Dear Teachers, Friends and Followers,

We are in the last few weeks of the "Music for Young Children" composing season. It's such a great season to be in with young children and seeing them putting their wonderful ideas down on paper. The fact that they have composed a song and recorded it for all to see is such a thrill as well as a fabulous learning experience. Sometimes, though, students have a little trouble getting started.

Emily came to class quite distressed about her composition. Naturally, I asked what was wrong. She replied that she had so many ideas she didn't know where to begin. Oh, I thought, to have such a problem! It took me a moment to formulate an answer to her dilemma but it turned out the solution was  simple.  

I told her that, first of all, she had to come up with a theme or a title. I suggested that she write down all her ideas then choose one that particularly appealed to her. She could keep the list with the rest of her ideas for another time. Emily still found this task a little overwhelming so I suggested she and her parents take a look at Finale Note Pad to keep a record of all the melodies playing in her mind. (Read more about Finale Note Pad below.)

I always encourage parents to keep a copy of their child's composition.  Never underestimate the opportunity this provides for the family to look at it years from now and see just how far the child has come in his or her musical career.

Have a wonderful and warm February and enjoy the Valentine Resource posted below.

Musicallyours,  

Mrs. Lois

MYC Certified Teacher
Solo Time Music Games

info@solotimemusicgames.com    

Solo Time Games Flashcard Games is looking for a new home! Are you interested?

Game of the Month

Shoot for the Stars This game was designed for those hot-shot students who can quickly figure out the difference between a chromatic and diatonic semitone but when you throw in the enharmonic flashcard, they have to think about it a little more.  Flashcards are in the shape of stars for added fun. Postage is always free with an order of six or more games within Canada and continental USA.

To Market To Market -  Finale Note Pad

For a seven year-old like Emily, writing down all of her ideas seemed like too big a task. I recommended to her dad that they try Finale Note Pad to help keep a record of her ideas. It's a fun, music notation program that's easy to use. There are many great features in this simple program to create melodies on the grand staff.  Once a key and time signature have been chosen it is easy to write the melody by choosing the correct note values and placing them on the staff. The program also allows for dynamics to be added and is especially useful for adding the left hand. Finale Note Pad also has playback feature. Often young children (or parents) can't play the composition to hear how it sounds so using this feature is a great way to experiment with different notes and timing while listening to the piece. The rules for the composition festival state that the piece must be presented in the child's own handwriting but composing it on Finale allows the child to hear their musical ideas, make any changes they would like then transfer it to paper in an easy-to-read version. Using this program offers another option to help make the composition festival an enjoyable experience for children like Emily.   I have an older version of Finale that was free at the time but now there is a complimentary 30-day trial version available. The cost for the full version is only $50.00. When you consider that a child who loves to compose may use the program for years to come, the investment is minimal.

Resources - Valentine Games

 Valentine Tic Tac Toe

These are the same games we offered last year and are back by popular demand.

Have fun playing a few rounds of Tic Tac Toe then a black out game.

Metronome

Use this fun teaching aid to help students learn tempos in this composing season.

Make your own class set for only $1.99

Why Learning About Steps And Skips Can Help You Read Music Faster

Why Learning About Steps And Skips Can Help You Read Music Faster

My Red Vest

January Greetings! I was sitting in Starbucks recently, preparing for a final exam, when a young family sat down at a table next to me. I like to study at Starbucks sometimes because, unlike at home, I don't get distracted with all the things that need doing around the house and studio. The father looked over at me, sauntered by my table sort of looking at me, it was weird and bent over to take a closer look as it turned out, at the MYC logo on my red vest. He said, "Do you teach MYC? We just moved here and we are looking for a MYC teacher." It turns out their friend is a MYC teacher in their previous town and now they were looking for one here. Our conversation led to them giving me their names, address and asked me to contact them about lessons for their children in the fall. It was wonderful two new students! How awesome is that! I didn't even have to strike up a conversation.  The MYC logo on my red vest did the marketing and branding for me. Things like this don't happen all the time but this time it wouldn't have happened at all had it not been for my MYC vest.  When it snows in the Lower Mainland few people want to drive if they don't have to. This winter season I'm offering parents the opportunity to join our class virtually.   So instead of going out in the cold and braving the treacherous roads, I am having parents and students join me via Google Plus.  Google Plus is a great way to connect with families. (More on how it works, below.) Have a great day, keep warm to those of you in the deep cold and bring out your umbrella's those in the rainy Midwest! Keeping warm in my red vest,           Mrs. Lois   MYC Certified Teacher Solo Time Music Games     info@solotimemusicgames.com

Game of the Month

Postage is always free with an order of six or more games within Canada and continental USA.

To Market To Market -  Skype and Google Plus

It doesn't always snow here in B.C.'s Lower Mainland during the winter season but when it does, few people want to drive since most people don't have snow tires on their vehicles. My experience has been that some parents won't come to lessons when it snows. My home is situated on a big hill and if the street hasn't been sanded it can be quite slippery. A few intrepid parents will brave the snow and the hill and come to lessons anyway but many choose to just stay home.  With this in mind, this winter I'm offering the option for my students and parents to join the class via Skype if there is only one student or via Google Plus if there are two or more attending.   The way I see it is, they have set that hour aside to come to class anyway so it's a wonderful option to be able to sit by the computer and watch the class rather than miss it. If they have a laptop computer that can be moved near the piano, they can  join in and play along! I know this is not a new idea for some of you but I thought it was worth sharing once again for those who may not be utilizing the available technology.  Contact me if you would like an invite to Google Plus.

Resources - Composer Tricks

Composer Tricks    I spent some time fixing up my Composer Tricks teaching aids and now they are available on line for you teaching pleasure and use.  I start composing by teaching Composer Tricks.  It's fun, quick and the students love hearing their two measure Motive and Composer Trick  just after they write it.

It's a New Year and  some changes are good.

One of our family traditions is to reflect on the previous year, share one good thing about that year and what we dream or hope  for  as the new year begins.  It was always interesting to hear what the kids had to say about the previous  year and their thoughts and resolutions for the next.  Sometimes it would be serious, thoughtful and sometimes I wondered what planet they live on.

And speaking of thinking of the New Year have you thought about new students for the fall?  It's never to early to start thinking about the the fall.   Marketing begins every time you step out of your door and every time you teach.  Parents share how great you are and how much their children have learned and love you as their teacher.   Don't be afraid to hand out a few flyers to your parents to share with their friends.  It's never to early to plant a musical thought in potential families. 

Resolutions are hard to keep!  This is an insightful  article from Elissa Milne, an Australian music teacher I follow on Twitter. Check out her Nine New Years Resolutions for every music teacher. 

This year  I plan on making some changes to the schedule.  One is to not be so busy and we all know that's easier said than done, graduate from college and savor important milestones with my grandson, Jakob. Thanks to those who respond with encouraging words, I appreciate them.

I wish you all the best the best in 2012 with blessings, laughter and music to fill your days.

Musicallyours,
Lois Dicknoether
Check out this month's resources.

Happy Holidays from Solo Time Music Games  

Dear Friends, Teachers and Followers,

This is a busy time of the year.  Year-end parties and recitals add pressure and stress but are always worth the effort. Performing is a great skill to learn when young and attending parties and eating good food together makes for great memories.

It seems like, when building up to the Christmas season, practicing gets put on the back burner.  During this time I like to offer a  practice incentive contest where children keep track of their practicing minutes and I put a penny into a World Vision fund for every minute of their practice.  The incentive program usually last for five weeks. The winning class gets to choose an item from the World Vision catalogue that corresponds to how many minutes they have practiced. The chosen gift then goes to a needy child or family.

This year I offered the incentive on a smaller scale and decided to let each class choose which gift they would like to give. When shown the choices the children immediately chose what THEY would like.  It was very individual but as their conversation continued,  they collectively decided to choose something they thought the recipient could use and would be the most valuable to the family. Interestingly, most classes thought a gift of fruit trees was the most important gift to give.

I was impressed that my students, when given a little time, began to think of the needs of other people rather than their own.  Their compassion for others was very touching in this Christmas season.

I wish you every happiness this Christmas and thank-you for being our customer. We look forward to continuing our relationship in the coming year.

All the best to you and your family,

Lois Dicknoether
Solo Time Music Games
(If you didn't print the Christmas resources yet, they will still be up for a while)

November's Unexpected Surprises

Good morning! I wish you all the best as we enter this season of winter and Christmas.

Do you invite guests to come into your class to watch? I hold a "bring a friend day" once a year and occasionally an auntie might come to watch a lesson. Grandmas and grandpas are also always welcome to visit, especially if they are from out of town.

This past week, Sydney, age 5,  brought both her grandma and grandpa along to sit in on her lesson. I brought out stools for them to sit on and watch our class. I had heard that the grandmother could play piano quite well but didn't think much about it. While she was visiting, I asked if she would like to play after we had finished with her granddaughter's lesson and she readily agreed. I hoped she was able to play reasonably well and would play something with which the children could identify.

When I asked her what she intended to play, she replied, "Chopin's Winter Wind Etude."

Really? I thought, but I actually meant, oh, my goodness! Either this is going to be really good or it's going to be really long and  my five little five year-olds will be squirming around.

To  my surprise and delight, we were taken on a wonderful winter trip through Chopin's beautiful piece with its whirls and twirls musically depicting a stormy winter day. The entire performance was amazing and no one wiggled or peeped during the whole time. 

After we applauded in appreciation and admiration, I asked Sydney's grandma about herself (though forgot to ask her name). She replied that said she regularly tours around the world performing  and playing with symphonies. What a great honour it was to have her in our class! 

This incident reminded me that you never know who will come and bless you and your students when you open the door to visitors.

Have you ever thought it would be fun to join a virtual choir?
Check out this one http://www.liquidchurch.com/virtual-choir/

  Keep warm and keep singing merrily along.
       Musically yours,
 
         Mrs. Lois

MYC Certified Teacher
Solo Time Music Games
info@solotimemusicgames.com     

Game of the Month

Bee - For, Bee - After and Bee in the Middle Bee- For, Bee- After and Bee in the Middle Use this fun game to help your students understand the Musical Alphabet! There are  seven pockets on this game in which the students place the flashcards in. Quick and easy to set up to play with up to 6 students. This game takes only 3-5 minutes to complete. If you are a new teacher contact Lois for special pricing on an order of 10 games which includes FREE shipping.

To Market To Market -  Metronome Apps

I am having such fun with apps on the iPad and iPhone.   I loaded several metronome apps to try but the greatest one I've tried put the fun in counting. It features a dog barking or a duck quacking on the first beat. The students had lots of fun in class and several reported going home and having their parents download the metronome, too and then actually use it! Now, you if own the Midi Roland, it also has a metronome and if you can find it, it also has the dog and duck sounds for the first beats. My problem has been how to find them for quick use.  Using the iPhone or iPad is a lot quicker.

Resources

Go Ahead, Make Me!
A new multi - level teaching aid to help your level 2 and level 3 students write their intervals.
Starting off with Intervals of 2nd and 3rd's
Moving on to Perfect intervals , then major and minor 6th and 7th's.
 Easy to print off and place in a clear envelope or laminate
Hand out the white board markers and students can practice and erase
until they understand the concepts.    

        October 2011This fall season has been a busy one for me. I have been preparing for lessons and traveling; getting orders ready to ship out and attending a wonderful MYC conference. On top of all that, I decided to go back to school and finish my degree.If it seems like a lot, it is, but I have found that when I arrange all my tasks in order of priority I do a pretty good job of getting everything accomplished.

My husband very generously gave me an iPad for my birthday (which helps!) and I have been using it in my classes and with my private students.  (See below for ideas from teachers who have created apps for it.)

Now that fall schedules are in full swing, I trust that your routine has fallen into place and life is as normal and calm for you as it can be!

In other news, my little grandson, Jakob, has been in our family for one year now and has brought us all much joy and pleasure. I am delighted to report that I plan to spending Christmas with him in Alberta this year. Oh, and with his parents, too.                                            

Musicallyours,

  

Mrs. Lois

MYC Certified Teacher

Solo Time Music Games

info@solotimemusicgames.com 

Game of the month - Pyramid Triads

Pyramid Triads   Intervals are an important part of music and are used in sight reading, composing and playing. Using this featured game, children familiarize themselves with theory concepts like intervals, inversions, and root positions  through a fun, hands-on experience. Once they have grasped the concepts they can then apply them directly to analyzing a piece of music and playing it with confidence. Check out the new teaching aids available for you to print  for your students.

To  Market To Market - iPad

The iPad is a great resource and the more I use it the more comfortable I become with it. I am finding that I use it most with private students working through the Christopher-Norton American Popular Piano Series.  Many of my students have not listened to a lot of jazz, blues, swing or Latin music and consequently have no concept of the musical style. So out comes the iPad and off to YouTube we go. After a quick search we find music in the style we are studying and the student has the opportunity to quickly get a feel for that musical genre.   In my MYC classes last month I allowed students to play major and minor thirds on the iPad app called Virtuoso. Not only is it fun for today's techno-savvy students, but they can hear and see the change from a major 3rd to a minor 3rd.  Of course, they can also play it on the piano but when you can play it on the iPad, why not use the technology? I have uploaded and used Wendy Chan's and Anne Crosby's creations to put more fun into teaching musical concepts on the iPad. Take a look at their websites for more ideas you may be able to use with your own students.