have a good weekend!Deborah
We learned about music notation in the Rhythm Kitchen last class. We also played a few matching games related to music from "LittleEinsteins". I have attached a copy of the Rhythm Kitchen story inChapter 3 of the Adventures in Musicland Storybook. I found that theoriginal story format was too long so I will continue to "rewrite" thestory and send these to you. You can print it off and tape it insidethe book if you like.
1. Please review the Rhythm Kitchen food items on pg 6 in the ActivityBook. For example, Valerie was very good at picking out the notepattern that would match with the spoken word syllables for the fooditem. BREAD... is a long sound, like a whole note; AP-PLE-PIE is likethree quarter notes; PEA-NUT BUT-TER SAND-WHICHES is like a group ofeighth notes joined together and "sand" being a longer sound like aquarter note. Children understand food!
2. Play the two black key-CAVES and three black key-CASTLES in abroken format with one finger still to match patterns like PAN-CAKESand PUMP-KIN-PIE respectively. Invent other food words to use.
3. Continue to find Cat, Dragon, Elf and Giant and other ones too if you like.
Get ready for "Flight Training with Blue Fairy" next time.
Have a good weekend!Deborah
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