Finger Numbers Treat
Just a little something for fun…..
A few months ago I picked up a hand print cookie cutter at Hobby Lobby, and it came in handy during my preschool music class when we talked about piano finger numbers!
Happy weekend!
Thanks for the “rest!”
After quite the long hiatus, I have decided that I need to return to the Teaching Studio! I am not sure how often I will be posting, but I have so many piano-related things on my mind that I probably need to write them down anyway. Plus, I miss it! I have been lurking around the music blog-o-sphere for awhile and thought it was time to show my face again! Thanks for the rest, readers o’ mine!
I have been quite busy for the past few months – of course, having a baby will do that to you!
Aside from taking care of my little family and adjusting to life with two little ones, I have been teaching a lot! My students had a great recital in December – I even ambitiously decided (a week before the recital) to play Chopin’s Fantasie Impromptu after not playing it for quite some time, and it went pretty well! My studio is just about as full as I want it, and I am just loving it.
I have also been SUPER busy planning, preparing for and teaching an amazingly fun preschool music class with a good friend and colleague of mine. We spent hours coming up with ideas, cutting lots of little things out (which our husbands teased us relentlessly about), making little crafts, writing lyrics to classical songs by Vivaldi, Smetana and others – and the class was a huge success. I loved it. My son loved it. We’re probably going to be planning a level two course pretty soon. And I probably will be sharing some fun ideas – so stay tuned!
In the meantime, here is a fun little tidbit….we needed something for the kids to sit on to help keep things orderly and manageable in the class. We came up with these fun musical rest mats…(iron-on transfers are my new favorite thing!!)
Happy (belated) New Year…and welcome back to The Teaching Studio!
fun with short and long notes!
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 My First Piano Adventures Lesson Book 1
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!
Introducing Classical Music to Children
A friend recently emailed a wonderful NPR article to me about introducing classical music to kids. I think it makes an excellent point that children really are so open to experiencing great music, and that we should give them opportunities to listen to and experience the classics. I know that my own son loves music, and especially seems to react wonderfully to the classics – singing classical tunes over and over during playtime, dancing around the room to a Beethoven sonata, listening so intently (and seeming to be so almost moved) by beautiful orchestra works.
I love this paragraph from the article:
The music belongs to children just as much it belongs to “us” — the ones with the years of listening experience, who have already absorbed current conventions of concert-going practice (don’t applaud between movements, obey the dress code, etc.), and who might well have had years of formal training. Classical music isn’t a museum piece to be looked at and not touched, as it were.
From the video included at the end of the article, I also discovered some fun videos for youngsters about classical music. Take a look!
Let’s play!
I was recently told by a family member about a music program for children called Let’s Play Music. I was perusing their website and just had to share this video about the program…it not only looks like a fabulous program for young children (and so much fun!), but made me SO excited about teaching music to youngsters! I love their philosophy that music is learned best through play; I think that it is so important to help young children experience the fun and joy in music. I feel so motivated and inspired to make my own preschool program tons of fun as well!
Preschool Music: Methods & Schools of Thought
So, my mind has been on early childhood music education a lot lately (remember my preschool piano camp?).
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| my darling son! |
I think it’s probably in large part because I have a three-year-old son who loves music. I loved what Heather Wilson said in her guest post about the seasons of our lives. I feel like in my life and the season I am in right now (being a young mom to a preschooler), my son’s age and development seem to be guiding my musical activities a bit….and I love it! I want him to have access to a great music education, if he so desires, and I love teaching these preschool classes that he can attend with me and we can learn and play together!
We have visited the topic of preschool music a lot here lately, but this week I’d like to delve a little deeper (honestly, because I am so interested in this topic right now – hopefully some of you are as well!). I’d like to talk about the different “schools of thought” of early childhood music education this week, and learn a little more about the people who greatly influenced this movement. I also am so interested in all of the different preschool music methods and programs out there, so we might mention some of those as well.
Digging through my old college notes, I have found so many interesting things to re-read and to research a bit. Here are a few quick tidbits, including a little research on musicality in children, and some basic information on the great influences on preschool music (and please click on the links to learn more if you so desire!).
A little research and some facts about musicality in children, by age
Ages 2 1/2-3: recognition and imitation of folk tunes, often in the form of multiple repetitions of learned fragments and variations; by the end of the third year of life a rhythmic structure is learned
Ages 3-4: capable of reproducing an entire song, as far as overall contour goes (accurate pitch is not always possible)
Age 5: able to keep a steady beat, sing an entire song in the same key with an increasing awareness of pitch
“Critical to musical development in the earliest years is the home environment. Opportunities, not just to hear music, but to interact in musical games and activities is critical to emotional and psychological development….It is becoming increasingly apparent that all human beings are biologically predisposed to be musical and that this inborn predisposition for musicality has important consequences for us not only artistically, but emotionally and socially, as well.”
Influences on Early Childhood Music
Emile Jaques-Dalcroze (1865-1950)
Basics of his philosophy: full body movement (eurythmic practices), solfege and aural training, keyboard improvisation. Sound can be translated into motion and motion can be translated into sound.
Learn more: here
Carl Orff (1895-1982)
Basics of his philosophy: teaching rhythm and melody with speech, singing, movement and percussion instruments; instrument performance and personal expression
Learn more: here
Learn more: here
Zoltan Kodaly (1882-1967)
Basics of his philosophy: Music literacy through native folk songs; melodic and rhythmic perception come from use of patterns in singing games and folk songs; solfege
Learn more: here
Now, I would love to hear what specific preschool music programs you teach, have taught, have enrolled your children in or that you have heard about – leave a comment telling us what the program is (whether it be Kindermusik, Musikgarten, Let’s Play Music, etc.) and what you like about it!
Giant Floor Piano – the specifics!
I have had so many nice emails and requests to know more about how I made my giant floor piano – so I thought I’d share a post on the specifics for any interested in having a similar one made (and I know that summer is swiftly approaching, and many readers are working on summer camp plans!). In fact, I have done all the work for you, if you want to easily order an exact one for your studio, read on!
My floor piano is a 3′ by 8′ vinyl banner. It is super sturdy (which is perfect, considering all the running and jumping-on it gets!) and I was so pleased with how it turned out.
I first designed my own piano keyboard graphic on the computer to use for the banner. If you would like, you may purchase and download my graphic and save yourself the time and energy! I was very pleased with how the graphic turned out on the finished product. Visit the Shop to purchase and download the graphic.
I then searched around for the best rates on vinyl banners. I came across the website www.bannersonthecheap.com, went ahead and designed my banner, then crossed my fingers while clicking “order,” hoping it was a legit, good company who would do a good job! I was very pleasantly surprised with the quality of their product, and with the fast delivery time! The vinyl is very thick and sturdy and rolls up really nicely for storage.
The banner itself is 3 feet by 8 feet, which costs under $30 from Banners on the Cheap (shipping costs are also reasonable, and I have noticed they have even better deals from time to time). When you visit their website, near the bottom you want to select the “Have your own design?” option. Choose 3×8 and click “Start Now!” In the next window select “Upload an Image” and upload your own image or mine that you downloaded. Enlarge the graphic on the preview screen to fit the banner, then center it using the center tool. When you go to the order screen, make sure you un-check option #4 (because you don’t need grommets for hanging the banner). Add to cart and you are done! My banner arrived so quickly and I am super pleased with it.
I hope this helps some of you! I’d love to know if any of you use this in your summer camps and studios, and hear your brilliant, fun ideas on how to use it. Enjoy!
Now I am toying with the idea of a giant staff banner for learning notes… 🙂
Musical Easter Egg Hunt
I am so glad to be a part of this wonderful online network of piano teaching bloggers, because I am so grateful for all of the wonderful ideas you all share!
This morning I was reading this post on Heidi’s Piano Studio, and decided to use her great idea and adapt it for my preschool student who came later this morning. (Thanks, Heidi!!)
I got out my stash of colorful craft foam (seriously, it is the best stuff!), some paper, a pen, some tape, and an egg-shaped cookie cutter…
…and made these fun Easter egg preschool flashcards!
I included things that we have learned during lessons in the past little while, including things such as:
- rhythms to clap, including rests
- line notes vs. space notes
- steps and skips
- treble clef and bass clef
- the staff
- finger numbers
- high notes & low notes on the staff
- Presto and Adagio
I hid them around the room, and my student had lots of fun hunting for eggs and then identifying the things on the back! My three-year-old son got his turn after my student left, and he loved it as well!
After we found all of the eggs, we lined up the rhythm eggs and tried clapping them in different orders, and playing notes on the piano in the correct rhythm.
I love that with a little creativity, you can turn a boring old flashcard exercise into a fun, memorable learning activity!
Lines & Spaces and Steps & Skips
I love it when last-minute ideas turn out to be the funnest activities for students! To teach about lines and spaces and steps and skips, I got out the ol’ trusty masking tape and slapped it on the rug to make a quick musical staff. I cut out notes out of sheets of craft foam (LOVE that stuff!) and voila – a fun musical staff game!
Here is my giant musical staff. Please excuse the graininess/yellowness of the photo, and the fact that I can’t seem to get it to rotate!
I used this fun game for preschoolers. We had already introduced the staff, and how notes can be high or low. We first practiced walking up the staff in steps – line, space, line, space, line space (this was fun to tip-toe!) – and in skips – line, line, line or space, space, space (hopping works well)! We also played each on the piano – steps by playing every single note going up or down, and skips by playing every other note. We then practiced putting notes on the staff in steps or skips. The kids loved walking on their notes after they placed them on the staff, as I played the steps or skips on the piano. We then played a game where I would hand them a note and call out “step!” or “skip!” and they would have to place the next note on the correct line or space. It was fun with two kids at a time – they started on a note at the bottom of the staff, and I would hand each a note and call out “step” or “skip” and they would use their notes to try and get across the staff (wouldn’t it be fun to pretend the staff was a river to cross?).
As I was playing this game with a student who loves to get stickers as rewards, I had a sudden stroke of genius as I drew a staff on her assignment sheet and had her put her little circle stickers on the staff on lines or spaces, as if they were musical notes. So fun!
Themed Classical Music for Kids
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| Image source |
In brainstorming for some upcoming preschool piano camps, I started thinking about fun classical pieces to share with young children. What fun it would be to have a theme for a piano camp, and to use classical works related to that theme to teach the children. Here are some that I came up with – I know there are so many more!! In fact, here is a great website with an even better list with more themes, including themes such as Fairy Tales, Transportation and Halloween, and lists of pieces that are Fast or Slow.
Weather
Clouds by Griffes
Moonlight Sonata by Beethoven
Clair de Lune by Debussy
Morning Mood from Peer Gynt Suite by Grieg
In the Mist by Janacek
Jardins sous la pluie (Gardens in the Rain) by Debussy
To Spring by Grieg
Rustles of Spring by Sinding
Prelude Op. 28 No. 15 (Raindrop Prelude) by Chopin
see a more extensive list of pieces about weather & seasons here
The Night Sky
The Planets by Holst
Moonlight Sonata by Beethoven
Clair de Lune by Debussy
Variations on Twinkle Twinkle (Ah, vous dirai-je, maman) by Mozart
Water
Jardins sous la pluie (Gardens in the Rain) by Debussy
Jeux d’Eau (Water Games or Fountains) by Ravel
Reflets dans l’eau (Reflections on the Water) by Debussy
The Moldau by Smetana (love this piece!!)
La Mer by Decaux (so fun to find this youtube video – I played this piece for my senior recital and it is hard to find!)
The Moldau by Smetana (love this piece!!)
La Mer by Decaux (so fun to find this youtube video – I played this piece for my senior recital and it is hard to find!)
Animals
The Cat and the Mouse by Copland
Carnival of the Animals by Saint Saens (with movements about many different animals, such as: Royal March of the Lion, Hens and Roosters, Tortoises, The Elephant, Kangaroos, Aquarium, Characters with Long Ears, Aviary, The Swan)
Bugs
Grasshoppers and Dragonflies from Cinderella, Op. 95 by Prokofiev
Flight of the Bumblebee by Rimsky-Korsakov
Papillons (Butterflies) by Schumann
Farm
Excursion No. 4 by Barber
The Happy Farmer by Schumann
I Bought Me a Cat by Copland (after I watched this video my 3-year-old started singing the song – he LOVED it!)
What pieces would you add to the list? What themes would you add?
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