Rolph Road Public School, Tuesday Nov. 27 (3:40 - 4:40)

Hello Everyone!

We have been a very busy class over the last two weeks. We have learned more about notes that go higher and higher and notes that go lower and lower. We have started using all of our fingers to play the piano, and from now on will use both our right and left hands for the higher notes and lower notes on the piano respectively. This is called right and left hand middle C position. One problem we had was that some of the children's fingers were too small to press down the notes properly, but it will get easier with practice.

Home Assignments

1. If there is a keyboard at home, the children should review notes that go higher and lower above and below middle C. Ask them to start at middle C, play a medium high note, and a very high note, then come back down in the same fashion to middle C. Ask them to do the same thing with the lower notes. If there is no keyboard, try singing a middle note, a medium high note, and a really high note. Try the same thing with the lower notes.
2. Have the children tell you their finger numbers. The thumb is 1, pointer 2, and so on in that fashion for both hands. If there is a keyboard at home, ask them to place first their right hand in middle C position, then their left hand. The side of the thumb should be on the middle C with all the tips of the fingers on the 4 notes above and below middles C. There should be a nice curve in the fingers, so there is a tunnel for an ant to crawl underneath them.

If anyone has any questions about this, please do not hesitate to contact me.

The last class for this semester is next week, and I would like to invite the parents to an open class where the children will show you what they have learned about music. I will have them teach you some of what they have learned on the keyboards and about the history of music. They will also challenge you to a drumming competition like we did in class. If you know of anyone else who would be interested in the program and would like to attend the open class, they are welcome to attend, as well as any of your children's friends who might be interested. Please contact me if there are any questions.

In order to participate in the program which resumes in January 2008, you will need to sign up again at www.musiqclub.com. If there are any questions regarding this, please contact the Program Director, Dan Lang at danlang@musiqclub.com or 416.488.1838.

See you all next week!

-Laura