November Piano Studio Newsletter

Leaping into November!

November, November…. I don’t know about you but this DARKNESS is really getting to me…and I think it’s affecting the kids too! They don’t want to go to bed (very counterintuitive if you ask me). I’m looking forward to Daylight Savings…well…except the part that my kids will probably get up earlier now! Parents, if you have any hints that will help me rectify this, they would be gladly appreciated!

This month in the studio:

Composing (all levels) Chording using techniques from Tim Topham Learn the musical Alphabet backwards!! Aural Skill development! Adding on - Perfect 5ths, Perfect Unisons, Major 3rds Practice Initiative! more Games!

October Review:

Composing: “It’s October” songs Started the “10 Wunderful Weeks of Practicing” Challenge! Fall/Thanksgiving/Halloween Theory/playing games and activities. Ear Training Exercises (all levels) a “Perfect Octave” (sing: ”Some where over the Rainbow” 8 notes apart) VS a “Major Second “(sing “happy birthday” 2 notes apart) Games: Beginners: “Trick or Treat” / “Pumpkin&Leaves Keyboard Race” Intermediate: “Bats and Cats Note Race”

PianoBookClub:

Last month I received “The Mysterious Case of Gustav Moooler: a stepping and skipping mystery”. A CRIME has been committed (some one has stolen notes from Gustav Mooler’s Cattle Concerto…which suspect is the guilty party?!) and started the mini book with some of my students. SO FUN!!!!

THis month I was excited to receive “Key-Pow! 3: mastering the Art of the Leap”! These high energy, late-elementary pieces reinforce a student’s ability to leap out of position with the efficiency and accuracy of a ninja…I’m so excited to show this mini book to students!

Practice makes….us improve faster!!

How did you all enjoy the “Parent’s Cheat Sheet” resource I shared with you last month? I hope you had a chance to try out the question/activity flashcards that were attached and had some success bonding with your child(ren) as they practiced this month!

I have started a new practice initiative that I’m going to call….drum roll please…… “10 Wunderful Weeks of Practice”!!!!!! Every student can participate (not just the ones doing Wunderkeys curriculum). Each student will receive a practice bookmark at their lesson and can fill out the circles for the days they practice. Bring it back the week following for recording on my practice wall of fame! The GOAL is to practice AT LEAST 5 DAYS A WEEK from now (the past 2 weeks included) until Christmas Break and to subsequently achieve 50 days of practice or more. This will be prize worthy! The student who has the most days will receive another prize as well. :) Parents, please SIGN the bottom of your child’s bookmark so I know that the results are trustworthy ;) Thank you!

Musical Joke of the Month:

Q: What is the musical part of a snake?

A: The scales!

I’m Never to Old to Learn!

Thanks to the internet I have had the opportunity to do some Professional Development this month from right here in my own home! Not only am I constantly online researching new songs and exercises to suit each student’s learning but I have completed 2 Webinars this month on how to teach music to children (a lot of information on developing aural skills, pitch development and using the sol-fa system), and how to teach piano technique (4 top teachers from around the world weighed in on their favourite methods, tips and tricks). I’m so excited to start trying all these techniques in my studio!

Please link to my website and scroll down to the Frequently Asked Questions for more information or contact me if you have any questions! Thank you again for partnering with me at home!

Andrea Elzinga