The Balloon Cello

Here's what you'll need:

• a length of pole or dowelling
• a balloon
• a length of fishing line
• ideally, a violin or cello bow

Here's how you make it:

1.  Attach the length of fishing line to both ends of the pole, leaving plenty of slack.

2.  Inflate the balloon and insert it between the fishing line and the pole, so that the line becomes taut and holds the balloon in place.

3.  Pluck or bow the string with a violin or cello bow.

At the end of a performance the player has the option of bursting the balloon!


Idea from Music Makes Your Child Smarter by Philip Sheppard

"Artist" Group Classes and Workshops

Making and enjoying music with others is fun and an important part of learning an instrument. 

All private lesson students are invited to participate in group classes to help enhance and support their learning by working on special projects with others.

Violin:  Fourth Saturdays (This month the classes are on January 29) @ 10am for beginning players and @ 11am for late beginner and early intermediate players
              Fiddling class - tbd

Voice:  Third Saturdays @ 1:15pm

Guitar:  Theory and Performance workshops every first and third Saturdays @11am

Drums:  Saturday, February 5th @ noon

Piano:  "Artist" students participate in weekly labs.  Special Class to introduce our Listening Curriculum on Saturday, January 29th from noon to 1:30pm

Put these dates on your calendar and get the most of your music experience!

Meet Ms. Rachel!

What inspirations and dreams does a young violin teacher have?  Let's get to know Ms. Rachel! 

What do you do at NewSongs?

I teach violin (the best instrument in the universe!)

Why do you play the violin?

I think the violin is really beautiful, and I like that I can play my favorite kinds of music on it.

When did you start playing the violin?

I started asking for lessons when I was 2 and I started playing at 3.

How often do you practice?

At least 5 days a week.

When did you start teaching?

I've taught violin since September 2008 and I started teaching at NewSongs in the spring of 2009.

What is your favorite part about teaching?

Watching my students go up and perform a piece that they've been working really hard on.  It makes me so proud!

What was the best concert you ever went to?

The Ahn Trio, they are really awesome performers.

Who inspires you?

Dr. Suzuki's teaching philosophy is really inspiring to me.  I love how he believes that music can make a person's heart more beautiful and that anyone can learn.

What are your dreams for your life?

I would like to get a degree in either music or music therapy and have a job that has to do with children and music.

What do you do besides NewSongs?

Go to my violin lessons, do school work and hang out with my little sisters.

What do you do for fun?

I love reading classics, writing stories, and listening to my favorite musicians.

Here are some of Rachel's favorites:

Food:  anything Italian

Color:  Green

Movie:  The Lord of the Rings Trilogy

CD/Music:  anything classical or Celtic

Book:  The Chronicles of Narnia



How Musical Are You? Take this test to find out.

EasyEarTraining has posted a new test that has been developed to determine musical aptitude.  Researchers from the “Music, Mind and Brain research group” at Goldsmiths, University of London are embarking on a project to discover how musical people are – including those who don’t consider themselves musical at all!

I took the test this morning.  It was a lot of fun and happily scored high on all the musical aptitude sections.  It will be interesting to have my older daughters take the test and compare our scores.

Let me know if you take the test and what you think of the results!

Meet Ms. Michelle!

Do you know Ms. Michelle?

If you are a piano student then you probably do! 

What do you do at NewSongs?

I have the awesome job of teaching kids piano lessons.

Why do you play the piano?

Because I love to play the piano and it didn't hurt that my mother was a piano teacher! :)

When did you start to play?

When I was about 3 or 4 years old.

When did you start teaching?

About 5 or 6 years ago I started teaching private students here and there. But I only started at NewSongs about 3 months ago.

What is your favorite part about teaching?

Being able to see kids begin to express themselves through music and like it.

What do you do besides NewSongs?

I am a server at The Stagecoach Restaurant.

What do you do for fun?

I love hanging out with my family; my husband Sean and my kids Vinnie (2) and Cora (1).

What is the best concert you ever went to?

Trans Siberian Orchestra

Who inspires you?

My relationship with God.  My family also inspires me to be a better person and do my jobs to the best of my ability.

What are your dreams?

I would love to always be involved in music in one way or another through my work.

Some of Ms. Michelle's favorites:

Food:  Any kind of Mexican food

Color:  Yellow

Movie:  The Wedding Singer

Music:  All kinds

Book:  All kinds - I love to read!



The cardboard Strumbox

This is a nice instrument for intoducing children to plucked instruments.

Here's what you'll need:

• shoe box or a strong tissue box
• a large variety of rubber bands.

Here's how you make it:

Make an oval hole in the shoe box lid then stretch the rubber bands around the box so they lie across the oval shaped hole.  On one side, insert a pencil or narrow dowel rod underneath the bands.  This will lift them off the box on one side and will make it sound more resonant.

Strum away!


Idea from Music Makes Your Child Smarter by Philip Sheppard

NewSongs NewStudent Welcome Event!

Welcome New Music Students!

Who?  All new students beginning classes January 2011!

Where?  Here!  NewSongs School of Music

When?  Saturday, January 22nd from 11:30am to 1pm

What?  A reception for students and parents to learn more about how to make the most of their music lessons, ask questions, enjoy refreshments and allow us to get to know you better!

We make Music for Life.

Meet Mr. Michael

If you have visited NewSongs than you have met Mr. Michael.  But do you really know him?  Here is your chance!

What do you do at NewSongs?
Teach piano lessons, teach outside music programs at the CA Montessori Project, read weekly storytimes at the Elk Grove Library, take violin lessons, research and implement new curriculum, meet with new students and their families, work with staff to keep improving our teaching, answer all random questions, and have a lot of fun!

Why do you play the piano?
I've always loved the piano, although I was a "late" starter (end of elementary school).  I am very curious and I LOVE learning new things about music, so I always knew I would do well as a teacher.

When did you start teaching?
When I was 16.  (Disclaimer:  I also finished college when I was 18)

Who inspires you?
My family and my students.  Seeing anyone believe and strive to be their very best and live their dreams motivates and inspires me.  I think people, especially children, are amazingly incredible in what they can be.

What do you do for fun?
Play with my kids, hang out with my wife, and go to Disneyland.

What are some of your favorites?
Food:  Coffee
Color:  Blue
Movie:  Any musical!  Maybe "Singing in the Rain"
CD/music:  Currently in my car is a new collections of pieces with Yo-Yo Ma and famous musicians from a variety of styles:  vocal to bluegrass, jazz to classical.

What are your dreams for your life?
Finally finish some of the music-themed children's books I have been working on and unleash them on the world.

Thank you, Mr. Michael, for telling us more about you!  Now we all know the important things such as coffee is his favorite food  and he loves Disneyland!  Check back soon, your favorite teacher may be next!

January at NewSongs

                               Meet our fun and happy staff at NewSongs!

Ms. Jan is our friendly office manager, ready to schedule your lessons!

                                         

                            

Spotlight Musical Theater has funny, dramatic teachers!  Ms. Cat, Mr. Johnathan and Ms. Cealey.

Piano classes with Ms. Amber, Ms. Michelle and Mr. Michael.  Students play musical games as well as have piano time.

One on one violin lessons with Ms. Rachel

 

Becoming rock stars with teachers, Mr. Matthew and Mr. Sam!

Everyday Music Activity #7

Read about a famous composer or musician and listen to their work.

Extension: 

• Talk about how the person's life shaped their music. 
• What instruments had they learned to play?
• What experiences had they had?

*For great music/biography connections find books by Anna Harwell Celenza

Skills:  History, Reading, Music Appreciation

Have some fun with your own "Bottle Choir"

Here's what you'll need:

• a variety of different-sized bottles
• a wooden spoon
• a length of wood
• double-sided sticky tape

Here's how you make it:

1.  Fix the bottles to the length of wood securely with the double-sided sticky tape.

2.  Fill each bottle with a different amount of water to produce a pleasing array of different notes.  The more water you add to the botte, the lower note it will produce.

3.  Hit the bottles gently but firmly with the wooden spoon.

Idea from Music Makes Your Child Smarter by Philip Sheppard