<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss version="2.0" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:wfw="http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/" xmlns:slash="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/slash/" xmlns:georss="http://www.georss.org/georss" xmlns:geo="http://www.w3.org/2003/01/geo/wgs84_pos#" > <channel> <title>Music History – The Playful Piano</title> <atom:link href="https://www.theplayfulpiano.com/tag/music-history/feed/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" /> <link>https://www.theplayfulpiano.com</link> <description>Helping you become everyone's favorite piano teacher!</description> <lastBuildDate>Fri, 08 Dec 2023 17:01:06 +0000</lastBuildDate> <language>en-US</language> <sy:updatePeriod> hourly </sy:updatePeriod> <sy:updateFrequency> 1 </sy:updateFrequency> <generator>https://wordpress.org/?v=6.7.2</generator> <image> <url>https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/cropped-logo-square-icon1.jpg?fit=32%2C32&ssl=1</url> <title>Music History – The Playful Piano</title> <link>https://www.theplayfulpiano.com</link> <width>32</width> <height>32</height> </image> <site xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">94970687</site> <item> <title>9 Reasons to Teach Music History</title> <link>https://www.theplayfulpiano.com/9-reasons-to-teach-music-history/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=9-reasons-to-teach-music-history</link> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Jennifer Boster]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Fri, 08 Dec 2023 17:01:02 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Blog]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Featured Posts]]></category> <category><![CDATA[music appreciation]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Music History]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.theplayfulpiano.com/?p=15078</guid> <description><![CDATA[As piano teachers we have so many things we need to teach our students! Not only are we teaching them an entirely new language – how to understand it, how to read it, how to write it – but we are also teaching them how to play correctly, how to listen and create beautiful sounds,<br><a class="moretag" href="https://www.theplayfulpiano.com/9-reasons-to-teach-music-history/">+ Read More</a>]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[ <p>As piano teachers we have so many things we need to teach our students! Not only are we teaching them an entirely new language – how to understand it, how to read it, how to write it – but we are also teaching them how to play correctly, how to listen and create beautiful sounds, how to practice, how to memorize, how to perform, and much more! On top of all that, I believe we should be teaching music history to our piano students. I know, I know…there are only so many minutes in a lesson! It may be a challenge to fit it in, but I believe that it is worth it and it is important, for these 9 reasons:</p> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><a href="https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/2-2.png?ssl=1"><img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" width="690" height="690" src="https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/2-2.png?resize=690%2C690&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-15086" style="width:352px;height:auto" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/2-2.png?resize=1024%2C1024&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/2-2.png?resize=300%2C300&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/2-2.png?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1 150w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/2-2.png?resize=768%2C768&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/2-2.png?resize=1536%2C1536&ssl=1 1536w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/2-2.png?resize=600%2C600&ssl=1 600w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/2-2.png?resize=100%2C100&ssl=1 100w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/2-2.png?w=2000&ssl=1 2000w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/2-2.png?w=1380&ssl=1 1380w" sizes="(max-width: 690px) 100vw, 690px" data-recalc-dims="1" /></a></figure></div> <p><strong>1 – Music History Inspires Practice </strong></p> <p>As students get to know new-to-them composers and pieces, they will find music that they absolutely love and want to learn! Teaching music history and listening/appreciation opens up new worlds of music to our students. As they discover pieces that they love, they will start to practice more because they are loving the music they are playing.</p> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><a href="https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/3.png?ssl=1"><img decoding="async" width="690" height="690" src="https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/3.png?resize=690%2C690&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-15081" style="width:352px;height:auto" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/3.png?resize=1024%2C1024&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/3.png?resize=300%2C300&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/3.png?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1 150w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/3.png?resize=768%2C768&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/3.png?resize=1536%2C1536&ssl=1 1536w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/3.png?resize=600%2C600&ssl=1 600w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/3.png?resize=100%2C100&ssl=1 100w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/3.png?w=2000&ssl=1 2000w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/3.png?w=1380&ssl=1 1380w" sizes="(max-width: 690px) 100vw, 690px" data-recalc-dims="1" /></a></figure></div> <p><strong>2 – Gives Musical Role Models</strong></p> <p>Learning about the lives of the composers can be super inspiring to young musicians. When students learn about a composer they can relate to on some level, they can see a little of themself in that composer and it can help them to feel that they can accomplish great things in music as well. For example, when I learned about the life of modernist composer Ruth Crawford Seeger I was so inspired by her life as a devoted mother, an inspiring piano teacher and as a person who was creative in so many aspects of her life. It made me want to be more like her!</p> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><a href="https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/4.png?ssl=1"><img decoding="async" width="690" height="690" src="https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/4.png?resize=690%2C690&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-15082" style="width:352px;height:auto" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/4.png?resize=1024%2C1024&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/4.png?resize=300%2C300&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/4.png?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1 150w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/4.png?resize=768%2C768&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/4.png?resize=1536%2C1536&ssl=1 1536w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/4.png?resize=600%2C600&ssl=1 600w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/4.png?resize=100%2C100&ssl=1 100w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/4.png?w=2000&ssl=1 2000w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/4.png?w=1380&ssl=1 1380w" sizes="(max-width: 690px) 100vw, 690px" data-recalc-dims="1" /></a></figure></div> <p><strong>3 – Gives Context to Pieces</strong></p> <p>Learning the back story of a piano piece you are learning makes that piece come alive in new ways. A great way to fit music history education into a piano lesson is to have students research the pieces they are playing and find out what was happening in the composer’s life when they wrote it. For example, in researching Florence Price’s beautiful piano piece “Clouds,” I learned that clouds are a symbol of freedom often used in African American art, literature and poetry. Price uses this symbol as the subject of her piece; she combines that with the element of traditional white classical music. This could be a reflection of her own life experiences, in which she experienced discrimination based on her race and sex. </p> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><a href="https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/5.png?ssl=1"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="690" height="690" src="https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/5.png?resize=690%2C690&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-15083" style="width:352px;height:auto" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/5.png?resize=1024%2C1024&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/5.png?resize=300%2C300&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/5.png?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1 150w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/5.png?resize=768%2C768&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/5.png?resize=1536%2C1536&ssl=1 1536w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/5.png?resize=600%2C600&ssl=1 600w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/5.png?w=2000&ssl=1 2000w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/5.png?w=1380&ssl=1 1380w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 690px) 100vw, 690px" data-recalc-dims="1" /></a></figure></div> <p><strong>4 – Reveals Musical Preferences</strong></p> <p>A student is not going to have a favorite composer until they have listened and performed music by several different composers in different styles, genres and musical eras. It’s so important to listen!</p> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><a href="https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/6.png?ssl=1"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="690" height="690" src="https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/6.png?resize=690%2C690&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-15084" style="width:352px;height:auto" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/6.png?resize=1024%2C1024&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/6.png?resize=300%2C300&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/6.png?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1 150w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/6.png?resize=768%2C768&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/6.png?resize=1536%2C1536&ssl=1 1536w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/6.png?resize=600%2C600&ssl=1 600w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/6.png?resize=100%2C100&ssl=1 100w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/6.png?w=2000&ssl=1 2000w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/6.png?w=1380&ssl=1 1380w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 690px) 100vw, 690px" data-recalc-dims="1" /></a></figure></div> <p><strong>5 – Understand and Appreciate Classical Music</strong></p> <p>It’s important for an aspiring pianists to be familiar with Bach preludes and fugues, Chopin preludes and mazurkas, and Beethoven sonatas. These works are an important legacy and part of being a pianist. Even if our students are not aspiring to be great classical pianists, these works are important in understanding the history and the possibilities of our wonderful instrument.</p> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><a href="https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/7.png?ssl=1"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="690" height="690" src="https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/7.png?resize=690%2C690&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-15085" style="width:352px;height:auto" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/7.png?resize=1024%2C1024&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/7.png?resize=300%2C300&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/7.png?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1 150w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/7.png?resize=768%2C768&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/7.png?resize=1536%2C1536&ssl=1 1536w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/7.png?resize=600%2C600&ssl=1 600w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/7.png?resize=100%2C100&ssl=1 100w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/7.png?w=2000&ssl=1 2000w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/7.png?w=1380&ssl=1 1380w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 690px) 100vw, 690px" data-recalc-dims="1" /></a></figure></div> <p><strong>6 – Helps Fulfill Need for Relatedness</strong></p> <p>Scientists have found that in order to be self-motivated, a person needs three things: competence, autonomy and relatedness. As a piano student, relatedness has to do with how the things they are learning in lessons relate to other parts of their life. Not all students will come from homes where they hear classical music on a regular basis. As a student starts piano lessons, classical music may be a foreign thing to them. Finding ways to help students and parents be exposed to classical music can really help their success and motivation in the long-run as they get used to what classical piano music sounds like.</p> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><a href="https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/8.png?ssl=1"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="690" height="690" src="https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/8.png?resize=690%2C690&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-15088" style="width:352px;height:auto" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/8.png?resize=1024%2C1024&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/8.png?resize=300%2C300&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/8.png?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1 150w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/8.png?resize=768%2C768&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/8.png?resize=1536%2C1536&ssl=1 1536w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/8.png?resize=600%2C600&ssl=1 600w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/8.png?resize=100%2C100&ssl=1 100w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/8.png?w=2000&ssl=1 2000w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/8.png?w=1380&ssl=1 1380w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 690px) 100vw, 690px" data-recalc-dims="1" /></a></figure></div> <p><strong>7 – Develops Ear and Listening Skills</strong></p> <p>Musicians create music, which is all about sound. In order to help our students create beautiful sounds at the piano, we need to help them develop and fine-tune their listening skills. What better way than to have them listen to music of different styles, moods, eras, and composers? Better yet, have them listen to several recordings of the same piece to hear different articulations and interpretations.</p> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><a href="https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/9.png?ssl=1"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="690" height="690" src="https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/9.png?resize=690%2C690&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-15089" style="width:352px;height:auto" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/9.png?resize=1024%2C1024&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/9.png?resize=300%2C300&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/9.png?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1 150w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/9.png?resize=768%2C768&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/9.png?resize=1536%2C1536&ssl=1 1536w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/9.png?resize=600%2C600&ssl=1 600w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/9.png?resize=100%2C100&ssl=1 100w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/9.png?w=2000&ssl=1 2000w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/9.png?w=1380&ssl=1 1380w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 690px) 100vw, 690px" data-recalc-dims="1" /></a></figure></div> <p><strong>8 – Music Moves, Edifies, Enlightens</strong></p> <p>Why does anyone become a musician in the first place? Could it be because music has an inherent ability to inspire, to move you to feel emotions, to transport you and your thoughts and feelings to a different realm, to enlighten and edify? Think of a time when you heard a beautiful piece of music that was so gorgeous or surprising or amazing that you had to stop what you were doing to just listen. Or a time when you heard an amazing piece for the first time and had to put it on repeat and listen over and over again. We want these experiences for our students! We want them to discover beautiful music that their lives are incomplete without knowing. As they have wonderful experiences with music, they will be more likely to create beautiful experiences by sharing their music with others.</p> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><a href="https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/10.png?ssl=1"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="690" height="690" src="https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/10.png?resize=690%2C690&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-15090" style="width:352px;height:auto" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/10.png?resize=1024%2C1024&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/10.png?resize=300%2C300&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/10.png?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1 150w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/10.png?resize=768%2C768&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/10.png?resize=1536%2C1536&ssl=1 1536w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/10.png?resize=600%2C600&ssl=1 600w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/10.png?resize=100%2C100&ssl=1 100w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/10.png?w=2000&ssl=1 2000w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/10.png?w=1380&ssl=1 1380w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 690px) 100vw, 690px" data-recalc-dims="1" /></a></figure></div> <p><strong>9 – Well-Rounded Musicians</strong></p> <p>A student who is well-versed in the important composers for our instrument, understanding what different eras and genres of piano music sound like and appreciating the beauty in each one, will be a more mature and well-rounded musician. Even if they don’t love every composer and every type of music, they will start to have an appreciation for them that will help them become more well-rounded in their musical abilities.</p> <p class="has-text-align-center"><em>Looking for easy-to-implement music history resources? I’ve got you covered! <a href="https://www.theplayfulpiano.com/product-category/music-history/">Visit the Music History category in my shop for so many ideas and activities!</a></em></p> ]]></content:encoded> <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">15078</post-id> </item> <item> <title>What I learned about Florence Price while recovering from foot surgery</title> <link>https://www.theplayfulpiano.com/what-i-learned-about-florence-price-while-recovering-from-foot-surgery/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=what-i-learned-about-florence-price-while-recovering-from-foot-surgery</link> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Jennifer Boster]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Fri, 17 Sep 2021 18:44:39 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Blog]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Featured Posts]]></category> <category><![CDATA[female composers]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Music History]]></category> <category><![CDATA[shades of sound]]></category> <category><![CDATA[women composers]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.theplayfulpiano.com/?p=12735</guid> <description><![CDATA[Last week I had to get surgery on my foot. This has forced me to sit down (a lot) and has given me a chance to work on my next Shades of Sound listening and coloring book. Shades of Sound: Women Composers Volume 2 should be done soon and I can’t wait to get it out there<br><a class="moretag" href="https://www.theplayfulpiano.com/what-i-learned-about-florence-price-while-recovering-from-foot-surgery/">+ Read More</a>]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[ <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="690" height="690" src="https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Florence-Price-broken-foot.png?resize=690%2C690&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-12736" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Florence-Price-broken-foot.png?resize=1024%2C1024&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Florence-Price-broken-foot.png?resize=300%2C300&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Florence-Price-broken-foot.png?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1 150w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Florence-Price-broken-foot.png?resize=768%2C768&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Florence-Price-broken-foot.png?resize=1536%2C1536&ssl=1 1536w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Florence-Price-broken-foot.png?resize=2048%2C2048&ssl=1 2048w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Florence-Price-broken-foot.png?resize=600%2C600&ssl=1 600w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Florence-Price-broken-foot.png?resize=100%2C100&ssl=1 100w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Florence-Price-broken-foot.png?w=1380&ssl=1 1380w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 690px) 100vw, 690px" data-recalc-dims="1" /></figure> <p><em>Last week I had to get surgery on my foot. This has forced me to sit down (a lot) and has given me a chance to work on my next Shades of Sound listening and coloring book. <strong>Shades of Sound: Women Composers Volume 2 </strong>should be done soon and I can’t wait to get it out there and share it with you!</em></p> <p><strong>Did you know that Florence Price wrote her career-defining Symphony No. 1 in E minor while recovering from a broken foot?</strong> I just learned this fun fact this week while recovering from my own foot surgery. It made me feel a bit of a kinship with Florence, and I read up a bit more on her life at the time of writing her first symphony.</p> <p>It was the middle of the Great Depression. Florence had recently left her abusive husband. She and her two young daughters were living with one of Price’s students – 18-year-old composer Margaret Bonds. Bonds sat at the kitchen table with Price for a month, helping her copy out the individual instrument parts for her symphony. Price apparently also wrote another symphony and two sonatas during this time. She wrote a letter to a friend and said, “Oh, dear me, when shall I ever be so fortunate again as to break a foot!”</p> <p>She entered a music competition following this time, and her symphony and her piano sonata each won first prize in their categories, and another work won honorable mention. (The other first prize winner, coincidentally, was Margaret Bonds!)</p> <p>Have you listened to Price’s first symphony? I think it is gorgeous and I have a whole new respect for it. I didn’t know until this week that it was inspired by Dvorák’s “New World” Symphony. Dvorák’s famous ninth symphony, which premiered in 1893, was composed while he was living in New York City, working as the director of the National Conservatory of Music. Dvorák was very interested in the African American spirituals and other music of the “New World,” and he infused the characteristics of these black plantation tunes into his symphony. It seems fitting, then, that an African American composer such as Florence Price would use his symphony as inspiration. </p> <p><a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ht4H_eKjb0w" target="_blank">I hope you will go listen to Florence Price’s Symphony No. 1!</a> It is so beautiful, and it is so much easier to enjoy and appreciate it when you understand the world the composer was coming from. That is one reason that I feel so strongly that we need to teach our students music history. When we take some time to introduce them to composers and their works, we help their music understanding to increase, and we improve their motivation to practice.</p> <hr class="wp-block-separator"/> <p><strong><a href="https://www.theplayfulpiano.com/product-category/listening-music-appreciation/female-composers/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Please be on the lookout for my new book!</a> </strong>I have worked so hard on it and have really come to love and appreciate all of these great composers. In this book you and your students will learn about 31 female composers (the same who were highlighted in March for our Female Composers Challenge.) The book includes about 80 beautiful coloring pages that accompany so much wonderful music that you will get to listen to. If you participated in the challenge, please know that there is a lot more music included in this book than we listened to in March. It will really give you a good understanding of these composers and their musical style. And, it will be awesome to have all of that great information and stories about these composers in a book (either an actual physical book, or the studio-licensed version to share with your students).</p> <p>Happy teaching!</p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="690" height="143" src="https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/email-signature3.png?resize=690%2C143&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-12737" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/email-signature3.png?w=974&ssl=1 974w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/email-signature3.png?resize=300%2C62&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/email-signature3.png?resize=768%2C159&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/email-signature3.png?resize=600%2C124&ssl=1 600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 690px) 100vw, 690px" data-recalc-dims="1" /></figure> <p><em>These are two of the coloring pages included in my new book! The first is for Margaret Bonds’ piano piece “Troubled Water,” and the second is Zara Levina’s beautiful piano concerto.</em></p> <figure class="wp-block-gallery columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex"><ul class="blocks-gallery-grid"><li class="blocks-gallery-item"><figure><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="663" height="1024" src="https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/the-lark-ascending-4.png?resize=663%2C1024&ssl=1" alt="" data-id="12738" data-link="https://www.theplayfulpiano.com/?attachment_id=12738" class="wp-image-12738" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/the-lark-ascending-4.png?resize=663%2C1024&ssl=1 663w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/the-lark-ascending-4.png?resize=194%2C300&ssl=1 194w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/the-lark-ascending-4.png?resize=768%2C1187&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/the-lark-ascending-4.png?resize=994%2C1536&ssl=1 994w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/the-lark-ascending-4.png?resize=1325%2C2048&ssl=1 1325w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/the-lark-ascending-4.png?resize=600%2C927&ssl=1 600w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/the-lark-ascending-4.png?w=1941&ssl=1 1941w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/the-lark-ascending-4.png?w=1380&ssl=1 1380w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 663px) 100vw, 663px" data-recalc-dims="1" /></figure></li><li class="blocks-gallery-item"><figure><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="663" height="1024" src="https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/the-lark-ascending-5.png?resize=663%2C1024&ssl=1" alt="" data-id="12739" data-full-url="https://www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/the-lark-ascending-5.png" data-link="https://www.theplayfulpiano.com/?attachment_id=12739" class="wp-image-12739" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/the-lark-ascending-5.png?resize=663%2C1024&ssl=1 663w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/the-lark-ascending-5.png?resize=194%2C300&ssl=1 194w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/the-lark-ascending-5.png?resize=768%2C1187&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/the-lark-ascending-5.png?resize=994%2C1536&ssl=1 994w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/the-lark-ascending-5.png?resize=1325%2C2048&ssl=1 1325w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/the-lark-ascending-5.png?resize=600%2C927&ssl=1 600w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/the-lark-ascending-5.png?w=1941&ssl=1 1941w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/the-lark-ascending-5.png?w=1380&ssl=1 1380w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 663px) 100vw, 663px" data-recalc-dims="1" /></figure></li></ul></figure> ]]></content:encoded> <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">12735</post-id> </item> <item> <title>Implementing Music History into Your Piano Lessons – the Easy Way!</title> <link>https://www.theplayfulpiano.com/implementing-music-history-into-your-piano-lessons-the-easy-way/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=implementing-music-history-into-your-piano-lessons-the-easy-way</link> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Jennifer Boster]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Tue, 08 Jun 2021 21:20:35 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Blog]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Featured Posts]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Listening Assignments]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Music History]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Teaching Music Appreciation]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.theplayfulpiano.com/?p=12409</guid> <description><![CDATA[“Building desirable attitudes toward music is the first aim of all music education.” – Mabelle Glenn, music educator There are SO many reasons why we should teach our piano students to love and appreciate great music. They need to be LISTENING to piano music from all different eras, countries, styles and composers to help develop<br><a class="moretag" href="https://www.theplayfulpiano.com/implementing-music-history-into-your-piano-lessons-the-easy-way/">+ Read More</a>]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[ <p class="has-text-align-center"><em>“Building desirable attitudes toward music is the first aim of all music education.”</em> – Mabelle Glenn, music educator</p> <p>There are SO many reasons why we should teach our piano students to love and appreciate great music. They need to be LISTENING to piano music from all different eras, countries, styles and composers to help develop their ear, become well-rounded musicians, get inspired to practice, and so many more reasons. And learning the HISTORY behind the music is SO important to give them CONTEXT to what they are listening to. That is why it is so important to include music history/appreciation in our teaching!</p> <p>There are so many great ways we can do this, and that is another post for another day – but I think that the important thing is to just get them LISTENING. </p> <p>Have you tried out my <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.theplayfulpiano.com/product-category/listening-music-appreciation/shades-of-sound-coloring-books/" target="_blank">Shades of Sound curriculum</a> yet? This well-researched and engaging music history curriculum is so easy to implement. I have literally done ALL the work for you. You can use it with individual students by assigning them a page per week (which gets them listening at home and hopefully the whole family will get to listen to some great music – bonus!), you can use it during lessons if you have some sort of listening lab or partner lessons with time for listening or other work, or you can do it all together as a group during a group lesson or class.</p> <figure class="wp-block-video"><video controls src="https://www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/LISTEN-LEARN-3.mp4"></video></figure> <p>The basic premise of the curriculum is that the students read a little bit about the composer, learn some background information about the piece, and then as they listen to the piece (using the accompanying playlist, accessed by QR code) they get to color a beautiful coloring page. This curriculum utilizes all four learning modes – reading/writing, visual, aural and kinesthetic. <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.theplayfulpiano.com/product-category/listening-music-appreciation/shades-of-sound-coloring-books/" target="_blank">Try it out today!</a> <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.theplayfulpiano.com/product/shades-of-sound-listening-coloring-book-summer/" target="_blank">Shades of Sound: Summer</a> is a great place to start during the summer break. Explore music by composers such as Vivaldi, Tchaikovsky, Mendelssohn, Debussy, Gershwin, Copland, Agathe Backer-Grøndahl, Elizabeth Maconchy, Judith Lang Zaimont and more!</p> <p>Available for <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.theplayfulpiano.com/product/shades-of-sound-listening-coloring-book-summer/" target="_blank">digital download in the shop</a>, or <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://amzn.to/2xznjLQ" target="_blank">paperback edition on Amazon.</a></p> <p>Happy teaching!</p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="690" height="143" src="https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/email-signature3-2.png?resize=690%2C143&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-12411" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/email-signature3-2.png?w=974&ssl=1 974w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/email-signature3-2.png?resize=300%2C62&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/email-signature3-2.png?resize=768%2C159&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/email-signature3-2.png?resize=600%2C124&ssl=1 600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 690px) 100vw, 690px" data-recalc-dims="1" /></figure> ]]></content:encoded> <enclosure url="https://www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/LISTEN-LEARN-3.mp4" length="1141390" type="video/mp4" /> <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">12409</post-id> </item> <item> <title>Pumpkin Spice & Vivaldi</title> <link>https://www.theplayfulpiano.com/pumpkin-spice-vivaldi/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=pumpkin-spice-vivaldi</link> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Jennifer Boster]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Mon, 21 Sep 2020 16:26:13 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Blog]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Featured Posts]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Music History]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Teaching Music Appreciation]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.theplayfulpiano.com/?p=11455</guid> <description><![CDATA[I don’t know about you but I am SO excited for fall! There is something about this crisp, beautiful season that is giving me hope of getting through this crazy year…looking forward to the holiday season, enjoying the beautiful changing leaves and spending time with loved ones. Along with the traditional sights and smells of<br><a class="moretag" href="https://www.theplayfulpiano.com/pumpkin-spice-vivaldi/">+ Read More</a>]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[ <div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-large"><a href="https://www.theplayfulpiano.com/product/shades-of-sound-listening-coloring-book-autumn/"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="690" height="361" src="https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Autumn-Ad-1.jpg?resize=690%2C361&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-11456" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Autumn-Ad-1.jpg?resize=1024%2C536&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Autumn-Ad-1.jpg?resize=300%2C157&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Autumn-Ad-1.jpg?resize=768%2C402&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Autumn-Ad-1.jpg?resize=600%2C314&ssl=1 600w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Autumn-Ad-1.jpg?w=1200&ssl=1 1200w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 690px) 100vw, 690px" data-recalc-dims="1" /></a></figure></div> <p>I don’t know about you but I am SO excited for fall! There is something about this crisp, beautiful season that is giving me hope of getting through this crazy year…looking forward to the holiday season, enjoying the beautiful changing leaves and spending time with loved ones.</p> <p>Along with the traditional sights and smells of the autumn season, I LOVE listening to gorgeous music that was inspired by autumn. I would love it if you check out my Shades of Sound: Autumn book! I loved choosing the music, researching the wonderful composers and drawing the beautiful coloring pages that are paired with each piece. It was a labor of love, and my hope is that these books can help some of your students come to love and appreciate classical music. Let me show you some sneak peeks of this book!</p> <div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><a href="https://www.theplayfulpiano.com/product/shades-of-sound-listening-coloring-book-autumn/"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/FAll-of-the-Leaf.jpg?resize=483%2C483&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-11457" width="483" height="483" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/FAll-of-the-Leaf.jpg?resize=1024%2C1024&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/FAll-of-the-Leaf.jpg?resize=300%2C300&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/FAll-of-the-Leaf.jpg?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1 150w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/FAll-of-the-Leaf.jpg?resize=768%2C768&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/FAll-of-the-Leaf.jpg?resize=600%2C600&ssl=1 600w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/FAll-of-the-Leaf.jpg?resize=100%2C100&ssl=1 100w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/FAll-of-the-Leaf.jpg?w=1200&ssl=1 1200w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 483px) 100vw, 483px" data-recalc-dims="1" /></a></figure></div> <p>Of the seventeen composers featured in this book, five of them are women. I LOVED learning about Imogen Holst. She was the daughter of composer Gustav Holst and was such a fascinating and talented person. Students will get to color the above picture of autumn leaves <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://youtu.be/llkFjUm3nPI" target="_blank">while listening to her gorgeous “Fall of the Leaf” – a suite for solo cello</a>.</p> <div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><a href="https://www.theplayfulpiano.com/product/shades-of-sound-listening-coloring-book-autumn/"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/SofS-Autumn-description.jpg?resize=471%2C471&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-11458" width="471" height="471" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/SofS-Autumn-description.jpg?resize=1024%2C1024&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/SofS-Autumn-description.jpg?resize=300%2C300&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/SofS-Autumn-description.jpg?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1 150w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/SofS-Autumn-description.jpg?resize=768%2C768&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/SofS-Autumn-description.jpg?resize=1536%2C1536&ssl=1 1536w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/SofS-Autumn-description.jpg?resize=600%2C600&ssl=1 600w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/SofS-Autumn-description.jpg?resize=100%2C100&ssl=1 100w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/SofS-Autumn-description.jpg?w=1800&ssl=1 1800w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/SofS-Autumn-description.jpg?w=1380&ssl=1 1380w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 471px) 100vw, 471px" data-recalc-dims="1" /></a></figure></div> <p>Students of all ages will love coloring the pictures while listening to the music. The reason why this curriculum works so well is that it uses all four learning modes. Students <strong>read</strong> to learn about the composers and the history of the pieces, and they <strong>write</strong> down their observations and what they like about the piece. They use <strong>aural</strong> learning as they listen to the music, <strong>visual</strong> learning as they see the coloring pages, and <strong>kinesthetic</strong> learning as they color the pictures.</p> <div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><a href="https://www.theplayfulpiano.com/product/shades-of-sound-listening-coloring-book-autumn/"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Fanny-September.jpg?resize=471%2C471&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-11459" width="471" height="471" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Fanny-September.jpg?resize=1024%2C1024&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Fanny-September.jpg?resize=300%2C300&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Fanny-September.jpg?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1 150w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Fanny-September.jpg?resize=768%2C768&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Fanny-September.jpg?resize=600%2C600&ssl=1 600w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Fanny-September.jpg?resize=100%2C100&ssl=1 100w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Fanny-September.jpg?w=1200&ssl=1 1200w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 471px) 100vw, 471px" data-recalc-dims="1" /></a></figure></div> <p>I have included some gorgeous music for solo piano in the book, including <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://youtu.be/r_zZw0p5Tv8" target="_blank">this movement from Fanny Mendelssohn’s “Das Jahr” (The Year), called “September: At the River.”</a> This work has been described as “one of the greatest of the unheralded piano suites of the nineteenth century.” </p> <div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><a href="https://www.theplayfulpiano.com/product/shades-of-sound-listening-coloring-book-autumn/"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/SofS-Autumn-description2.jpg?resize=460%2C460&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-11460" width="460" height="460" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/SofS-Autumn-description2.jpg?resize=1024%2C1024&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/SofS-Autumn-description2.jpg?resize=300%2C300&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/SofS-Autumn-description2.jpg?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1 150w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/SofS-Autumn-description2.jpg?resize=768%2C768&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/SofS-Autumn-description2.jpg?resize=1536%2C1536&ssl=1 1536w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/SofS-Autumn-description2.jpg?resize=600%2C600&ssl=1 600w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/SofS-Autumn-description2.jpg?resize=100%2C100&ssl=1 100w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/SofS-Autumn-description2.jpg?w=1800&ssl=1 1800w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/SofS-Autumn-description2.jpg?w=1380&ssl=1 1380w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 460px) 100vw, 460px" data-recalc-dims="1" /></a></figure></div> <p>Composers included in this book include Vivaldi, Bach, Tchaikovsky, Beethoven, Richter, Beach, Zaimont, Ives, MacDowell and many more!</p> <hr class="wp-block-separator"/> <p><strong>Interested in this book?</strong> Use coupon code FALLINGLEAVES to save $2 on the studio-licensed PDF download! Just enter coupon code at checkout.</p> <div class="wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex"> <div class="wp-block-button"><a class="wp-block-button__link has-background has-blush-bordeaux-gradient-background" href="https://www.theplayfulpiano.com/product/shades-of-sound-listening-coloring-book-autumn/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Purchase Shades of Sound: Autumn</a></div> </div> <hr class="wp-block-separator"/> <p><strong>Prefer paperback? </strong>This book is also available in a gorgeous paperback version, available on Amazon. </p> <div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><a href="https://amzn.to/2SE3jz4"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/mediamodifier_image-51.png?resize=408%2C408&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-11461" width="408" height="408" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/mediamodifier_image-51.png?resize=1024%2C1024&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/mediamodifier_image-51.png?resize=300%2C300&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/mediamodifier_image-51.png?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1 150w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/mediamodifier_image-51.png?resize=768%2C768&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/mediamodifier_image-51.png?resize=600%2C600&ssl=1 600w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/mediamodifier_image-51.png?resize=100%2C100&ssl=1 100w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/mediamodifier_image-51.png?w=1400&ssl=1 1400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 408px) 100vw, 408px" data-recalc-dims="1" /></a></figure></div> <div class="wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex"> <div class="wp-block-button"><a class="wp-block-button__link has-background has-blush-bordeaux-gradient-background" href="https://amzn.to/2SE3jz4" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Purchase Shades of Sound: Autumn – Paperback Edition</a></div> </div> <p>Happy teaching!</p> <div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="690" height="143" src="https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/email-signature2-copy.png?resize=690%2C143&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-11462" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/email-signature2-copy.png?w=974&ssl=1 974w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/email-signature2-copy.png?resize=300%2C62&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/email-signature2-copy.png?resize=768%2C159&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/email-signature2-copy.png?resize=600%2C124&ssl=1 600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 690px) 100vw, 690px" data-recalc-dims="1" /></figure></div> ]]></content:encoded> <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">11455</post-id> </item> <item> <title>fun with short and long notes!</title> <link>https://www.theplayfulpiano.com/fun-with-short-and-long-notes/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=fun-with-short-and-long-notes</link> <comments>https://www.theplayfulpiano.com/fun-with-short-and-long-notes/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Jennifer Boster]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Wed, 22 Jun 2011 19:11:00 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Featured Posts]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Jenny Boster]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Music History]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Preschool Music]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Preschool Piano Camp]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Teaching Beginning Theory]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Teaching Music Appreciation]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Theory Games]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.theplayfulpiano.com/2011/06/fun-with-short-and-long-notes.html</guid> <description><![CDATA[At our piano camp today we talked about how some notes are short and others are LONG. We had some fun playing some short-sounding rhythm instruments (like drums and rhythm sticks) and some LONG instrument sounds (like a rain stick!), and also playing short and long on the piano. I love the little song in Faber’s<br><a class="moretag" href="https://www.theplayfulpiano.com/fun-with-short-and-long-notes/">+ Read More</a>]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>At our piano camp today we talked about how some notes are short and others are LONG. We had some fun playing some short-sounding rhythm instruments (like drums and rhythm sticks) and some LONG instrument sounds (like a rain stick!), and also playing short and long on the piano.</p> <p>I <i>love</i> the little song in Faber’s <a href="http://www.amazon.com/First-Piano-Adventure-Lesson-Adventures/dp/1569395446?ie=UTF8&tag=theteastu-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">My First Piano Adventures Lesson Book 1</a><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=theteastu-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1569395446" alt="" width="1" height="1" border="0" /> called “Will You Play?” – students get to sit down at the piano and improvise a super fun duet with the teacher, following directions such as “will you play some white keys softly please?”, “will you play some long sounds now with me?” and “will you play some short sounds now with me?” The kids loved playing this fun song, and did so well playing long sounds and short sounds!</p> <p>And because there is not much that is more fun for kids than a bottle of Elmer’s glue and a whole bunch of craft supplies (seriously, they were in heaven!) we then moved to the table where we learned about Beethoven’s Symphony #5, and the kids got to pick short things and long things to “notate” the theme of the symphony! Pom poms, marshmallows, and googly eyes are perfect for short notes, while popsicle sticks, pipe cleaners and pasta are great long notes! We sang along as we listened to the music – “short-short-short-LOOOONG….” and I think the kids enjoyed learning that Beethoven started piano lessons when he was four years old – just like many of them!</p> <p><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/ugmx2YNc1tVH8FG1zmVKMcKx4MlUO6AfZFGnK65sI8Q?feat=embedwebsite"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://i0.wp.com/lh3.googleusercontent.com/-7ymwOZbRIAM/TgI6KBfAakI/AAAAAAAABo8/GknchJuA8lQ/s800/IMG_5625.jpg?resize=690%2C460&ssl=1" alt="" width="690" height="460" data-recalc-dims="1" /></a></p> <p><a class="pin-it-button" href="http://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=http%3A%2F%2Ftheteachingstudio.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F06%2Ffun-with-short-and-long-notes.html&media=https%3A%2F%2Fpicasaweb.google.com%2Flh%2Fphoto%2Fugmx2YNc1tVH8FG1zmVKMcKx4MlUO6AfZFGnK65sI8Q%3Ffeat%3Dembedwebsite&description=Teaching%20Short%20%26%20Long%20Notes%20with%20Beethoven's%205th%20-%20fun%20craft%20idea!">Pin It</a></p> ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://www.theplayfulpiano.com/fun-with-short-and-long-notes/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>7</slash:comments> <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">130</post-id> </item> <item> <title>Introducing the Four Musical Periods</title> <link>https://www.theplayfulpiano.com/introducing-four-musical-periods/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=introducing-four-musical-periods</link> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Jennifer Boster]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Thu, 03 Jun 2010 17:11:00 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Jenny Boster]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Listening Assignments]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Music History]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Teaching Music Appreciation]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Videos]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.theplayfulpiano.com/2010/06/introducing-four-musical-periods.html</guid> <description><![CDATA[Here’s a fun way to get your students listening to classical music and to introduce the four musical periods (don’t miss more ideas on introducing the musical periods here) – Have your students listen to George Rochberg’s Sixth String Quartet (Variations on Pachelbel’s Canon in D). I love this piece – it introduces each musical period<br><a class="moretag" href="https://www.theplayfulpiano.com/introducing-four-musical-periods/">+ Read More</a>]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Here’s a fun way to get your students listening to classical music and to introduce the four musical periods (don’t miss more ideas on introducing the musical periods <a href="https://www.theplayfulpiano.com/2010/06/listening-assignments.html">here</a>) –</p> <p>Have your students listen to George Rochberg’s <i>Sixth String Quartet</i> (<i>Variations on Pachelbel’s Canon in D</i>). I <i>love</i> this piece – it introduces each musical period by playing Pachelbel’s Canon in each style. It starts out Baroque, and then segues into Classical, Romantic, then Modern, and then eventually makes its way back to Baroque. Check it out!</p> ]]></content:encoded> <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">267</post-id> </item> <item> <title>Listening Assignments</title> <link>https://www.theplayfulpiano.com/listening-assignments/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=listening-assignments</link> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Jennifer Boster]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Thu, 03 Jun 2010 06:48:00 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Jenny Boster]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Listening Assignments]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Music History]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Printables]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Teaching Music Appreciation]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.theplayfulpiano.com/2010/06/listening-assignments.html</guid> <description><![CDATA[I really feel very strongly about the importance of teaching our students about music and piano literature by having them actually listen to classical music. If you asked your students who their favorite composers are, what would they say? Would they have a favorite? Would they even know enough composers to have a favorite – or<br><a class="moretag" href="https://www.theplayfulpiano.com/listening-assignments/">+ Read More</a>]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>I really feel very strongly about the importance of teaching our students about music and piano literature by having them actually <i>listen</i> to classical music.</p> <p>If you asked your students who their favorite composers are, what would they say? Would they have a favorite? Would they even know enough composers to have a favorite – or know any at all? Would they look at you with a blank stare? I have gotten the whole spectrum of answers on this one, but most often it is the blank stare or “I don’t know” response.</p> <p>We need to familiarize our students with the amazing works of piano literature by the great composers. We need to teach them that classical music is wonderful and amazing and really can be fun. How many of you have students who have said on occasion that they don’t like classical music? I have, and in most cases the student really has not been exposed to much classical music at all. It is our job as piano teachers to educate our students about classical music, and give them many opportunities for listening and learning.</p> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i0.wp.com/3.bp.blogspot.com/_Q5HPIwhDssw/TAdPiDOZJ0I/AAAAAAAAG4c/JuIu0d5IrhU/s1600/beethoven.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img decoding="async" border="0" src="https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/beethoven.jpg?w=690&ssl=1" data-recalc-dims="1" /></a><a href="https://i0.wp.com/1.bp.blogspot.com/_Q5HPIwhDssw/TAdPlz2sqtI/AAAAAAAAG4k/rLFyaZuQoi8/s1600/johannes-brahms.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img decoding="async" border="0" src="https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/johannes-brahms.jpg?w=690&ssl=1" data-recalc-dims="1" /></a><a href="https://i0.wp.com/1.bp.blogspot.com/_Q5HPIwhDssw/TAdPnQTSJWI/AAAAAAAAG4s/w9z9QaTEmzs/s1600/bach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img decoding="async" border="0" src="https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/bach.jpg?w=690&ssl=1" data-recalc-dims="1" /></a></div> <p> I love using listening assignments in my studio to help my students learn about classical music. I like to assign a listening assignment at least every few weeks or so. Here are some ideas for <b>sources of recordings</b>:</p> <ul> <li><b>Awesome Website</b> – First off, I need to share one of my FAVORITE websites of all time. Seriously if you have not seen this you need to check it out – every piano teacher should know about this awesome resource. <b><a href="http://pianosociety.com/">PianoSociety.com</a></b> is an AMAZING website where you can listen to and download for <i>free</i> thousands of mp3 recordings of piano literature by almost 200 amateur and professional pianists. They have piano literature of over 150 composers. Each composer on the site also has a brief biography and an extended biography. There is background information about all of the major works, as well. There is also a link to another site with a huge amount of classical sheet music to download. <i>Are you still reading this?</i> <a href="http://pianosociety.com/cms/index.php?section=6">Go check it out!</a> (But don’t forget to come back and read the rest of my post! hehe)</li> </ul> <ul> <li><b>Have Students Check Out CD’s – </b>For the listening assignments I give to my students, I have made CD’s on my computer from my own classical recording library and then I loan them out to students. This works so well because I am able to create different CD’s for different composers, different musical periods, different difficulty levels, etc. Sometimes I’ll make a CD with a particular student in mind with a few pieces I’d like them to listen to. <i>Sometimes the students’ whole family enjoys listening to their listening CD’s in the car!</i></li> </ul> <ul> <li><b>Other Websites</b> – The <a href="http://www.sfskids.org/templates/radio.asp?pageid=21">San Francisco Symphony</a> has a great kids website with a “Radio” where you can listen to lots of classical music; <a href="http://www.classicsforkids.com/">ClassicsForKids.com</a> is another great site to listen to classical music; The New York Philharmonic KidZone website has an AWESOME <a href="http://www.nyphilkids.org/gallery/main.phtml?">Composer Gallery</a> where you can learn about <i>tons</i> of composers and listen to some of their pieces.</li> </ul> <div><b>Listening Assignments</b><br /> <b><br /> </b></div> <div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div> <p><b>When first teaching students about the different <b>musical periods</b>, I like to loan them a CD with one or two pieces from each period. These can be more elementary pieces that the student would most likely learn in the near future (<i>simple Minuets, short Sonatinas, etc.</i>), more intermediate works (<i>Bach Inventions and easier Preludes, Clementi Sonatinas, Beethoven Sonatinas, easier Chopin Preludes and Waltzes, etc.</i>), or you could just go for the difficult, fun-to-listen-to pieces to get them really excited about classical music! (<i>a fun, upbeat Gigue from a Bach suite, Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata third movement, Liszt Hungarian Rhapsodies, Rachmaninoff Preludes or Etudes, a great Impressionistic piece like Ravel’s Jeux d’Eau, etc….you get the idea!</i>)</b></div> <div><b><br /> </b></div> <div>I often give them a handout with a <b>brief history of piano music</b> (which I have included below). I got this from an old teacher years ago, and I am not sure where she got it. It gives the student basic characteristics about each period, and representative composers from each period.</div> <div> </div> <div><a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/32439251/Brief-History-of-Piano-Music" style="-x-system-font: none; display: block; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 12px auto 6px auto; text-decoration: underline;" title="View Brief History of Piano Music on Scribd">Brief History of Piano Music</a> </div> <p> For any listening assignment, I like to have my students <b>write down something they liked about each piece</b>. It’s sometimes fun to have them rate the piece – 1 star means they didn’t really care for the piece, 5 stars means they want to learn it!</p> <p>I often assign my students a CD with <b>music of a particular composer</b> – Debussy, Bach, Schumann, etc. I love having them get to know each composer, and hope that by doing these assignments they will be better able to actually have a <i>favorite composer</i>!</p> <p><b>For young students</b> who may not have the attention span to listen to an entire CD, I sometimes like to loan them a CD with just two or three short pieces on them. Just a couple of weeks ago I did this for a student – I made a CD with two <i>contrasting</i> pieces (CPE Bach’s <i>Solfeggietto </i>and Schumann’s <i>Traumerei</i>) and had him listen and write down characteristics of each piece – fast or slow, staccato or legato, loud or soft, etc. We then compared the two and talked about the differences.</p> <p>I hope these ideas got you thinking about how to get our students listening to classical music. What other ideas do you use in your studio? Any other great websites we should all know about?</p> <p>p.s. don’t forget to take our <a href="http://poll.fm/1ydho">poll of the week!</a></p> ]]></content:encoded> <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">268</post-id> </item> </channel> </rss>