June 2011 Newsletter

Good Morning,
I don't know what the weather is like in your area but we have had the rainyist season on record! Spring passed us by but I'm hoping summer will be different. And marketing will always be there on the back of my mind. Is your website up to date? Don't have time to do it? Check out "To Market To Market" for some quick tips.

How have your year end recitals been? Mine was simple this year. We had some unexpected changes that put our lives on hold so I chose to keep my recital simple. Usually, I go all out but parents and children didn't seem to mind that there weren't any boomwackers and xylophones numbers. It was a simple recital with solo's, ensembles and goodies at the end that was completed in an hour.

There is a new product coming out for the summer! "Tempo Term Cards" are now available and they can brighten any studio and help young musicians remember music and tempo terms. Read about them further in the newsletter!

Have a sunny and warm June! Go Canucks Go! (I'm praying!)

Musicallyours,

Mrs. Lois

MYC Certified Teacher

Solo Time Music Games

info@solotimemusicgames.com

Don't forget to check out the "Resources" page at www.solotimegames.com/resources for new teaching aids for your students.

Teaching Tip - My iPhone!

My iPhone in the Studio I've blogged about my iphone before and the more I use it the I realize what an awesome tool it is in the studio. As students worked on their recital pieces over a period of three weeks this spring, I videod their performance on my iPhone. Immediately after recording, they listened to it and were able to self judge their performance. It quickly occurred to them where they needed to fix the spot that was highlighted from the week before? Could they hear dynamics and slurs in what they played? Also, video close ups of their hand position was an eye opener for some of the students who thought their hand position was okay. No more nattering from me, the video said it all! Each week the recordings showed improvement and the children could see and hear their progress. No child wanted the first videos posted to YouTube or sent to them during the first couple of weeks! The iPhone was a great tool for reinforcement and encouraging them to continue on in the pursuit of good practice habits.

Game of the Month

New Product! Bright and colourful music term cards for your class room Each term card is $1.25 Choose from over 15 different musical terms (size 8 1/2 by 11) Andante, Allegro, Moderato, Presto, Adagio Fortissimo, Pianissimo Grazioso, Dolce, Forte, Piano, Accent Legato, Staccato, Da Capo, Fermata http://on.fb.me/jtoZyG

To Market To Market - Website

Is your website up to date? New clients were phoning and requesting the times I had posted on my website for their children. Opps... I hadn't looked at my website for quite some time but quickly realized that I had last years levels and times still posted. It wasn't current for new parents to make decisions regarding their child's activities in the fall. Bad marketing mistake. Take the time to update your site soon. It's really important for your business to be current. If you don't have the time to do it, hire a programmer to do it for you. From personal experience if your budget is tight: 1) Ask for their hourly price: This way you can determine if it is in your budget. There are lots of programmers out there, keep looking until you find someone in your price range. 2) Get a quote and ask how long it will take them. Don't accept a price for work without the hours stated! Have them do an hour of work on your site and then take a look at what they accomplished in that hour. If you are happy with the work and the amount accomplished then continue with them. Lois' Tip: My time is sometimes worth the cost of having someone do it for me. It might take them an hour but might take me two hours of frustration to do it.

Yahoo! Canada

May is here!

I've just finished a wonderful visit with my grandson Jakob. Oh my, he is so adorable.

Recital venue secured and pieces are almost memorized. Only a few more weeks, a bit of vacation and thinking about the fall begins.

I trust your registrations are going well for the fall and I would like to share an encounter I had with a parent and how their not filling out the registration form affected my opinion of their child.

I'm always grateful when parents choose to stay home when their chldren are sick. We don't need to spread germs to everyone in class. One week, Daren, was the only student who attended a class of four students, the rest were sick.

Daren, what can I say about Daren, he's one of those students who speaks out of turn, yells at inappropriate times, I could go on, we all have had a student like him. He could play the piano but some days I wondered if he was there to create havoc not music. But we perservered.

As we progressed through our now private lesson, I noticed Daren was calm, playing well and with confidence. He didn't squirm or yell. I was so pleased. It was an enjoyable lesson and it was a positive experience for him and myself. This time together, one on one, displayed all the efforts the mom had put in at home. It was wonderful!

Afterwards, I remarked to the mom about the positive experience the lesson was and she mentioned he has a hearing problem! What?

Being loud and anxious were his ways of coping with the noise and busyness of the class. I was shocked. On my regisrtaion forms I have a place for parents to let me know "something special about their child" so I can be aware of any issues. I checked his registration to see if I had missed this very important fact. It wasn't there.

Well, It's neither here nor there as to her reasons for not informing me. Perhaps she thought I would judge or favor her child but had I known, I would have been able to meet his needs.

Now that I'm aware I look at his outbursts a little differently. I still respond in much the same way as I did before, in firm kindness, but now my heart responds with understanding. It's one of those things about teaching, sometimes you just don't know the full story of a child's situation.

Last month I blogged about using balls to help with hand position but Jan Jenkins from Kelowna wrote and said she reminds her students to "Not burst their Bubble!" Such a great idea and and a great reminder for young students. I wonder if there is a game idea behind that!

Have a wonderful sunny May, great returns on registrations for the fall and awesome recitals.

Musicallyours,

Mrs. Lois

MYC Certified Teacher

Solo Time Music Games

info@solotimemusicgames.com

Teaching Tip - Articulation!

Articulation! We teach it, We demonstrate it, We highlight all forms of articulation in our students music but can they identify different types of articulation when they hear it? Use this fun resource to help your students hear the difference. I used this game with great success but the parents kept helping the students find the correct answer! Why not print a few extra pages for parents so they can play along also!

Game of the Month

Rhythm Sports My favourite game to use as the year winds down! In this fun rhythm game individual music students or two teams compete (clap their way) to the finé line. Each team must correctly clap and count their rhythm card then determine the time signature to see how far to move their game piece around the gameboard. If any member of the team makes a mistake, the other team gets a chance to steal the other teams turn! GREAT for sight reading rhythms and counting together as a team or individually. Various levels of difficulty in which the cards are labeled easy, medium and hard. Time signatures are in 2/4, 3/4, and 4/4 time.

To Market To Market - Advertising

Registrations are in and now the search is on for new students.

There are expensive ways to market your studio:

Newspapers, Direct Mail, Rec Guides

Or cheaper ways:

Door to door with flyers, Phone calls, Posters, Try-It and Bring a Friend classes.

Have you done a Google search of yourself lately?

Find out where you rank when people type in music lessons in your area.

Create a profile on google!

It's a another very inexpensive way to get your name out there.

But whatever the means it's important to be out there.

People need to see you!

Whatever the form of marketing you do - be it big or small,

Be active in any way that is within your budget.

Don't be Discouraged and Keep Perservering!

Mrs. Lois' Blog: Spring Flower Greetings

Mrs. Lois' Blog: Spring Flower Greetings: "Spring Flower Greetings! March went out like a lamb and April came in depending on where you lived either wet or snowy. To make the b..."

Spring Flower Greetings

Spring Flower Greetings!

March went out like a lamb and April came in depending on where you lived either wet or snowy.  To make the best of the weather I chose to go to the mountains for a bit of skiing and was grateful for fresh powder and spring skiing conditions. I know many of you are tired of the snow and the last snowfall just tipped your patience on the snow bank metre but  to perk up your spring check out these resources for some spring time review with your students.

Do you ever wonder when your students will accomplish that perfect hand position?   I've shared a few ideas in the teaching tip section on how I accomplished (or tried to accomplish)  this basic  technique over the last few weeks.  

Also, Amiee Rau from The Music Box Studio in Ontario, blogged a wonderful article to parents called "Loosening the Apron Strings."     An upside and encouraging letter on how to make music lessons and practicing a positive experience.

Jakob is coming for a few days at the end of April.  I'm so excited. Grandmother "hood" has been an unexpected pleasure and joy.   I recommend it! 

Have a wonderful Easter! 

Musicallyours,

Mrs. Lois

MYC Certified Teacher

Solo Time Music Games

info@solotimemusicgames.com

  

  

Teaching Tip  - Balls of Fun!

Trying to get my students to understand correct hand postion when playing the piano has been somewhat of a frustrating journey.  What to do?  All the little tricks that I've done (like taping rubber snakes to the underside of the piano to remind them to keep their thumbs out of the snake pit) have just fallen on deaf ears.   Recently, I ran across this video on YouTube and thought I would try once again to have parents and students understand this important technique.   I sent the video to all my parents to watch and share their children.  It shows a young student who plays with almost perfect phrases, slurs, staccatos and finally ends the song with hands placed nicely in his lap.  I realized that hand position can be taught to young children and it can be done well!    First of all, perhaps I hadn't demonstrated it well enough, I had certainly talked about it but had I really shown them with a visual and hands on lesson. My first step was to send  the video out for everyone to view. At the next lesson, I spent time with each student working with the two balls bought from Dollarama. The balls I had always used for hand, finger and arm exercises but now I used them to help each child form a great hand position.  Students gently grasped the balls and then still retaining the hand position,  let go and placed their hands at the piano in the same position.   Students often lost their hand position by the time they put their hands at the piano which was a matter of a few seconds.  But we just went back to working with the balls.  For the technique lesson that week I only required one simple exercise using perfect hand position and for most students it was a hands separate exercise. The results have been wonderful!  Not every student has complied with my  instructions in regards to hand position but most have.  But what was accomplished  was that everyone understood the procedure and the reasons  for practicing good hand position.    Hand Position Right Hand Position

Game of the Month

What's that Dot!   This Basket Ball themed game helps older students understand the value of the dot. Games other teachers have used this month and sent wonderful comments back to me! Monster Patterns  Young musicians determine the patterns and place the card with the correct monster Give it a Rest! Determine the correct rests in each measure Measure Up!  in 6/8 time Students collect note values in 6/8 time to build two measures The winner is the one who can clap and count his measure correctly.

To Market To Market - Value Added

What do you say to potential parents?  

What do you say to draw parents into a conversation about the wonderful music program you teach or that you are an awesome teacher?

My opening line is: "I bring the happy habit of music to children and families." 

That almost never fails to bring a parent or grandparent

into conversation about music.

 

If they don't want to hear more music and the program that I teach that's okay.

 But  what's important is have your one line introduction 

ready to say at anytime anywhere.

What if they don't want to hear more?

  

Then ask about them or their children, show interest in what ever topic comes up next.

Show you care even if they are NOT going to be potential clients. 

It doesn't have to be a long conversation  but...

Give them a bit of your time so they know you value them in the smallest of ways.

This small effort to show you care and value what's important in their world will be

remembered for a long time to come.

This one conversation, this one moment of interest that you gave and took the time to  place some value on  them has a long term effect that could quite possibly

have them remember you and recommend you to other people they come in contact with.

It's only a few minutes of your time. 

Value the relationship (short term and long term)

 for what future possiblities there might be.

Penguin Recital and Bring a Friend Classes

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

MYC Certified Teacher

Solo Time Music Games

info@solotimemusicgames.com

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 St. Patricks Day activity Download it here. Games we are playing this week Give it a Rest! Video - Give it a Rest!

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!

Never-be-more-than-12-steps-away-from-chocolate-.html?soid=1102844303762&aid=uiDLzep4oVE

Relationships, Chocolate and SEM!

February can be a month of dark and dreary skies but it doesn't mean classes have to be. If you haven't already, download and use the Valentine Resource to play with your students. Use valentine treats as game pieces for fun! February is also about relationships, not only with your loved ones but with your student's families and contacts, business or casual, outside of music. Trust is paramount! I recently had an agreement with a business contact who didn't tell me about the hidden cost of a product. An assumption was made that I would want it and was promised a phone call and I never heard from the person. Lack of integrity and not fulfilling a promise lost this business associate income and a long term customer. Follow through and honouring your word, go a long ways in the success of your business. Do you ever wonder when you are going to find the time to do all you need to do for your website? Read about a company called Odesk that can help you find more time for the things you love to do and take on those projects you are just having trouble getting around too. Have a Happy February! Enjoy chocolate (it makes you smarter),nurture relationships, build trust and keep in touch with those in your life and community. They will remember you because you have touched their lives. Musicallyours, Mrs. Lois MYC Certified Teacher Solo Time Music Games info@solotimemusicgames.com Teaching Tip - Oh Boy! Have you ever used the "Easy!" button from Staples in your classes? I've used mine with great success. Students get to press the "Easy" button when: They can write their rhythm story without any help from me (or their parent) or they need encouragment to get books put away and up to the piano a little quicker. It's a great incentive! Recently a family went to Disneyland and brought back an "Oh, Boy!" button for me to use. Now Mickey is putting the fun in class. Game of the Month Three's a Triad Three's a Triad has many cards with several different levels. All cards help young musicians determine the notes of a triad in root position. Bonus this game comes with cards cut for you! To Market To Market - Odesk Do you have a hard time trying to get everything done on your new website? Are you stuck on what Google analytic's just might have to offer you? What about posting links to get your web site to appear first in your community? Or getting SEO and SEM done and what in the world does that all mean? Odesk is a site where you can hire someone who can help your accomplish your web marketing for you and do it for a reasonable price. It is a unique way to hire someone and know that you are getting value for your money and you actually know how long they have worked on your site. Check out Odesk to hire someone to do all the above for a price most music teachers can afford.

Solo Time Music Games February is a sweet month! Post a picture of your students playing any Solo Time Music Game on Facebook and I will send you a FREE Articulation resource to play with your students. info@solotimegames.com

My Deck a Refuge

The snow came, school was canceled, the rain came, schools opened and then it was slush and sleet for three days. Welcome to the west coast of BC! But, if one looks they can find little joys in everything and with the drenching rain came the sparrows and the odd squirrel who came to sit on the covered balcony to get out of the miserable weather. It was wonderful to watch sometimes up to 50 birds sitting the deck trying to keep dry.

I trust your compositions are coming along well. Here are a few words that I wrote last year about composing, encouraging you in your efforts to cover everything in the lesson.

"Lesson time is precious and we often feel pressured to get through everything but during this season we have to choose which element of the lesson will have to wait until composing is over. Never regret giving a child the tools to compose. They will always be grateful to have learned how to compose and we can always catch up on other essential activities in class when composing is over."

I love bringing the joy of teaching music and it's concepts to young children in a fun and easy to understand way. Valentine's Day is coming, so I've posted a new and an "updated" Valentine teaching aid. Print, laminate and use Valentine candy for game chips! www.solotimegames.com/resources

Enjoy the rest of January and may this years compositions be filled with wonderful and interesting ideas and tunes!