March Greetings,
I was looking for a little pick me up for my classes when I received a wonderful idea from Terri Myers. It was a Penguin theme! So, the week before spring break I held a Penguin Recital and Bring a Friend classes for my students.
I was a little anxious as to how it might turn out but I shouldn't have wasted any time of worrying, as the classes were a great success. Surprisingly, there were a few parents who wanted to tag along with their child who had been invited as a friend to see what MYC was all about. It was a great opportunity to showcase an MYC class. I prepared an outline of the day under teaching tips for you to glean any ideas that might encourage you to have one of these classes.
St. Patricks Day has come and gone and it's considered to be a lucky day, if you're Irish, but in marketing you and your studio, luck is part of it but it's the preparation and effort that make the lucky benefits happen. For some ideas on how to keep the lucky streak happening read "To Market, To Market."
Have you "liked" Solo Time Music Games yet on Facebook? Please do so, only a few "likes" away from 200, my goal is to reach 200 by the end of the month.
Have an awesome week and may the weather improve for those of you living out east. Thinking of you.
 |
| Jakob and Nana |
Musicallyours,
Mrs. Lois
| Teaching Tip - Penguin Recital and Bring a Friend Class |
| Bring a Friend and Penguin Recital Who would have thought this could have been so much fun? I was pleasantly surprised and wondered why I didn't have bring a friend classes sooner. I had my reasons for not doing one (which were unfounded) but I stepped out of my comfort zone and it turned into a great success. Here is the class outline of all the things we did: Clothes- Black and white for students was the suggested clothing attire. I tried to impress upon them that they were "performing" for their friends and we needed to look professional. Materials - black and white balloons and steamers, white plastic table cloth (iceberg) to sit on for eating. Food - goldfish crackers, ice cream sandwiches, marshmallows (cut in half) and drizzled with chocolate syrup. Xylophones or tone bells - enough for the class to share both black and white keys. You could just use the piano if you don't have enough, I just find that it helps them understand the concept first if we use the xylophones. Arrival - As every one arrived, students taught their friends patterns on the piano by playing the game Monster Patterns. This was important as everyone was going to play piano later in class using the music from the Pattern Play books. It gave friends a chance to play a piano if they had never done so before. Opening Song - Hand jive including all students, parents and friends. - Homework and Stickers were done at this time. Can we play for you? We performed as a group some technique and a couple of songs for our friends. Depending on the class it took between 7- 10 minutes. Game One -Penguin Note Naming Game - I used this as a time to teach the friends about the musical alphabet. The game is played when students name the notes on flashcards and friends grabbed the penguin cards with the correct musical alphabet letter. Watch this game on YouTube. You can play this game too by printing the giant flashcards from Compose Create and the penguin flash cards are at www.solotimegames.com.  Game Two - Hot Penguin- Play this game just like hot potato only we used a stuffed penguin. Watch video. I played the piano and had a parent watch who was to be eliminated. Penguin Recital - Each student introduced themselves and their friend, their piece and then performed. Students did not memorize their piece. Black and White Music - I used the Pattern Play Book One for everyone to have fun improvising and making music. First we improvised on the black keys and the second songs on white keys. We listened to the music, danced to it, to get the feel for it and then played xylophones and then the piano. Friends had no trouble playing the piano as they had already played at the beginning of class when learning patterns. My only suggestion would be to have students play with only one hand not two when you get to the piano. It just sounds better. Watch a video and Read my blog from Improv Summer Camps. Penguin Food- goldfish crackers, ice cream bars and marshmallows cut in half and drizzled with chocolate syrup. Penguin Recital and Bring a Friend class ended with So Long Song - all friends received a gift and info about music lessons. So Long Farewell (view video) Thanks to Terri Myers for the inspiration to take on this adventure in music. |
| Game of the Month |
This month my beginner students have loved playing this Download it here. Games we are playing this week |
| To Market To Market - Luck? Only if you are prepared! |
Opportunity and Marketing We strike it lucky if we are consistent in letting potential families know who we are, what we do and where we are. Go where opportunity has a chance to find you! Make your presence known through playgroups, entrepreneur or business groups that involve women, at church, at the pool, arena, professional offices. Leave a card in a magazine and put up posters. Look for groups that involve families or area's where families are active. Walk through a play ground and hand brochures out. Let people see you and know who you are! Parents want you to share your great gifting of music with their children! Be prepared, Be ready and Be in your community! |
