Time for Winter Break!

NewSongs will be on Winter Break from December 19 through January 2.

Classes will resume January 3!

We wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Sign up now for "If I Ran the Zoo"!

Spotlight! Musical Theater is having sign ups for the Dr. Seuss Musical Revue of "If I Ran the Zoo!

Students will learn solo and ensemble pieces themed around favorite Dr. Seuss characters.

The session dates:  Janueary 4 to March 12, 2011

Final showcase will be Saturday, March 12, 2011

Class Schedule

Acting:      K-2nd               Tuesday 4 - 5:15 pm
                 3rd-12th            Tuesday 5:15 - 6:30 pm
                 Intermediate      Thursday 5:15 - 6:30 pm

Singing:    K-2nd                Tuesday 5:15-6:30 pm
                 3rd-12th             Tuesday 4 - 5:15 pm
                 Intermediate       Thursday 4 - 5:15 pm

Tuition*:  One track:  $155
                 Both tracks:  $275
*family discount available

Placement auditions held in first class

http://www.elkgrovemusiclessons.com/
916 714-4544
michael@elkgrovemusiclessons.com

Christmas Carol - Jolly Old St. Nicholas

Be sure to explain to your children who St. Nicholas was before singing this song!  Most don't know that he is the same as Santa Claus.  Veggie Tales has a great movie called Saint Nicholas - A Story of Joyful Giving that explains who the first Saint Nicholas/Santa Claus was in a very entertaining way!

Jolly Old St. Nicholas

Jolly old Saint Nicholas,

lean your ear this way!

Don't you tell a single soul

what I'm going to say;

Christmas Eve is coming soon;

now you dear old man,

Whisper what you'll bring to me;

tell me if you can.

Christmas Recital - 2pm December 11

We had over 100 students perform in 3 Christmas recitals on December 11.  They all did a fantastic job!

Here are some pictures from the 2pm recital that featured Little Musicians, pianists, vocalists and violinists.

A Fairy Tale Christmas

Spotlight Musical Theater performed "A Fairy Tale Christmas" on Saturday, December 11.  They did such a great job and looked fantastic in their fairy costumes.

Christmas Carol - Up on the Housetop

This is a really fun song!  Make up motions as you sing or ask a Little Musician student to show you the motions!  Children love to be Santa Claus with a big belly while singing "ho, ho, ho"!

Up on the Housetop

by Benjamin Russell Hanby

Up on the housetop reindeer pause;

Out jumps good old Santa Claus,

Down through the chimney with lots of toys,

All for the little ones' Christmas joys.

Ho, ho, ho, who wouldn't go?

Ho, ho, ho, who wouldn't go?

Up on the housetop, click, click, click,

Down through the chimney with good Saint Nick.

Christmas Recitals and Musical! December 11

Don't miss the Christmas recitals and musical this Saturday, December 11.

At Peace Presbyterian Church
9145 Franklin Blvd
Elk Grove, CA 95758


Starting at 12pm, Spotlight Musical Theater will be performing "A Fairy Tale Holiday"!

At 2pm, 4pm and 5:30pm,  the voice, guitar, piano, violin, drums and Little Musician students will be performing their best Christmas pieces.

Christmas Carols- Over the River and Through the Woods

This is a great song, celebrating the trip to Grandma's house!

Make motions to go along with the words!

Over the River and Through the Woods

Over the river and through the woods

To Grandmother's house we go.

The horse knows the way to carry the sleigh

Through white and drifted snow.

Over the river and through the woods,

Oh, how the wind does blow.

It sitngs the toes and bites the nose

As over the ground we go.

Over the river and through the woods

To have a full day of play.

Oh, hear the bells ringing ting-a-ling-ling,

For it is Christmas Day.

Over the river and through the woods,

Trot fast my dapple gray;

Spring o'er the ground just like a hound,

For this is Christmas Day.

Over the river and through the woods

And straight through the barnyard gate.

It seems that we go so dreadfully slow;

It is so hard to wait.

Over the river and through the woods,

Now Grandma's cap I spy.

Hurrah for fun; the pudding's done;

Hurrah for the pumpkin pie.

Christmas Carols - Jingle Bells

Get into the holiday spirit and sing Christmas carols with your family and friends!

Today's Christmas Carol is

Jingle Bells

Dashing through the snow,
In a one-horse open sleigh,
O'er the fields we go,
Laughing all the way;

Bells on Bobtail ring,
Making spirits bright,
What fun it is to ride and sing a sleighing song tonight.

Oh!
Jingle bells,
Jingle bells,
Jingle all the way!
Oh, what fun it is to ride in a one-horse open sleigh!

Jingle bells,
Jingle bells,
Jingle all the way!

Oh, what fun it is to ride in a one-horse open sleigh!

Everyday Music Activity #6

Listen to two pieces of music.  List their similarities and differences.  You can make a chart or a Venn Diagram to help you.

Extension:  Try listening to music from two different parts of the world and build a multi-cutural appreciaton.

Skills:  Comparing and contrasting, vocabulary, music appreciation

Happy Thanksgiving!

We wish all of you a Happy Thanksgiving!  Have a wonderful time with your family and friends.

NewSongs will be closed for lessons on Thursday and Friday.  Reschedule your lessons with you teacher, Ms. Jan or Mr. Michael. 

Call 714-4544
email michael@elkgrovemusiclessons.com

Everyday Music Activity #5

Make a musical map.  Choose a symbol for each section of the music and mark the order you hear new sections and repeated sections. 

What pattern have you found?


Extension:  Make a melody map by drawing a line with melodic contour.  When the notes go higher, make the line go up.  When the sounds go lower, make the line go down.  Describe the shape of the line.

Skills:  Patterns, identifying sections that sound alike, hearing high and low.

Everyday Music Activity #4

Make a list of describing words:  loud, soft, fast, slow, happy, sad, etc

Loud/soft words are called Dynamics

High/low words are called Pitch

Listen to music and apply the descriptive words to the piece

Extension:  Learn some Italian music terms to describe mood and tempo and use them to describe the music you listen to.
Examples:  forte, piano, andante, adagio, allegro, moderato, largo

Skills:  using adjectives and musical terminology, language arts and vocabulary

Everyday Music Activity #3

Dance or act out a story to a piece of music.  It is very easy to do this with music from operas and ballets.

Song ideas: 
The Nutcracker:  Overture by Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Swan Lake:  Spanish Dance by Peter Ilyick Tchaikovsky
Romeo and Juliet:  Preparation for the Ball by Dmitry Kabalevsky
Rodeo:  Hoe-Down by Aaron Copland
The Comedians:  Epilogue by Dmitry Kabalevsky

Extension:  Write a story to go along with the music

Skills:  Creative writing, active listening, language arts, gross motor skills and drama.

Enjoying Music with Your Elementary Age Child

(Ages Five to Twelve)

• Continue to sing and memorize songs and poetry with a strong rhythm and rhyme.
• Play musical games with your child involving math, spelling and reading.  They can learn ABC's, multiplication, The 50 States by singing them!
• While driving in the car, play musical guessing games such as "Name that Tune."
• Play guessing games that require recognizing the different instruments of the orchestra.
• Take your child to age-appropraite symphonies, musicals, ballets or chamber orchestras.
• Rent movies about music and musicians and watch them as a family. 
• Organize a yearly talent show in the neighborhood.
• Play music from the Baroque or Classical periods while children do their homework.

Fantastic Music at Music Fest

My daughters and I heard some awesome music last night at CSUS.  The Ahn Trio is made up of three sisters who are known for bridging the distance between classical and contemporary compositions.  The trio consists of a pianist, violinist and cellist who play beautifully but also engaged with the audience and really entertained with facial and bodily expressions. They were educated at Julliard and have 6 albums out.  Leading American composers have written music especially for the Ahn sisters which they performed spectacularly! 

The ladies also came out into the foyer afterwards to meet the audience and sign postcards and CDs.   My daughters were delighted to meet the musicians who were extremely friendly.

It was a wonderful way to spend the evening.

The Festival of New American Music continues with more concerts this week and through the weekend.  Each concert is free and parking is free after 7pm.

Check out the schedule at www.csus.edu/music/fenam  or call (916) 278-5155

Holiday Dates to Remember

Our annual Holiday Recitals will be held on Saturday, December 11th at Peace Prebyterian church.  Your student should be working on their performance music this month!  We look forward to hearing all the great music!

November and December are great months to get involved in public performances in our community.  If you are interested in performing in events other than our Holiday Recital, please ask your teacher about upcoming performance opportunities.

Holiday Breaks:

Thanksgiving Break - No lessons Thursday, November 25 or Friday, November 26.

Winter Break - No Lessons Monday, December 20 through Sunday, January 2.  Classes resume January 3.

Enjoying Music with your Teens

Today's teens usually have strong music preferences whether that be the lastest pop, country or even classical.  Yes, some teens love classical!

Here are some ideas to share music with your young musician.

• Take your teen to more sophisticated concerts.  If possible, arrange for a backstage tour.  Check out your local university or college for free or low cost concerts of different genres.
• Arrange for your teen to meet with a real composer.
• For holidays and other special occasions give musical gifts-subscriptions to concerts, plays or symphonies.  Encourage grandparents to give tickets to a symphony or musical.
• Hold family music recitals and allow your teen to "show off."

Make your home a musical training center!

"Charlie Brown and Friends"

Spotlight Theater did a fantastic job on Saturday, October 30!  The group performed "Charlie Brown and Friends" to a packed crowd. 

They worked very hard and delighted the crowd with songs and comedy.

Enjoy the pictures.  If you have more you'd like added to this collection, email them to me at tonya@elkgrovemusiclessons.com.  Thanks!

Everyday Music Activites for Everyone #2

Listen to a piece of music.  Find the steady beat.  Clap and march along.  Describe where it is fast or slow.  This is called the TEMPO.

Extension:  Listen for patterns in the rhythm (long and short notes).  See if you can copy it.  Is the pattern played more than one time in the song?

Skills:  Finding a steady beat, imitation, motor skills.

More Violin Recital Pictures!

Everyone did such a great job at the violin recital on Saturday.  If you have any pictures you would like me to post, please send them to me at tonya@elkgrovemusiclessons.com and I will add them to this collection!

"Charlie Brown and Friends"

Spotlight Musical Theater will be presenting "Charlie Brown and Friends" this Saturday, October 30.

The performance begins at 4pm

and will be held

at Peace Presbyterian Church
9145 Franklin Blvd
Elk Grove, CA 95758

This performance is FREE and everyone is welcome to enjoy the music and comedy!

Costumed Violin Recital a Success!!

 Congratulations to our 18 fantastic young violinists that performed last Saturday at our "Violins Only" Recital.  We heard some outstanding music and saw some great costumes as well.  Ever tried performing in wings?
Special congratulations to Dana for finishing Book 1 and Mandy for her Book 2 solo.  Well Done!!

Free Violin Concert This Saturday!

Come enjoy the music!

When:  Saturday, October 23

Time:  4:30pm

Where:  NewSongs, drama room, 10471 Grant Line Road, Elk Grove

What:  Listen to our violin students play their latest pieces!  They have been doing a great job getting ready and are excited to show us their stuff!


This is also a great time for students who are thinking about playing the violin to listen to violin music and meet our wonderful violin teachers, Ms. Sydney and Ms. Rachel!

Enjoying Music with Your Preschooler

(Ages Two to Five)

• Provide all kinds of rhythm instruments for your child to experiment with.
• Purchase age-appropriate CD players and teach your child how to use them.  Let her start her own music collection.
• Give children scarves, feathers, or ribbons and turn on classical music and let them dance, sing and improvise to the music.
• Play clapping games to see if they can match a variety of simple and complex rhtyhms.
• Read to and help your child memorize all kinds of poems and Mother Goose rhymes that have a strong musical rhythm.
• Read stories about great composers, instruments of the orchestra, and general music books.
• Play marches in the morning as your child is getting ready for the day.  She will enjoy marching to the bath, to dress or to eat.  The strong rhythmic beat will help her accomplish these tasks with ease as well as keep her focused on the task at hand.
• Play music for your child throughout the day.
• Play classical music while your child is going to sleep at night and when she is getting up in the morning.
• Enroll your child in group music classes.

Everyday Music Activity For Everyone #1

Listen to a piece of music and draw a picture. 

What does the music make you think about?

Show whatever you imagine:  an action, a person, a feeling, a shape or color.

Watch Disney's Fantasia or Fantasia 2000 for inspiration.

Skills:  identifying mood and timbre; art

Enjoying Music with your Baby

(Birth to Age Two)

Music education doesn't just begin at birth.  It begins during the nine months of gestation!  Hearing is the first fully developed sense of a baby, being developed while in the womb.  The unborn baby can hear voices, especially mom's and music.

It is important to introduce newborns to music as well.  Here are some suggestions for getting music into the newborn baby's day.

• Sing or play songs to your newborn as often as possible throughout the day, especially while you are bathing, dressing, and feeding him.
• At night, play soothing classical music or vocal lullabies as he falls asleep.
• Play musical games and fingerplays.  Clap the beat as you sing and take his hands and clap the beats along with him.
• Purchase age-appropraite musical toys and rhythm instruments.  Xylophones, bells and rattles are wonderful beginning instruments.
• As you sing to your child, vary the tempo, the softness, and the loudness.  Make your voice go up and down from low sounds to high sounds.
• Expose him to age-appropriate musical experiences and classes offered in the community.

Write a Song with Your Child!

Our names represent us!  Children love to hear their names in a song.  This activity will help instill a positive self-worth as well as show your child how much you love her!

Write your own song to sing with your child using her name as the basis.  It is easier than you think!

• Start with a popular tune such as Jingle Bells, BINGO, Mary Had a Little Lamb etc.
• Find some words that rhyme with her name
• Find some words that describe who she is or what she likes to do
• Fit the words in with the tune

Here is a song I wrote with my daughter Angel.  Sing it to the tune of Jingle Bells.

Angel Joy, Angel Joy

She likes dolls and toys

She's so good at drawing and art

She reads with all her heart!

Angel Joy, Angel Joy

She loves to play outside

She has lots of sisters

And she's always by their side!

Angel was delighted to do this project with me.  She was smiling the whole time and felt really important singing our finished product to daddy.

It is important to allow your child to help you as much as possible!  Write the song together.  Then sing it all the time.  You could incorporate musical instruments to make it more lively!  But most importantly, Have Fun!

Nurturing Your Child With Music: How Sound Awareness Creates Happy, Smart and Confident Children

By John M. Ortiz, PH.D


This book is designed as a hands-on, practical guide that parents can turn to when searching for creative alternatives to nurture their children.  The purpose of this book is to provide a guide through which parents and other caregivers can more effectively nurture their children by raising, or cultivating, their sound awareness.

John M. Ortiz is a licensed psychologist who uses sound awareness and music to help his clients and their families.

There are great exercises for raising musical awareness in infants, using music to help toddlers and preschoolers develop their language skills, teaching children to listen, using music to create relaxation and calmness as well as to stimulate our children and get them moving. 

The author presents a variety of opportunities for parents to bond with their children.  His main purpose is to help families connect with one another, create memories, and maintain happy, relaxed and productive home environments.

NewSongs is Now a Part of Donation Program!

NewSongs is excited to be a part of The MusicLink Foundation Instrument Donation Program! 

We are collecting instruments at NewSongs.  Please bring any instruments you would like to donate to our studio.  All donations are tax deductable.

   

The MusicLink Foundation welcomes donations of new or gently used instruments from businesses or the community.  We are pleased to see instruments go into children’s homes where they will be used for years of musical training and development.  Our MusicLink network of teachers and businesses guide this training through lessons, materials, and opportunities.

We are especially in need of touch sensitive electronic keyboards and string instruments of all types and sizes, but will accept nearly any instrument that is in good playable condition.  Instruments are loaned to children who cannot afford to rent or purchase one of their own. If students show the commitment to continue MusicLink lessons for 4 years, they are allowed to take ownership of the instrument.  In the case of keyboards, the Foundation, when possible, will replace the keyboard with a donated acoustic piano upon the recommendation of the private instructor.  The piano will then belong to the MusicLink family after the required 4 years of lessons and the keyboard will be recovered and re-loaned to a new MusicLink student.

Your in-kind donation is tax deductible to the extent provided by law and you will receive a Tax Receipt from the MusicLink Foundation with our thanks for helping another student realize their dream of having music lessons.

To donate an instrument, go to our website:  http://www.musiclinkfoundation.org/  Click on “How You Can Help” or call the  MusicLink Foundation at 703-534-9490.

Or contact us at NewSongs at 916 714-4544 or michael@elkgrovemusiclessons.com



"Music has the Power to Change Us."

Book Review:  Good Music Brighter Children, by Sharlene Habermeyer

In the book, Good Music Brighter Children,  Sharlene Habermeyer explores the scientific research on the effects music has on the brain, how to set the tone with music in your home, being an advocate for music education in our schools and then lists great resources for exposing great music and musical experiences to our children.

Introducing children to good music can:

• Accelerate language development
• Improve math and science skills
• Enhance physical coordination
• Strengthen memeory and reading retention
• Benefit children with learning diabilities

Did you know: "Scientists have found that music involves both left, right, front, and back portions of the brain, which explains why people can learn and retain information more readily when it is set to music."  Children learn better with music.  We have seen that with how quickly little children can learn nursery rhymes and their ABC's set to music. 

Did you know:  "When children expend the consistent effort required to learn a musical instrument, they discover that the discipline of this day-to-day task will affect how they approach their other responsibilities in life, such as the effort they put into their school studies or the degree of diligence they give to the development of other talents."

Did you know:  "Listening to classical music can increase memory and concentration, and studying a musical instrument has been shown to increase spatial reasoning."   

Did you know:  "Additionally, studying a musical instrument helps develop imagination, invention, creative thinking, communication, and teamwork skills - precisely those attributes needed for a twenty-first century global work force."

Music education develops creativity, critical thinking skills and leadership qualitities needed in today's technological society.  Hungary, Japan and the Netherlands have come out on top for science proficiency of their students.  What do these countries offer in their schools that we don't?  For one thing - training in music and the arts!

There are many ways to expose our children to music.  Starting before birth, we can play different types of music in our homes.  We can enroll our children in music classes even before they are ready to learn an instrument.   Then when they are old enough, about 5-7 years old, we can give them instruction on learning a specific instrument.   We can also expose them to ballets, operas, orchestras and concerts.  There are always free or low cost activities in the community or we can play great CD's and watch DVD's.  Habermeyer lists her favorite resources for you to find at the library or music store.

"Music whispers to us dim secrets that startle our wonder as to who we are, and for what, whence and whereto."  -Ralph Waldo Emerson

Book Review: Nurtured by Love a New Approach to Education by Shinichi Suzuki

"Talent is not inherited or inborn but trained and educated.  Genius is an honorific name given to those who are brought up and trained to high ability."

Nurtured by Love is part biography and part education philosophy.  It tells of how Suzuki developed his education philosophy from his birth in Japan, growing up in his father's violin factory, teaching himself to play the violin at 17 years of age, studying the violin in Berlin for 8 years and being mentored by great men such as Einstein and finally returning to Japan to begin his own teaching career and stumbling upon his method of teaching little children to play the violin.  He believes all children are born with music ability just as they are born with the ability to learn their native language. Children should learn everything, including music, in the same way-naturally, step by step.

The goal of the Suzuki's Talent Education method is to prepare children to be noble men and women who have good and loving hearts.  He states, "A true artist is a person with beautiful and fine feelings, thoughts and actions." 

"Talent is no accident of birth.
In today's society a good many people seem to have the idea that if one is born without talent, there is nothing one can do about it, and they simply resign themselves to what they consider to be their fate.  Consequently they go through life without living it to the full or ever knowing life's true joy.  That is man's greatest tragedy."

Learning a musical instrument is hard work and requires discipline and time.  But everyone can learn and develop their musical potential.  Suzuki believed everyone learns at a different pace and one child might need to practice 5,000 times before he can play a certain piece.  The next child might need to practice 15,000 times before he can play the same piece.  But all children can learn and achieve.

One thing that is evident reading Nurtured by Love is that Suzuki had a great love for children and his love inspired children to grow and be the best they could be.  As parents and teachers, we can inspire our children to grow and reach their potential by believing in them, encouraging them and loving them.

Little Musicians Song: The Farmers' Fair

The Farmers' Fair is a singing and dancing song.  Invite everyone to choose a partner.  Stand facing each other, holding both hands.  During the verses swing arms back and forth to the beat of the song.  On the chorus, "Ru-di-ru-di..." dance and skip in a circle.  Children love dancing with a partner because it makes music a community project and children love being in community!

The Farmers' Fair 
German Folksong:  Bi de Buern, Lubeck

Verse 1:
We're invited, dear children, all to come to the fair.
There is dancing and singing, all your friends will be there.

Chorus:
Ru-di-ru-di ral-la-la,ral-la-la, ral-la-la,
Ru-di-ru-di ral-la-la, ral-la-la-la.

Verse 2:
Happy laughter and music and an oom-pah-pah band,
We are sending a message all over this land.

Chorus

Verse 3:
Oh the sun it is shining and the fair is such fun,
And we won't want to leave it 'til the day is all done.

Chorus

Triple Rhythm Patterns

Here is another set of patterns to do with your children.  Say the pattern one line at a time and have your child echo you.

Set 1
Du-da-di du,

Du-da-di du-da-di,
Du-di du-di.

Du  du.


Set 2
Du-ta-da-di du.

Du-ta-da-di di-ta-da-di.

Du-di-tadu-di.

Du-ta-da-ta-di-ta du.


Set 3
Du-da-di du  du-da-di du-da-di.

Du-da-di du-da-du du-da-di du.

Du-di du  -  di  du-da-du du.

Du-di du   du-da-di du.


Set 4
Du-da-di  du  du-ta-da-di  du.

Du-ta-da-  di  du-ta-da di  du-da-du  du.

Du  di-ta du  - di-ta du -di du.

Du-di  du - di  du-ta-da-ta-di-ta  du.

Why We Need Music Education

Sure.  I mean, we're always struggling to keep up with what kids are doing out in the real life.  You know, they-our kids are more savvy about music than ever before.  They all carry their own personal iPod, their own personal music collection.  But Russ is right, sort of the basics have not changed.  I want to respond to something that you asked earlier and also to the listener that called in about you know, why is this important and why do we teach this.  And Samuel Hope, who's the executive director of the National Association of Schools and Music, he says we have five ways to communicate and organize thought and knowledge.  The first one is letters and words, which is our language.  And the second is number and symbols, which is mathematics.  And-but the next three are still images, which is art in architecture and design, moving images which is dance and film, and abstract sound which is music.  And we tend to only place emphasis on the first two.  And if a child does not excel at the first two, then we spend more time teaching him that or her that rather than-at the expense of the other three.  And so there are other ways besides numbers, mathematics and language, to communicate and to organize sound, and music is one of those.  And if we have a child who doesn't communicate well with the first two, then he or she just doesn't do well in the education system as we have it set up today.  And, of course, we're going to have students at risk.  Imagine if you spend eight hours, as a seven year old, just studying words and numbers and you're bursting to express something and you can't do it.  I mean, this is just an accident waiting to happen.  And I don't - I mean, we don't - we can't just do a little music.  Let's outsource this and sing some songs after school.  That's not how you teach.  You don't teach algebra that way, you don't teach somebody to read that way, you don't teach science that way.  You cannot teach anything that way.  So it's very important that you have a structured, you know, step-by-step education so that students have access.  Understanding how to read music and to sing music and to play music is access.
-Dr. Hollinger, music education instructor SJSU

"Talent is not inherited or inborn,

but trained and educated.  Genius is an honorific name given to those who are brought up and trained to high ability." -Shinichi Suzuki from Nurtured by Love -A New Approach to Education

Drama Game for All Ages! Duck, Duck, Animal

This is a fun drama game for all ages!

It teaches improvisation, acting and bit of directing too!

Duck, Duck, Animal

This game is similar to the popular Duck, Duck Goose and begins the same way with the children sitting in a circle and one person who is "It".  This child walks around the circle and taps on each head saying "Duck, Duck...and then calls a different animal such as Elephant.  The chosen child pretends to be the third animal.  Then it is that child's turn to walk around and will say a different animal for the next child to act as.  This continues around the circle until everyone has had a turn to act and direct.

Duple Rhythm Patterns

These Rhythm patterns go well with the article Mr. Michael posted yesterday.  These are duple patterns and I will be posting triple patterns soon.  Practice these patterns by saying them one line at a time and having your child repeat after you.

This exercise helps children learn to listen, as well as learn patterns with different counts and rhythms.

Set 1
Du du. 
      
      
Du-de du-de.
          
      
Du du-de
    
          
Du-de du.

Set 2
Du-ta-de-ta du.

Du-ta-de-ta  du de.

Du du-ta-de-ta.

Du-ta-de du.

Set 3
Du du du-de du.

Du-de du-de du-de du.

Du du-de du du-de.

Du du-de du-de du.

Set 4
Du du du-ta-de-ta du.

Du du du-ta-de-ta du-de.

Du du-ta-de-ta du du-de.

Du-ta-de-ta du-ta-de-ta du-de du.

Re-Post of a good article about basic rhythm skills

Developing a “Good Sense of Rhythm”

By joy (admin) | Published: 14 September 2010

Developing a good sense of rhythm is one of the most challenging parts of being a piano teacher.  It’s not something that arrives overnight, and it’s something that must be maintained as the student advances to music with more advanced rhythms and time signatures.  It truly is something that must bedeveloped.

I’d like to suggest that there are three components to having and developing what we so loosely refer to as a “good sense of rhythm”:

1. A sense of beat. This means the ability to maintain a steady beat/pulse.  This is probably the most common and most basic problem that students encounter when it comes to rhythm issues in their piece.  The inability to maintain a steady beat/pulse is crucial for developing #’s 2 and 3 below.
2. A sense of rhythm (i.e., note values).  This involves being able to accurately identify and execute the various note values within a variety of tempi.  Beginner students may struggle with placing eighth notes within a quarter note beat, while more advanced students may struggle with syncopated rhythms or playing 2 against 3.  It is nearly impossible to develop a sense of rhythm without first developing a sense of beat (#1 above).
3. A sense of meter.  This may very well be the most elusive component of the three.  At the most basic level, issues with proper sense of meter will evidence themselves when, for example, a student fails to maintain 3/4 time by extending the third beat so that they are actually in 4/4 time (a common issue among beginners).  At more advanced levels, issues with proper sense of meter will evidence themselves when, for example, a student feels cut time (2/2) as common time (4/4), or feels 4/4 or 3/4 time as more like 1/4 (not uncommon in Bach’s contrapuntal pieces).  Losing sight of the meter is like failing to see (or feel) the big picture.

When student has a rhythmic issue in one of their pieces, it can be really beneficial to further identify which of the three components above may be lacking and causing the issue in this case.  An issue in understanding what a half note means is quite different from an issue with keeping a steady beat, for example!  The teacher would solve these issues quite differently.

On a bit of a tangent — all this talk about rhythm is one of the reasons why I’d love to be able to offer pre-piano / early childhood music group classes someday (once set up a studio in my own home rather than teaching on campus).  Offering these kinds of classes allows  the students a chance at musical development before they may be ready for private lessons with a teacher.  And these classes are a perfect opportunity to begin developing good senses of rhythm!  Developing a sense of beat (#1 above) can be done with activities involving tapping, clapping, or walking the beat while singing and moving.  Soon after, students can begin echoing and creating various rhythms within the steady tempo to begin absorbing how note values (#2 above) work.  And, of course, the teacher will present these rhythm activities within certain meters/time signatures (#3).  Although the students may not yet be at the point where they can understand what a time signature means, they can at least begin absorbing and feeling what these meters sound and feel like.  All these things are great foundations for taking lessons later on!

These kinds of activities are not only for early childhood, though.  They would also work well for monthly group lessons with students ages 5-7 (but probably not any older, depending on the activity) who are already taking private lessons.

There are many ways to develop a good sense of rhythm in students!  The most important thing?  Showing students that rhythm can be fun!  =)

From

http://colorinmypiano.com/2010/09/14/developing-a-good-sense-of-rhythm/

My Little Rooster and Go Round the Mountain- Two Fun Little Musicians Songs

Here are the words to two songs that the Little Musicians class has been singing.

Now you can sing them at home too!

These songs are easy to sing, teach body awareness and improvisation.

My Little Rooster

Now I love my little rooster and my rooster loves me,
I'm gonna cherish that rooster 'neath the green bay tree;
My little rooster goes cock-a-doodle-doo, doodle-doo, doodle-doo.

And I love my little hen and my little hen loves me,
I'm gonna cherish that hen 'neath the green bay tree,
My little hen goes "cluck, cluck,"
My little rooster goes "cock-a-doodle-doo, doodle-doo, doodle-doo."

And I love my little piggy and my piggy loves me, etc.
My little pig goes "oink, oink,"
My little hen goes "cluck, cluck,"
My little rooster goes "cock-a-doodle-doo, doodle-doo, doodle-doo."

And I love my little duck and my duckling loves me, etc.
My little duck goes "quack, quack," (add pig,  hen, rooster)

And I love my little dog, and my doggie loves me, etc.
My little dog goes "bow, wow," (add duck, pig, hen, rooster)



Go 'Round the Mountain

Go 'round the mountain;
To-di-diddle-dum, to-di-diddle-dum.
Go 'round the mountain;
To-di-diddle-dum, to-di-diddle-dum dum.

Show me your fingers;   (wiggle your fingers)
To-di-diddle-dum, to-di-diddle-dum.
Show me your fingers;
To-di-diddle-dum, to-di-diddle-dum dum.

Show me your elbow;   (tap your elbow)
To-di-diddle-dum, to-di-diddle-dum.
Show me your elbow;
To-di-diddle-dum, to-di-diddle-dum dum.

Show me your hips;    (swish your hips)
To-di-diddle-dum, to-di-diddle-dum.
Show me your hips;
To-di-diddle-dum, to-di-diddle-dum dum.

Show me your feet;    (tap your foot)
To-di-diddle-dum, to-di-diddle-dum.
Show me your feet;
To-di-diddle-dum, to-di-diddle,dum dum.

Ask your children to suggest other body parts.  Continue the activity by making up further verses.

Sing these songs with your children!  You will have fun together as well as practicing music.

Mystery Cards at NewSongs and at Home!

For the past few months, the teachers at NewSongs have been using a motivation game called Mystery Cards to motivate the students to do their best.  And it works!

At the start of the class the student picks a card but only the teacher can see what the card says.  The student doesn't know what is on the card and must work hard to not break any "rules".  At the end of the lesson the teacher and student look at the card and decide if the student followed the "rule" and therefore earned a ticket.  When the student earns 5 or more tickets he gets to "buy" a prize from the prize box. 

The Little Musicians mystery cards are as follows:

• I played all the games
• I used good piano posture for the entire lesson
• I listened well without doodling on the piano
• I didn't make any excuses
• I played my songs correctly
• I used a great hand position for the entire lesson
• I remembered to bring my notebook and my music
• I adjusted the bench before I played
• I had a positive attitude
• I danced and moved to the music

Mystery cards eliminate all nagging and negative remarks.  Instead of having to tell someone to stop doing something, I just say, "Oh, I hope that isn't your mystery card!"  and the child immediately stops breaking the "rule"!

Because of the success of the Mystery Cards in the Little Musician classes, I have begun to use Mystery Cards at home with my 5 and 3 year olds. 

It has been successful so far! 

I have them pick a mystery card in the morning at breakfast and we review what their card said at dinner time.  If they did what was on the card then they earn a sticker for their sticker chart.  When their chart is full they get to go for ice cream or hot chocolate with Daddy.

The "At Home" Mystery Cards are:

• I didn't cry today
• I put my shoes in the basket
• I put my dirty clothes in the basket
• I gave everyone hugs and kisses today
• I shared my toys and stuff with my sister
• I had a happy, positive attitude
• I read a book
• I picked up my toys without whining
• I made a picture
• I didn't hit or hurt my sister

The Mystery Cards are a great motivational tool!  You can be positive and still direct your children to behave the way you need them to!

Children Love Lullabies

Lullabies are beautiful songs that calm colicky babies and soothe screaming toddlers.

They are also enjoyed by the older child who needs reassurance that all is well with this crazy world.

As an adult, I continue to sing lullabies for my own enjoyment.

Lullabies are songs that are handed down from one generation to another.  They are full of history.  They connect us with musicians and poets of the past.

I have found this wonderful website that features all kinds of lullabies.  There are hundreds of lyrics for you to copy. If you don't remember the tune you can listen to the website's author, Amy Robbins-Williams, sing the lullaby.   http://www.lullaby-link.com/index.html

Learn a lullaby and pass on a wonderful gift to your children!

Great Resources for Piano Students and Teachers!

Do you need new and fun ideas to put the spark back in your practice sessions?

Check out http://www.susanparadis.com/ for fun games and flashcards that make learning music fun and easy.  Susan has a way with graphics and easy explanations that make her games enjoyable for children of all ages.

This is a game of hangman based on words that relate to the piano! http://www.ptg.org/hangman/hangman.php

Here is a game called Music Notation Concentration.  See how fast you match each button pair by remembering their locations.  http://www.ptg.org/justForFun-concentrationNotes.php

This is a similar game called Piano Parts Concentration.  http://www.ptg.org/justForFun-concentrationParts.php

Printable Piano Parts Word Search  http://www.ptg.org/fun/PianoWordSearch.pdf

Letter P Piano Alphabet Online Jigsaw Puzzle http://www.first-school.ws/puzzlesonline/alphabet/p_piano.htm  Perfect for little ones!

For more games and activites visit http://www.ptg.org/justForFun.php


Check back often as this list of great websites grows!

100 Days Practice Chart!!!

We all need to find ways to motivate our students to practice.  I have designed a practice chart to keep track of 100 days of practice. 

I will have a prize for the first student from my Little Musician classes to complete it. You can also give prizes to your students or children after they finish it.

Practicing is great for learning an instrument but it also teaches students that if they stick with something long enough and are consistent, good things will happen.
 

See Ms. Tonya at NewSongs or email her at tonya@elkgrovemusiclessons.com for your copy of the 100 Days of Practice Chart!

Finger Songs for Beginning Pianists

Children in the Little Musician classes are still developing their finger coordination. These songs will help warm up and strengthen their fingers. Sing them often!

Finger Play Song
Thumbkin is finger number one, number one, number one;
Thumbkin is finger number one, but where is finger number two?

Pointer is finger number two, number two, number two;
Pointer is finger number two, but where is finger number three?

Tall man is finger number three, number three, number three;
Tall man is finger number three, but where is finger number four?

Ring man is finger number four, number four, number four;
Ring man is finger number four, but where is finger number five?

Pinky is finger number five, number five, number five;
Pinky is finger number five, now wiggle them all and say goodbye!


Where is Thumbkin?
Where is Thumbkin?
Where is Thumbkin?
Here I am, here I am.
How are you today, sir?
Very well, I thank you.
Run away, run away.

Where is Pointer?
Where is Pointer?
Here I am, here I am.
How are you today, sir?
Very well, I thank you.
Run away, run away.

Where is Tall Man?
Where is Tall Man?
Here I am, here I am.
How are you today, sir?
Very well, I thank you.
Run away, run away.

Where is Ring Man?
Where is Ring Man?
Here I am, here I am.
How are you today, sir?
Very well, I thank you.
Run away, run away.

Where is Pinky?
Where is Pinky?
Here I am, here I am.
How are you today, sir?
Very well, I thank you.
Run away, run away.

Great Websites for Guitarists!

There are so many websites for musicians but where to start?!?

These links will help you get started.

http://ultimate-guitar.com has guitar tabs and chords for hundreds of pupular songs that you will want to play

http://allmusic.com has music information on everything going on in the music world. You can check out your favorite artist, albums and videos. The blog tells the latest news in the music world.

http://jamstudio.com is the online music factory. You can create great songs in 3 easy steps. 1. Enter chords 2. Choose instruments 3. Play your song

Check back often as this list of great websites grows!

Violin Resources

All violin students need their own violin!

Violins come in different sizes for the growing student. Talk with your teacher to get the right size.

Violins can be rented or bought.

It is important to get a good quality violin so that the student makes nice sounds and is motivated to play. Poor quality violins are not fun to play on or listen to!


To rent or buy:
Ifshin's Violins
1633 University, Berkeley, CA 94703
(510) 843-5466

To buy:
Young Musicians at www.ymonline.com

To buy:
Shar's at www.sharmusic.com

To buy locally:
Jeff Sahs 739-1962

To rent or buy:
Happi Music Land
(916) 685-0555

Kline Music
(916) 456-8742

Must See

For families that love musical theater, I just watched Cathy Rigby's version of "Peter Pan" on DVD--excellent production and very well filmed. It was a great chance to see top notch performances without the high priced tickets. For Netflix subscribers, you can request it or watch it instantly online (as I did). I highly recommend it!

What I Love About Musical Theater

The only movie star I really knew growing up was Fred Astaire. I am only 27 (not 72), but he was my hero, I watched all his movies, read his biography, etc. Needless to say none of my peers shared my enthusiasm.

It should come as no surprise, then, that I love Broadway musicals. I don't care if they are predictable, unrealistic, or corny. I don't need any excuse to believe people would break out into song and dance at the drop of a hat. I wish real life was like that: happy, creative, outgoing, colorful and unabashed. I realize that the rest of the world is not going to suddenly fall into my fantasy and sing along. Nevertheless, I love teaching musical theater to kids; not because I am brainwashing them to be members of my utopian society, but because I love watching students change from bugs to butterflies.

Consider, for instance, a student I will call Kate. She came into a class at our school painfully shy--the kind where you are afraid you may make them cry at any moment just by being in the same room. But at home, she loved to perform and put on shows and her parents knew that she could grow to be more confident on and off stage. She loved her classmates, but on show day it was anybody's guess as to if she would actually make it out of the wings and onto the stage when there were real people in the audience. She made it to the third song before she realized how many people she was singing in front of and ran off-stage mid-sentence. Her parents, teachers, and the whole cast were so proud.

An older student, let's call her Maryann, is a little bit of a diva. She likes to be right, tell other people what to do, and have them be impressed by her skills and experience. Not exactly what they teach you in "How to Win Friends and Influence People." Being part of a drama cast enabled other students to get to know her behind her facade and gave her a true sense of belonging that she did not find in other places.

If a sports team can feel like a family, the cast of a musical can even more. Everyone can have their petty issues, but it takes a lot of vulnerability and courage to sing, act, dance, try new things and make mistakes literally on a stage for all to see. It helps students bond and gives them confidence--if I can be in a musical I can do anything!

It also helps students build creative problem solving skills and quick thinking. When in a play, you must be ready to react to both the expected and the unexpected. When my daughter was 4 she played a policeman in Pirates of Penzance and the only black "boots" she would wear was a pair of high-heeled leather boots that zipped halfway up her leg--the ones her Grammy bought her. Let's just say when she had to stand on a rock and look menacing for 5 minutes everyone had to quickly think of ways to keep her from falling completely off the stage!

Confidence, teamwork, creative thinking on the fly--that's before we ever teach kids a thing about how to memorize lines, act in character, sing on key or dance on time. If you have never been a part of a musical (even if you are all grown up now) you may think about trying it. Life my never be the same. And as they say "The show must go on..."

Spotlight Musical Theater Starting Soon

"Charlie Brown and Friends"

Learn confidence and creativity on stage.

Rehearsal-based classes teach students new skills weekly as they prepare for the final show!

Acting track: Tuesdays
Grade K-2 4:30 to 5:30 pm
Grade 3-12 5:30 to 7 pm

Vocal track: Thursdays
Grade K-2 4:30 to 5:30 pm
Grade 3-12 5:30 to 7 pm

Auditions: August 17 and 19
Final Performance: October 30th

Tuition
One track: $149 per session (10 weeks)
Both tracks: $275 per session
Additional siblings 10% off

Practice for Cupcakes!

Ms. Tonya's Little Musician classes are practicing for cupcakes!

Starting August 4 their goal is to practice at least 3 times a week.

September 1 will be the cupcake party for all who have reached their goal!

Practice can be very short consisting of warming up fingers, sitting correctly at the piano, nice hand position and playing their song for the week.

Each student has been given a practice chart to keep record.

If your student needs another practice chart click here to print a new on: http://www.makingmusicfun.net/htm/printit-oliver-sticker-practice-chart.htm

Good Luck everyone!

Any questions email Ms. Tonya at tonya@elkgrovemusiclessons.com

Six Little Ducks

This is a fun song. Children love to sing it while acting out the parts of the song.

Six Little Ducks

Verse 1. Six little ducks that I once knew,

Fat ones, skinny ones, they were too.

But the one little duck with a feather on his back,

He led the others with a quack, quack, quack

Quack, quack, quack

Quack, quack, quack

He led the others with a quack, quack, quack

Quack, quack, quack, quack.

Verse 2. Down to the river they would go,

Wibble, wabble, wibble, wabble, to and fro;

But the one little duck with a feather in his back,

He led the others with a quack, quack, quack.

Quack, quack, quack

Quack, quack quack.

He led the others with a quack, quack, quack.

Quack, quack, quack, quack.

Sing the song, acting out parts of the text:

Six little ducks............................Hold up six fingers

fat ones, skinny ones..................Show size with hands.

one little duck.............................Hold up one finger.

feather on his back....................Hold one hand as feather on your back.

quack, quack..............................Place palms together for beak for each quack.

wibble, wabble...........................Palms together, let ducks swim.

NewSongs is Moving to a New Studio!

We are excited to be moving to a new facility designed to better meet the needs of our students.

We will be starting classes there on Monday August 2.

The new address is 10471 Grantline Road which is right at HWY 99 at the Grantline Exit.

Here is a link to the maphttp://maps.google.com/maps?q=10471+Grantline+Road,+Elk+Grove,+CA&rls=com.microsoft:en-us:IE-SearchBox&oe=UTF-8&rlz=1I7ADSA_en&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hq=&hnear=10471+Grant+Line+Rd,+Elk+Grove,+CA+95624&gl=us&ei=gIxQTMnLEoS0vgOYv9n0Bg&sa=X&oi=geocode_result&ct=image&resnum=1&ved=0CBYQ8gEwAA
Please come visit us!

There is a Grand Opening Celebration being planned for August 21. Mark your calendars!