Last spring, I made up some simple “Smile-O-Meter” evaluation cards to help my elementary students learn to critique themselves and each other after performances at group lessons. They had a great time filling in smiley faces, and the cards have since become a staple at group lessons. I use them frequently in private lessons, too. When I want a student to self-assess their progress … Continue reading
At the end of the summer, one of my elementary students asked me if he could learn the songs of some of the branches of the U.S. Military. He’s one of those kids who is ALL boy, and the right “boy” song goes a long way in motivating him! I thought it was a great idea, so went about finding music to give him at … Continue reading
I stumbled onto a WONDERFUL new teaching aid this week… by accident! I made a quick trip to our local teacher supply store last week, and in the process of looking for something else, ran across these neat colored reading guides: I work with a number of students who struggle with reading, and thought this could be a helpful tool to keep their eyes … Continue reading
I’m back from a couple of weeks of vacation, and tackling some last-minute lesson prep before I start teaching again next week. I received a number of emails while I was gone with questions about what I’m using for the Listening Challenge and Meet the Composer Challenges that are a part of our studio practice incentive program this year, so thought I’d share a … Continue reading