Thursday, December 19, 2024 | Green Turtle Shells Lessons

Lesson #15

Thank you so much for attending Station Day! I hope you realize just how much your child has learned this semester. I also hope you were able to see some things that can be worked on over Christmas break. I hope the kids enjoy and use the Christmas songbook they received!

As the name has implied, this semester has been a little slow (like a turtle) purposely to help the children be able to really build a good foundation that will be so important in the next semesters. Yellow Arrows will feel like we are flying through new material (pun intended!), but since we have built a strong foundation, it will be a lot of fun!

Let's Play Music requires all teachers to have their families complete surveys at the end of each semester. If you didn't fill it out on Station Day, please fill it out now! Here's the link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScZDhU3zg9pM7Gy3EK43ZP5aJhPfI2ISJbCvoPvizqqEfA9Hw/viewform 

A little bit of relaxed daily practice over the break will keep the skills taught over the semester fresh and honed. By Yellow Arrows they should be able to recognize and play all chords in RH with fairly quick and smooth transitions. 

The Christmas Break Challenge is completely optional, but I hope you will help your child keep their skills up over the break! (I put it on the download portal, in case you happen to misplace it!)

Classes begin the first full week of January (the 9th). Lesson #1 of Yellow Arrows is a Parent Day! Please look carefully at your class calendar in the student portal. (If you still can't access that, please let me know!) I have a few random weeks I'm taking off, so please be aware of that when importing your calendar to your phones!

Please begin listening to the Yellow Arrows soundtrack! We have a lot of fun songs coming up!

Celebrate Connection    
A few ideas to bring playfulness to practice time!

• Pull out the bells from last year and notice how fun it is to play some of the Green Turtle songs on the bells.
• Any chance you get, have visitors listen to your child play his/her favorite song at the piano and applaud generously! As a family, sing along with the holiday songs.
• Can you collaborate with your child at the piano, a parent duet, someone on the Let's Play Music bells from last year and someone else playing jingle bells or simply singing along? THIS is joy for your child when it is done with emotional safety and celebration!

Holiday Ensemble

Fun ways to incorporate the entire family with a Holiday Sing & Play-a-Long!    

• Student/parent plays chords while everyone sings along. 
• Play chords an octave higher or lower to change the timbre of the song.
• Play as a duet, trio, or quartet. Someone plays melody, others play chords on piano. All Sing!
• Play Silent Night with broken chords (Play each note of the chord separately: Do-Mi-Sol, Do-Fa-La, Ti-Re-Sol). Invite someone else to play the melody an octave higher.
• Invite younger siblings to play rhythm instruments to add variety while piano is playing: jingle bells, tambourines, drums, etc.
• If anyone in your family or friend circle plays any other instruments like guitar, ukulele, violin, cello, etc., have them play along with your child! It is completely exhilarating to have these fun jam sessions!
• Wear a costume while you play.

Be sure to go through the Christmas Break Worksheet! (It's in the Student Download Portal if you lose your printed copy!) Try to do 1-2 activities each day. I've added a fun version of Deck the Halls piano music to your student's download portal to add variety to daily practice and spread Holiday Cheer! 

Here is a link to all the skills videos as well as the link to be able to purchase a class video to make up for a missed class. (tap or scan)

Have a musical day!
-Ms. Bethany :)

Wednesday, December 18, 2024 | Brown Teddy Bears Lessons

Lesson #15

What a wonderful semester of playing and learning together! Sharing instruments was a great way to end our semester.

I would love to see you all back for next semester--Pink Piggies! Thank you for the opportunity to teach your children.

There are so many reasons why learning music in a group is beneficial! Children are much more likely to enjoy the setting when there are other children around. The synergy of a Sound Beginnings class naturally encourages children to participate and to excel. A large group allows for exploration in ways a private setting does not; through group games, dances and parachute activities. Sound Beginnings also provides a wonderful opportunity for parents and children to bond as they learn, sing, and play together each week.  

Optional home fun activity: No activity this week. You can always complete any you may have missed during this semester!   
(Remember, these activities are optional but can be a great bonding experience to do with your child during the week.)  

Want to have another teddy bear picnic at home? Check out this video of John Bratton's 2-step, which is our "Teddy Bear Picnic" song before words were put to it.

Have a musical day! 
-Ms. Bethany :)

Tuesday, December 17, 2024 | Purple Magic Lessons

Lesson #15

Station Day was so fun! I hope you were all able to see just how much your children have learned over this semester. I also hope you were able to see some things that can be worked on over Christmas break. I hope the kids enjoy and use the Christmas songbook they received!

Please help your child go through the Christmas Challenge worksheet. It will help keep some of the skills and concepts we've learned this semester fresh in their minds when we come back in January. (If nothing else, be sure to do the virtual escape room at the bottom!) If you misplaced your worksheet, you can download it from the student portal. Homework 15 is just for fun, as well as anything else that hasn't been finished in the homework booklet.

Let's Play Music requires all teachers to have their families complete surveys at the end of each semester. If you didn't fill it out on Station Day, please fill it out now! Here's the link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSedEHu03nalInlJ7j9FP0SHmnJBHwzXHw3Zk8Uay8-q89ukHA/viewform

Classes will resume the  January 7th and lesson #1 of Orange Roots is a parent day! Tuition will be due that week for anyone that didn't pay for the whole year in advance. Have a wonderful Christmas break!

Now that we know all the lines and spaces on the staff, we will introduce the 'In a Flash Club' in our orange semester. Check out this online game to quiz your student over the semester break on all of the treble and bass clef notes we have learned so far! Watch out for what clef it is!
   
For an added bonus try this version and have your student 'Say it, then play it.'

Here is a link to all the skills videos as well as the link to be able to purchase a class video to make up for a missed class. (tap or scan)

Have a musical day!
-Ms. Bethany :)

Tuesday, December 17, 2024 | Red Balloons Lessons

Lesson #15

Wow, this semester flew by! I love teaching your kids and am so grateful to work with parents that are so involved in their child’s life. You are really giving your children a gift by allowing them to learn the skills and concepts that live in the art form of music. I am excited for Blue Bugs and cannot wait until January! Take a small breather if you need to, but right after the holiday start listening to the Blue Bugs music. 

You can also help your child do the Christmas Break Challenge worksheet! You can find it in the "Online Resources" section of your Student Portal. It is completely optional, but they will get some rewards if they do it! The escape room at the bottom will get them a special reward, so if you don't do anything else, please do that one.

I was supposed to have parents do an evaluation during the puppet show, but I thought you'd all like to enjoy the puppet show with your children instead! So if you didn't complete the evaluation yet, here's the link. PLEASE take the time to fill it out! I take all feedback into consideration and strive to come up with the best collective way to make things better. I, the teacher, as well as the Let's Play Music company, collectively appreciate your honesty and frankness in your responses. We take educating your children seriously and we appreciate your insight on things we can improve on. You may remain anonymous.  
 
If you know anyone interested in starting Let’s Play Music 1st year classes next fall, I do have a waiting list. I want to give your family and friends priority on this list, so let me know of anyone interested. Please have them fill out this form ASAP to get on my waitlist. https://www.musikandme.com/Let-s-Play-Music-Waitlist

I will also be starting a new Sound Beginnings class in January, so encourage any friends who may be interested to sign up NOW to reserve their spot. Sound Beginnings is a wonderful class for children age 0-4 with a grown-up. You can send them here for more information: https://musikandme.com/Sound-Beginnings--age-0-4-  

Our January class start date is January 7th or 8th, same time, same place! Lesson #1 is a Parent Day! Please begin listening to the Blue Bugs music to prepare for our Blue Bugs class that will start in January.

Primary Chord Song
This week we reviewed several different concepts and skills that we’ve learned throughout the semester. You should be very proud of your budding musician. They are doing so very well. We’ll jump into new information again when we return in January!      
     
Waltz of the Flowers
Wasn't it fun to use different instruments with the music? The children are getting very good at listening to our classical music!

Check out this amazing and fun video of Waltz of the Flowers! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GCTyFp0PpHE

And enjoy this piano rendition of The Waltz of the Flowers! https://youtu.be/52T49sVjfaA

Also, you can log in to your student portal to download some bell music to print and play! (1st_year_bell_music.pdf) Enjoy the amazing musicianship skills your young children are learning.    
     
If you like these songs, there is also a wonderful book available from Let's Play Music with 15 Red Balloons and Blue Bugs songs to play with your bells! There's also a brand new version with Christmas songs!

Here is a link to all the skills videos as well as the link to be able to purchase a class video to make up for a missed class. (tap or scan)

Have a musical day!
-Ms. Bethany :)

Thursday, December 12, 2024 | Green Turtle Shells Lessons

Lesson #14

Next week is STATION DAY WITH PARENTS! 

This is a wonderful opportunity for your children to show you just how much they have learned during our Green Turtle Shells semester! This is the highlight of the semester, so PLEASE be sure to come enjoy it with them! Here's how it will work:

I will have 10 different stations that you and your child rotate through. You can plan to spend about 3-5 minutes at each station and can go in any order. You will be given a checklist to help you go to all the stations. One of the stations is a personal chat with me, and your child will have the opportunity to play their favorite song on my nice piano! I will give out prizes, presents, and a Christmas Break Challenge worksheet (totally optional) that will help your child not get rusty over the break!

Moms, bring your phones and kids wear your LPM shirts! (One of our stations is a "photo booth"!)

Celebrate Connection   
A few ideas to bring playfulness to practice time!

• Play at lightning speed!
• Video record (or voice record) a song and send to your LPM teacher! Can you see how much you have accomplished this semester?!
• Sing along with a Russian accent.

Chord Transitions
Mom, did you know I can play my chords with my eyes shut? The goal is to have their eyes on the music while they are playing as much as possible, with only quick glances at their fingers. With their favorite song, invite them to memorize it and "see" the chords in their minds while they play with their eyes closed.
    
Holiday Songs
The holiday songs in the back of the songbook are great practice to reinforce chord transitions while being entertaining for your student and family. These songs will add cheer to the holidays and festivities and they will help solidify the transition between ALL of the chords in the right hand before we begin Yellow Arrows. Jingle away!

With the holidays approaching here is a Gift Buying Guide  for your budding musician!

Here is a link to all the skills videos as well as the link to be able to purchase a class video to make up for a missed class. (tap or scan)

Have a musical day!
-Ms. Bethany :)