Piano drop in update

We have just completed our fifth piano drop in class. I am having a lot of fun teaching this program. Each week I compose a new reading piece. I also make sure I have a mystery reading piece. I plan on reviewing a by ear piece which I call "the pieces no one every quite gets the first time". Depending on their level I add chords or chordal accompaniment. I plan to repeat the reading pieces as dictation pieces in August. I also plan to add Christmas carols (never too early). I found real nice paper to print on (a heavier weight). I also leave copies on my bulletin board so the students can always select a reading piece to take home. We always play aural improv games. This week I opened the class by having them choose a card that included either a warm up, a chord progression or an improvisation. They had to pick a key to do it in. We also played bingo with tonal patterns. I kept the patterns in g minor because the reading/by ear piece was "When the Train Comes along" which we did in ensemble as well.

Next year I may split the group to year one and year two. However, I so far don't see any problem combining the classes. I am mostly reviewing the end of year one, which includes so many fundamentals. If they are comfortable with book 2, they can continue with the other books.

I also taught an adult to read music using the adult MG program (with adaptations of course) and we had a blast. When the adult came in she was nervous but when she left she felt empowered and was laughing and excited about her homework.

Piano

My first Piano Drop in is a Success

First, three children showed up and they all were excited to be there. We warmed up with five finger warm ups in all keys. Then we played song circle and I let them choose their favorite activities. I expanded each activity into either an ensemble or a dance or a scarf activity. We then learned about "America" and I showed them a picture of Washington crossing the Deleware. We learned the first half of the song and I chose G major so that the "ti' would be easy to find. I assigned the left hand to play the "ti". Then we played with MMAW rhythm cards from the Germany Unit that connect to Handel's Firemusic (fireworks, get it?) and it was so satisfying to see how clear these cards were to them. We listened for the patterns in the music and danced with scarves. Then we had a mystery reading piece which was, of course, Yankee Doodle (in G position) and they all could read it. I forgot to mention that two of the children just finished book 1 and one finished book 2. They all had a great time. I also had the reading piece with chords if a book 4 child showed up. Of course we reviewed the I and V7 chord.

Lots of fun.

Piano Drorp in is starting tomorrow

Before I can even start work on the post grads, I need to set up lesson plans for my piano drop in program. This program is a weekly drop in hour where the students sign up for any wednesday in the Summer. I opened the hour to all levels so I have the problem now of meeting the needs of the differing levels. This sounds like a challenge, yet if I think about it, they all have a commen desire to make music for one hour on a summer afternoon. No one is going forward in their studies. Rather it is a fun one hour singing their favorite songs, working on the ear training, composing, improvising, and ensemble fun. I also would like to add a new reading piece for each level. I was thinking of using one melody and making four levels. This could be a lot of fun but I better get to it. I was thinking of America for the first piece because it is July fourth weekend.

Today was my second and final Spring Musicale for the Season. I took a new slant on this event. I made it more formal with a program and asked for the children to dress up and bring a dessert to share. Between each child playing, I added an interlude which was a favorite activity and I used this valuable time to explain its value in the program. Parent orientation is always ongoing.