Friday, November 2, 2007

Rolph Road Public School, Tuesday Oct. 30 (3:40 - 4:40)

Hello everyone! We had a good class this week. Everyone was a little hyper because of the candy, but it was great to see how much everyone remembered about Beethoven and his life. We had a Bongo Boy competition this week with Djembe Drums and everyone had a lot of fun and did very well! I had my toes pinched by our crab actors because everybody was able to play all of their rhythms correctly!

This week we learned more about holding notes for 1, 2, 3, and 4 beats. We learned to clap rhythms on our hands within 4 beats phrases. We clapped holding notes for each other. Everyone needs to practice this at home, as it needs a little more work. When we hold notes in our 4 beat phrases, we dip our hands on each held beat. So if we are counting 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +, if we clap and hold the first two notes, we would dip our hands on the second beat to to show that we still know where the beat is and how many have gone by.

Home Assignments

1. Review "Group of 2, Down to C" up and down the keyboard, finding all the C's.
2. Practice holding notes as I described above. If there are any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me.

I want to remind everyone that when we write music in the improvisation room and play the pieces for each other that we must all remain politely quiet so we can hear everyone's pieces that they wrote. There was a little too much chatter last week when we played them for each other.

Finally, I would like to extend an invitation to the children next week - If they would like to bring a friend to class for a one class trial, they are welcome to next week. Spaces are limited, so it is first come first serve. Please email me at laura.k.savage@gmail.com if your child is interested in bringing a friend.

See you next week!

- Laura

Owen Public School, Wednesday Oct. 31 (3:50 - 4:50)

Hello everyone! Our class this week was extra fun with all the Halloween costumes! The primary students progressed very well this week, covering two lessons in one hour! We reviewed Hi & Lo and we did word phrase clap backs. We also reviewed "Group of Two, Down to C" to find all the C's on the keyboard. In our second lesson, we learned about holding notes for 2, 3, and 4 beats. We even got a new teacher, Mr. Bach!

Home Assignments

Primary Students (Everyone except Willow & Neha)

1. Practice clapping your hands four times and saying a sentence like we did in class. Ex: My feet smell like roses
2. Review "Group of 2, Down to C" if you have a keyboard at home, and be able to find all the C's.
3. Recite your musical alphabet a few times to keep it in your mind.

Next week is our real live Bongo Boy competition, so everyone practice their rhythms by clapping their hands and reciting their word phrases!

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Willow and Neha began practicing Old Grey Goose, reviewed finger numbers, and notes on the keyboard. We also learned about stem direction on the staff (When the note head is on the middle line and above it, stems go down, and that below the middle line of the staff, stems go up. This makes the music look better and makes it easier to read).

Both Willow and Neha are progressing very quickly and very well. I am very impressed and proud of both of them. They are working hard in their lessons and are already able to read notes and rhythms very well. Both need to concentrate on keeping their eyes one note ahead while reading the music they are playing. Neha needs to concentrate on her hand position more (keeping all the fingers on the keyboard while playing the notes), and Willow needs to make sure she can play the pieces at a speed where she can play all the rhythms and notes correctly.

Home Assignments

Senior Students (Willow & Neha)

1. Review the notes in the Treble Clef (Lines: Every Good Boy Deserve Fudge; Spaces: FACE), and in the Bass Clef (Lines: Good Boys Deserve Fudge Always; Spaces: All Cows Eat Grass).
2. Review Whole Notes, Half Notes, & Quarter Notes. (Whole Notes are worth 4 beats, Half Notes are worth 2 beats, and Quarter Notes and worth 1 beat.)
3. Be able to explain to me what 4/4 time is next week.
4. Practice A Tisket, A Tasket (below) at a speed that allows you to play all the right notes and rhythms. Instead of a 4/4 time signature at the beginning, the piece is marked C for common time. Common time is 4/4. 4 beats per bar. Pay attention to the fingering and proper hand position. We will play it for each other in class next week.

Also please remember to bring your folders with Ode To Joy and A Tisket, A Tasket in them. We will need our music every week.



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I would like to extend an invitation to the children next week - If they would like to bring a friend to class for a one class trial, they are welcome to next week. Spaces are limited, so it is first come first serve. Please email me at laura.k.savage@gmail.com if your child is interested in bringing a friend.

See you next week!

-Laura

Owen Public School, Wednesday Oct. 31 (12:05 - 12:45)

Hello everyone! Our class this week was extra fun with all the Halloween costumes! We had a scheduling problem this week due to a pizza lunch that was being held in room 120 where we usually do our lessons. The lessons were moved to room 106, but unfortunately we were missing Jordan and Nikolas because of the mix up. If we cannot be in room 120 again and I cannot pick the children up in the lunch room, room 106 will be the backup room. I have been told by the office that this shouldn't be a problem again.

Everyone progressed very well this week, covering two lessons in just 40 minutes! We reviewed Hi & Lo and we did word phrase clap backs. We also reviewed "Group of Two, Down to C" to find all the C's on the keyboard. In our second lesson, we learned about holding notes for 2, 3, and 4 beats. We even got a new teacher, Mr. Bach!

Home Assignments

1. Practice clapping your hands four times and saying a sentence like we did in class. Ex: My feet smell like roses
2. Review "Group of 2, Down to C" if you have a keyboard at home, and be able to find all the C's.
3. Recite your musical alphabet a few times to keep it in your mind.

Next week is our real live Bongo Boy competition, so everyone practice their rhythms by clapping their hands and reciting their word phrases!

I would like to extend an invitation to the children next week - If they would like to bring a friend to class for a one class trial, they are welcome to next week. Spaces are limited, so it is first come first serve. Please email me at laura.k.savage@gmail.com if your child is interested in bringing a friend.

See you next week!

-Laura
 

MusIQ Club is an enriched aftershool, group piano learning program
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