Happy Thanksgiving!

Summer is over and we are officially in fall. The month of October hosts the fall season and the change from summer weather to winter is so quick in Saskatchewan!! We are falling into practicing this month. The children need to practice 5 days to clean up the leaves in their bags for a prize at the end of the month. Some practicing tips:

1. Practice the same time of the day
2. Review each item a minimum of 3 times - correctly!
3. singing, dancing, clapping and homework all count as a practice as long as its intentional.
4. Make the music practice a HAPPY habit. don't be overbearing!

See you next week and have a happy Thanksgiving.

Mrs. V

parents are important!

I am so thankful to the parents who are participating in my MYC classes. You make teaching a pleasure. Your children are absorbing music like sponges. The excitement and the determination I see in them is so encouraging. Music might be challenging as they progress to the next level of musicianship. Just a note, you are noticing all your children's foibles much more than anyone else. I'd love for you to just sit back and enjoy your children as they participate. Sometimes it becomes a habit to re-say the instructions to your children. As you might guess-this is very distracting for all the children who are in class. I take note of when to repeat. You likely learn differently than your child. Some learning styles are visual, aditory, kinistetic, tactile, or a combination. I try to teach to incorporate all these styles.
Thanks again for coming to classes. Relax and enjoy this time spent together with your child.
Mrs. V

Lessons have begun!

Lessons have started for all my music students. This year I am teaching MYC and private piano lessons. Some are in Delisle during the day and some are at my home. My policy is that I will only teach private "beginners" if they are over the MYC age or they've waited to be enrolled with me for more than a year. MYC is such a fabulous beginner program that I want every child learn that way. Besides what parent would not want to spend one hour per week, one on one, with their child!
Level II and III - please start practicing with your flashcards. This is the greatest way to reinforce the notes on the staff. We practice games in class but it's not enough to stick...I also am creating a 60 second club that they can join when they can say their notes in 60 seconds. Let me know when you can.
Thank you all for handing in your lesson fees. It makes the bookkeeping part of music so much simpler. See you next week!
Mrs. V

Welcome Back!

Wow, it's been awhile since I posted on this blog. I hope to have it back up and running for the fall. I have had a great summer and am sad to see it go. However I have an exciting fall lined up as I prepare to teach in our home basement instead of the other studio. As well I will take on private students in Delisle this year.

MYC had a conference in Niagra Falls this summer that was a real treat to attend. I hope to put up a few pictures of this soon. We'll see you in class and be together when it's sunny. Don't forget to bring your bag emptied out except for tin sheet and magnets, rhthm bags, and castanet. If you have flashcards bring them too.

See you soon
Mrs. V

Eggciting Eggs

The class after the break was a bit hectic for me. As many of you know I went to Chicago, got plane delayed and had company within a very tight time frame. When it snows it blizzards!! Neverless, its great to see the kids again in class and how well they are all doing. It's so egg-citing to see them put together music and sing and move and have fun while doing it.

I sent home a newsletter for you to notice dates. I am hosting a bring a friend class in April. This will be brand new for me. The children are welcome to bring a friend -and their mom/dad if they wish- to class to see how MYC classes run and 'show off' their musical ability. There will be a sheet in class to sign up anyone they wish to bring for planning purposes. Feel free to ask me any questions.

I also want you to notice that the recital will be on a Friday night after the last lesson in May This will be explained more as time goes on.

Keep on practicing egg-cellently. This incentive is fun and motivating. There will be small prizes for the golden eggs and a chance to put your name in the draw for tickets to an old-timers hockey game at Credit Union Centre!! I like have something a little Egg-stra.

To all levels: It is extremely important to review the notes and their names throughout the week. The SBI's are getting golden eggs for practicing 5 times their notes. This is the foundation of piano playing. Do not use any acrostics (face etc...)because this works against children's ability to sight read! Another thing is to not get frustrated when your child doesn't seem to 'get it'. In fact it takes much repition to do anything in life. This is the foundation of reading music and throughout their musical journey the notes get easier, some quicker than others, but practice always helps everyone. You will not regret putting in this time with your child.

I have met so many people lately who are not musicians. When I tell them I teach music they always say to me two things: A. They took music and wish they never quit or B. They wish their parents would have given them the option of lessons. This means that you should be proud of yourselves for two reasons. 1. you are giving your child lessons and 2. You have the opportunity to learn music with your child too! How cool is that. I love MYC.
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Enjoy the spring weather that's coming,
Mrs. V

Baby, It's Cold Outside

As you have noticed February is zipping by in a flurry of coooold weather. I decided to cancel the one Thursday class due to weather. I will schedule a make-up class if I think it's needed to complete the curriculum. The fortunate thing about the missed lesson is that it was a review lesson. Hopefully all you parents were comfortable with reviewing the concepts learned.

Let's talk about the compositions. They are due next class!! I am so impressed with the children's creativity and their knowledge of how a song is put together. I think sometimes we think that music is outside the parameters of reason and logic. However, the very best music is logically put together with a known set of rules and formulas that are pleasant to the ear. In my musical training as a child I always thought it was a mystery how composers came up with songs. Thankfully MYC has taught me lots about the logical make-up of most music. There are great musicians who break the rules but that only lends to their great songs.

Practice time for the children should be around 15 - 20 minutes for all levels. If you sit with your child or are doing something near by that allows you to correct and complement their playing you should see the child be there at least that long. If you want to keep up with their musical ability try "practicing" with them a couple of times. You can do it!!

Stay warm,
Mrs. V

Under Construction mr. Composer!

I have been attempting to update this blog with pictures and some modern designs but due to my internet connection it has proven to be quite the undertaking. One day I will master this but for now I'll concentrate on staying warm!! It's cooold out there. I will continue to have a class this week but if you choose to stay in from the cold I understand. Just email or phone me for the homework.
I lost a good friend this week to cancer. One of the greatest gifts she ever gave me was encouragement to share my music. Every time I played she would grab my arm and thank me for blessing her with my music. Be encouraged parents that you are giving your child so much more than music itself! I really appreciate the good families that are participating in MYC with me.
Sunbeams I - you must be noticing that the songs are requiring a bit more effort now. Take your time. Begin practise with a review song or skill to build confidence then try the new piece. Break the song down in chunks or "phrases". Remember that musical phrases are like sentences and make sound sense together. I am so proud of all of your composing efforts. The children are so creative!!
Sunbeams II - The e minor sound is such a deep dark sound that most children like playing it. It reflects real like challenges. Not everything is so major! Keep on practising. Include note review and clapping ensembles to build all the skills in music.
Moonbeams I - You guys are progressing at a wonderful rate. I am pleased with your practising because it shows in class. Keep review the notes and singing the solfege songs.
Have a good week and hope to see you all at the composing seminar on Saturday!
Mrs. V

Welcome back

Here we go into the New year. 2008 seems to be going by quickly already as it is already near the middle of January! My brain still seems foggy since the Christmas holidays so I hope yours is fresh and clear!!The first week of classes were a lot of fun. The children always have so much energy, unfortunately sometimes you as parents might not. Let's work together on this. I'll step in to help because they've likely heard your voice all day and need to hear a new one!

Please remember to wash/sanitize your hands when coming into the studio. Thanks for participating in the lessons too, I really appreciate your involvement.

SBI - You are great practicers! I can tell the children are catching on quickly at the keyboard. You can jazz things up by using singing, rhythm bags, tin sheets to keep music fun.
SBII - Keyboard practicing needs to start slowly and correctly and likely hands seperate. The W song definitely needs to start out hands seperate. These students are really starting to shine. Their enthusiasm for music makes teaching such a pleasure.
MBI - Good job! Keep praising your child. This group is right on track and I am pleased with their progresss.

Check your schedules to see if FEB. 2 - a Saturday - will work to come to a composition workshop. This is a great time to get it done!

Mrs. V