February News for Little Musicians: German Composers and Videos to Help with Practice

Little Musicians Families,

Can you believe it is already February!  It seems we just got back from Christmas vacation. 


Germany

This month we have been working on our Germany theme by learning a lot of songs in German and from Germany and learning about German composers.

We have listened and:

played "air" pianos to Bach's Toccata in D minor  (My little girls just heard this song on a radio commercial and from the back seat announced that this was Bach's Toccata in D minor! Yes, they were listening!)

danced with ribbons to Handel's Minuet from Water Music

identified the cuckoo's in Leopold Mozart's Toy Symphony

identified the piano's and forte's in Haydn's Surprise Symphony that made many of them jump at the surprise!

and Wolfgang Mozart's Twinkle Variations.

We have also been learning songs on the Boomwhackers:  Listen for Bells, The Cuckoo Song and Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.  We play the Boomwhackers individually as well as group songs.  This is great practice in learning to play in a community of musicians.  It is also a great first step before playing these songs on the piano.

Videos and Practice Help
Have you checked out our blog yet?  Strings, Keys and Melodies

Here you can watch videos to help with piano practice, piano positions, and voice warm-ups.  Find music suggestions for calming or energizing your child. Read about the Benefits of Music. 

Have fun and Drum at home with Ms. Tonya!

Be sure to let me know if you enjoy the videos and articles by leaving me a comment or sending me an email!  I want to know what is helpful to you!







--

Ms.Tonya
tonya@elkgrovemusiclessons.com
812-2875
www.stringskeysandmelodies.blogspot.com

Little Musicians - Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!

I hope you all had a wonderful holiday season and  joyful new year!

Everyone did such a wonderful job at the recitals!  I was proud of all the singers and pianists!  They really amaze me at what they can accomplish. I am looking forward to getting back into class with everyone this week to learn new songs. 

We had a lot of fun studying Native American music!  Now we are moving onto Germany.  During the next 2 months we will be introduced to great composers such as Bach, Handel, Haydn, and Mozart.  We will also listen to music with a "cuckoo" motif, dance a polka, and learn a bit of the German language!   

My daughter, Rachel, and I have started a new music blog for parents just like you.  We will continue to put new articles on each week that will help you practice with your children and encourage the love of music at home!  Check it out at www.stringskeysandmelodies.blogspot.com and become a fan on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Strings-Keys-and-Melodies/218265388248738?sk=wall  We will keep you up to date!  Please let us know of any questions, issues, ideas that you would like us to answer or address on our blog and we will be sure to do that!  Thanks!

Looking forward to new music in the new year!

Little Musicians are Going Around the World!

Starting in September, our Little Musician classes will be going Around the World!  The goal of each thematic unit is to study a people through its music, songs, dances, stories and celebrations.

 

 

September and October- Classes will focus on the music of the British Isles: England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales.  Music will include London Bridge, Oranges and Lemons, My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean, Cockles and Mussels and The Ash Grove, plus many others.  We will listen to samples of Bagpipes and the Irish Harp and even dance the Blarney Boys Jig! 

 

Bring the theme home with you!  Make this Irish Soda Bread with your children!

 

Irish Soda Bread

(Bake in 8" round buttered cake pan)

• Sift together the following dry ingredients in a large bowl:

     2 cups sifted all purpose flour

     1 1/2 tsp baking powder

     1/2 tsp baking soda

     1/2 tsp salt

     1 TBSP sugar

• Cut 1/4 cup chilled butter or shortening into the flour mixture until crumbly.
• Stir in 1/2 - 1 cup raisins/currants
• Mix 1 beaten egg with 2/3 cup buttermilk.
• Add to the dry ingredients, stirring well.
• Knead briefly and place in pan, pressing dough down to fill it.
• Cut a bold cross 1/2" deep over the top and sides.  Brush with milk.

Bake 35-40 minutes at 375 F.

Cut into wedges to serve with butter or preserves.

 

 

Look forward to the other themes this year:

November/December - Native Americans

January/February - Germany

March/April - African-American Heritage

 

 

Looking forward to seeing you all this Saturday at our first Family Music Night!  Saturday, September 3, 5:45-7pm.  Cost is a canned donation for our local food bank! 

 

Your children are a joy to teach!  It is wonderful to see a love a music grow and grow in each child!  I am looking forward to a really fun and learning filled year!

 

Feel free to contact me any time you have a question or concern.

 

Sincerely,

 

Ms.Tonya

tonya@elkgrovemusiclessons.com

812-2875

Watch our guitar students perform!
http://ping.fm/VX4br

Check out our singing students at their June Recital!
http://ping.fm/kaKfr

Little Musicians! We make Music for Life.

Music for Ages 2 to 6 year olds

The preschool music classes are designed to help your children become well-rounded music makers!

Activities include:

• recognizing and reading rhythms and patterns
• listening and singing major and minor tones
• learning call and response songs and fingerplays
• playing instruments
• guided listening
• and using the body to interpret music.

Call for the schedule of class at NewSongs!
weekly classes:  $75 per month per child

Ms. Tonya will come to your school!
weekly classes:
$240 per month per classroom

2 classes per month:
$120 per month per classroom

Books Alive! Spotlight Theater: Summer Sessions

Each class will feature a story and song from a classic story character such as Nancy Drew, The Phantom of the Opera, Amelia Bedilia and Fancy Nancy.

Student contribute by:

• helping to write scripts
• create choreography
• help with costumes
• and take ownership of their showcase production!

Taking summer vacations?  No problem!

Each class is a self-contained scene so you can participate in as many or as few as your schedule allows.

Thursdays
June 2 through August 4

Each class is a new scene and song!

Singing track:
K-3rd:  Thursdays 4 to 5:15pm
4th-12th grade:  Thursdays 5:15 to 6:30pm

Acting track:
K-3rd:  Monday 4 to 5:15pm
4-12th:  Monday 5:15 to 6:30pm

Tuition:
$20 per class

5 Classes $90

Full summer $170