I am so proud of each of my students. Our Spring Recital was held last weekend at 2 different locations (both a first for me). First, at my home and secondly, at a retirement facility. Both worked very well! For younger students playing for their first recital, the intimacy of the home studio was nice. For the older students, playing for the enjoyment of others took away some of the "nerves" that often accompanies a recital. I will definitely look for oppurtunities for my students to have such positive experiences in future recitals! The positive experience of sharing their music with others...
It has been a LONG TIME since I last blogged!
Well, I am writing this to update what is taking place this year. We added a new little one to our family in August. Brycen Steele Polley was born August 20. He is doing well and is such a joy! This brings our total to 6 children/ 5 of them being boys!! (SMH) Because of this new blessing, I have resumed teaching piano lessons this October but will not be teaching Homeschool Music Classes this year. There are still a few spaces available for new students. Feel free to e-mail, call, or text for more information or to enroll your student. The last two weeks of June were the "So You Want to be a Composer ?" camps (written by Joy Morin at colorinmypiano.com) Each day we learned about a different aspect of composing - ex. elements of sound, motives, what all you can do w/ a motive, themes, accompaniment styles, and notation. Then the students would have time to work on a composition of their own, using what we had learned that day. I loved hearing what the students came up with! I would listen each day as they worked at their keyboard stations. I would fret, as I saw their notation, that I would never be able to read that! Then, I would be amazed at what it sounded like and looked like as we transcribed their completed composition. On the last day we held a recital for the students to present their finished compositions to their parents. This was the highlight of the week! I will definitely be doing more composing activities and classes in the future!
Day 2 was about the Musical Alphabet. The team challenge for today was an Alphabet Nerf Gun Shooting Range. Each person recieved one point for each ring they shot through in the correct order. We played a couple of relay games and finished up with Musical Volleyball. Day 3 we learned about the notes on the Treble Staff. It was Water Wars Wendesday! One team stood on the staff, (painted in the backyard by DH) while the other team took target practice with water balloons!! The balloons that hit the correct lines and spaces earned a point. Everyone ended up wet with Flash Card Spash Review after Volleyball and a good 'ole water balloon fight! Day 4 found us inside because it rained the night before and that morning. I set up game centers for the students to rotate around in pairs and play. - A musical rendition of Shut The Box, Musical Hopscotch on the driveway, The Amazing Piano Race (on the piano), and playing songs on Boomwhackers. Then we finished by playing "Living" Go Fish - each person chooses a different note. Campers divide into 4 teams, each team asks if another team has a certain note. If a person is that note, they must join the asking team. When there's no one left to ask, the largest team wins. (This was a favorite!) Day 5 - The Bass Cleff started only 6 points behind the Treble Cleff. We played the favorite relays and games from the week and finished with Musical Volleyball. The Treble Cleff pulled it out!!! Musical Olympics was definitely a hit!!
This week was my first time holding a music camp and I must say it was a BLAST!! We started off with a bang in Musical Olympics!
Day 1 was all about rhythm.The campers were divided into two teams; Team Treble Clef and Team Bass Cleff. Each day the teams tried to reach 100 as a group while keeping a steady beat with the metronome. (This is quite a challenge for this age group) Teams earned points for reaching the highest number. While one team worked on this, the other team was sent on a scavenger hunt in the backyard to find as many notes as possible. Then we began the athletic events! Campers showed their musical and physical prowess competing in Rhythm Value Relay and The Ultimate Rhythm Relay. Next they got to soak their coaches with sponges in Flashcard Splash for each correct answer given. Finally we finished the morning with our daily game of Musical Volleyball - played w/ a beach ball labeled w/ different musical tasks (having to do with rhythm of course). When someone missed or dropped the ball, the whole team had to complete the task. The first team to 10 wins. - Treble Clef won this day! Unfortunately, I do not have pictures from the first two days, but will share pictures of the rest of the week as I write about them. I am very grateful to my husband this week for all his help setting up the activities. I actually think he enjoyed "tagging" our yard with a treble staff : ). Musical Olympics starts in 6 DAYS!!!
The first week of camp is full. But there is still room in all of the other camps. However, the younger camps are getting close to being full. Composer camps for 9-12 yrs. is close to full as well. If your child has an interest in music, likes to create, or learn about history, music camp would be a perfect activity to enjoy with friends!! Check out the dates at Summer Music Camp! Let me know if you need a registration form or if you have any questions. Looking forward to a wonderfully musical summer!!! Today we played what seems to be one of the kids favorite games. It's called Make Me a Rhythm. Each student takes a turn being a composer. When it is their turn, they arrange the other kids to be a note, rest, or note combination to fill up four beats (the older class used Bendaroos instead of human bodies). Then they count their created rhythm together. I was so impressed by what they came up with and were able to count. They were just having fun and I'm sure it did not sound like learning was taking place. I was having fun watching a group of 6-8 yr. olds put together and count correctly eighth notes, sixteenth notes, and triplets and not have any idea it was difficult! The 9-12 yr. class was able to do the same, as well as dotted - eighth sixteenth combinations. When they finished theirs they actually analyzed what they liked and didn't like about it. I have to say again, I was soooo impressed!!
We are wrapping up our final session for the year. Today the youngers finished making the model string orchestra and begin placing them on the stage. However, a tornado came and blew them all down! I will work on making them more secure for next week. The older class worked on finishing their Mozart folders. Oh, and I almost forgot...both classes have now made it to 100 in the counting metronome challenge!! The older class has actually made it 4 or 5 times and have moved up to 90! They have it figured out now, but they have to concentrate. Next week we will have a party with "musical snacks", play some of their favorite games, and bring home their Music History folders and their Orchestra workbooks. I have enjoyed having the privelege of teaching each of these students. It has been fun getting to know them and watching them learn and grow together. Thank you parents for allowing me to teach them!!! I know this is not about music class, but I thought it was really cute. This past Christmas I gave each of our children a music book to play for fun. I thought this was a wonderful idea! They were so excited! But...after hearing all the theme songs to STAR WARS for the last 3 months...
So, I talked to them about reading new music for enjoyment and growth just like they read new books for enjoyment, learning, and growth. I then pulled a stack of music for them to peruse through. They each took a turn looking through the stack throughout the day. Later, after the older children had escaped outdoors to play, I was starting supper and looked around to find Brandon. And there he was taking his turn. Blue Blue Blue Blue
Jello Jello Jello Jello Huckleberry Huckleberry Huckleberry Huckleberry Rest Rest Rest Rest (whispered) These are words your children may be chanting after class this week. I have found a music resource that I absolutely LOVE! It's called Music Mind Games by Michiko Yurko. While searching for a game to teach a musical concept one week, I stumbled upon her website. Imagine my excitement when I found this treasure trove of ideas for how I love to teach best - through games!!! Proven games that she has used over 40 years, trained others internationally to use, created materials to use, and written books to share. Games designed to challenge the studen'ts mind as they grow in knowledge and confidence. I am so excited to start using this for our theory time! The younger students continued creating their model orchestra. We are now ready to place them on "the stage". I will try and remember to post pictures when it is finished. For the older class, we continued the Mozart lapbook and listened to his 12 Variations in C (also known as Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star). I will send out information about field trips later this week. Also, if you are planning on sending your student to music camp, let me know. Right now the first week of Musical Olympics is the only one close to full. Have a great week! The genuine response of children to nature and beauty is so sweet. One of the priveleges of teaching music is being able to observe this special moment when the student hears something that touches them. What makes it even sweeter as a musician is when the response is something I played on the piano for them. Yesterday I played Bach's Prelude in C major for my younger class. They were silent...I reached the end of the piece, they were silent....Then one breaks the silence - "That was beauuuutiful Miss Lisa!!" followed by agreement from the rest of the class. Then, " Can you play the The Pink Panther now?" lol. At least they enjoyed it for a moment...Now, The Pink Panther ended with enthusiastic applause!
This week, we played Pass the Note - a rhythm game, worked on melodic dictation (putting what they hear me sing on the music staff) and began putting our model orchestra together, coloring and cutting out the string section. We're still working on reaching 100 with the metronome. 55 is our highest number so far... We have started using a system of counting called Blue Jello, so if you hear them talking about blue jello in a chant, do not be alarmed. Soon they'll be talking about purple huckleberries, gooseberries, pineapples, and celery, too. The older class started their study on Mozart for this session. This week we listened to The Overture to The Marriage of Figarro, read about Mozart's life, and began working on our Mozart lapbook. I look forward to experiencing many more sweet moments in music class. |
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May 2015
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