I’ve posted several times about the beat boards and rhythm cards that are go-to rhythm aids in my studio. I use them on a regular basis to introduce new rhythm concepts, and give my hands-on learners some extra practice on rhythm patterns (for more details, check out this post and this post). These aids are also a great interactive way to introduce and practice rhythmic … Continue reading
It’s group week here at my studio… which means I have new games to share! I apologize for the lack of new posts as of late. The last few months I’ve been juggling a rather hefty list of “to-do’s” as a teacher, accompanist and event chairperson for a couple of local associations. Between those responsibilities and a wonderful trip to New York for last … Continue reading
U.S. teachers…. have you discovered Spotify? This fantastic new music resource became available in the U.S. a few months ago. It’s a web-based music library, much like iTunes, that allows you to search for recordings and store them in a personal library of playlists. The exciting part? You can access millions of recordings for FREE! The site has a wonderful collection … Continue reading
One of the “New School Year” resolutions I set for myself this fall was to devote more time in lessons to listening. A couple of workshops I attended last spring and summer challenged me to think about how often my students are exposed to really excellent, highly musical performances. The short answer…. not enough!! In group lessons this week, I introduced these new … Continue reading
Do your students enjoy playing online theory games?? If so, you’ll want to check out this exciting new resource: Tonic Tutor is an online theory resource full of games to help students drill interval recognition, melody playback, scales, chords, note reading and more. I have to admit, I hadn’t run across this fun new site until co-creator Christine Donkin contacted me last week, … Continue reading
Meet the newest member of my studio! At our state conference a few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to attend a wonderful workshop by Betty Todd Smith titled “You Like to Practice? Why???” As a part of the presentation, she discussed fun and creative ideas to help students learn to repeat tricky passages. The one that grabbed me? Mr. Potato Head! Students start with … Continue reading
Already a little scared by the title of this post? I’ve used this new game at group lessons for the last 2 months, and hadn’t really settled on a name for it until a student pointed out this month that the gameboard was “really, really, really long!” Don’t let the title intimidate you – this is a super-versatile game that can pack a LOT … Continue reading
If you haven’t already discovered this… there’s a great new ear training resource site on the web! Anthony from EarTrainingPro.com recently contacted me and invited me to try out the newly-launched site, and I’m pleased to say, I found it to be a notch above the other online ear training sites I’ve used in the past. Ear Training Pro includes exercises to work on all of … Continue reading
I really like to use the words of familiar songs or catchy phrases to reinforce rhythm concepts. Students naturally speak in rhythm, whether they’re aware of it or not, so it’s a great way to relate a “new” rhythm concept to something they already know. Interestingly, I also find that choosing the right rhythm to go with lyrics is one of the hardest challenges for … Continue reading
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