Tuesday, February 4, 2025 | Uncategorized

If you are looking for a way to make it easier to play your class music, keep reading! I recently discovered this screen-free way to give your child control of their music listening experience. It's called a Yoto player. I opted for the Yoto Mini and I feel like it is more than adequate for the job. I made a couple web pages that go into more detail about how you can use it for Let's Play Music and Sound Beginnings. There's even a way to get a 10% discount on your first purchase! Read all about it here!

Thursday, April 24, 2025 | Yellow Arrows Lessons

Lesson #15

Thank you so much for attending Station Day with your child (or sending someone else to attend if you couldn't)! It really meant a lot to them! I hope it helped you to see just how much they have learned this semester. I really appreciate everything you have done as parents to help your children succeed!

Not all the parents filled out the survey during Station Day, so if you didn't, then here's the link to do it: 
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeyehf44TVTcqaLpQDQ-1YQoU67db0cMd5AWT1fMRQY0gzetw/viewform

It will be so fun to celebrate all the children's accomplishments at the showcase Friday. This will be only the second time some of these kids have done any kind of showcase thing like this in front of an audience, so I'm very proud of what they will do! 

Here's a link to the Yellow Arrows version of the "Escape Room" challenge for you to do with your students. This is a fun review of all the things we did this semester in class.
https://escaperoomlpm.wixsite.com/home/yellowarrows 

For those of you who feel like your child will want a little bit of review over the summer, here's a fun review packet that you can purchase from LPM, either in digital format or in physical format. It's completely optional, but highly recommended for those of you who know your child has struggled a little bit this year. I'd love to do a review class in August if I get enough interest, so please just let me know if that is something you'd like to have your child do. It will review the concepts we have learned this last year, but being presented through different games that we didn't get to do during our regular classes.

Celebrate Connection

A few ideas to bring playfulness to practice time!

• Sing and act out Robin Hood with your child, even better, as a family!
• Find intervals on the keyboard with mini marshmallows, toy cars, Legos, etc.
• Have your parent sing while you play, the trade places. Now both sing together!

Chamniamo Gogo
Turn out your toes and celebrate the conclusion of a REMARKABLE year of singing, playing, and learning how to play the piano! Hooray!!!

With summer vacation on the horizon it’s great to have a Practice Plan to keep your little musician's skills sharpened to be ready for Purple Magic in the fall!

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, April 23, 2025 | Pink Piggies Lessons

Lesson #15

Sharing instruments was a great way to end our semester. Thank you for your participation today and for the many ways you contributed to our class throughout the past weeks. I hope to see you all back for White Horses (or Red Balloons, if your child is old enough) next semester. 

Summer classes are coming up and I can adjust the schedule if necessary to accommodate more people. Please let me know what will and won't work for you!

Please let me know how this class was for you. This really helps me to be a better teacher. You can remain anonymous on this very short survey: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeMgtWOsjDkR4AXS7IceugrayEtKezeqCx6oylucRCEwe9hyg/viewform

Recent studies suggest that moving to music with your child triggers the release of oxytocin -- the "bonding" hormone. Babies whose experience with music also involves movement smile more, are easier to soothe, and are more willing to explore their environment. Sound Beginnings purposefully includes opportunities to move with your child, and we hope that in addition to a musically rich experience, you and your child have bonded and enjoyed your time together!

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

Check out this version of Zoodeo from Haiti.

Have a musical day!         
-Ms. Bethany :)

Tuesday, April 22, 2025 | Orange Roots Lessons

Lesson #15

You're ALL DONE! Thank you so much for attending Station Day with your child (or sending someone else to attend if you couldn't)! It really meant a lot to them! I hope it helped you to see just how much they have learned this semester. I really appreciate everything you have done as parents to help your children succeed! This has been a wonderful 3rd Year!

If you didn't get a chance to fill out the parent evaluation during station day, please take the time to fill this out. It really helps me to be better as a teacher! You can remain anonymous if you wish.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScYmje-6r6oz1ulCvSEknn0gewqmejGSNx0g6XCN4afsi6Lmw/viewform

I can't wait for our End-of-Year Recital. I hope you will all enjoy seeing just how amazing each of these children are! I love how different each of the compositions are and how they all tell a different story. If any of you get any good pictures, I'd love to see them (especially group pictures at the end)!

Just so you know, the QR code at the front of the Student Composition book that I made leads to a page on my website that is NOT linked from anywhere else. So the only ones that are going to be seeing the compositions are those of you who HAVE THE LINK. To see the sheet music full size, just follow the instructions on the page. To hear the songs, just push play and be sure your sound is on! I'm so proud of all the compositions and how unique they all are! Great work!

Please let me know if you are interested in having your child compete in the composition contest. I am allowed to submit only one composition, so at this point, whoever is interested needs to let me know as soon as possible so I can get your child entered. As of this afternoon, NOBODY had submitted any entries to LPM yet, so the odds of winning something are really good! There are awards for Best Melody, Best Use of Chords, Best Use of ABA Form, Most Original, Best Story, and Best Overall. You'll just need to upload a YouTube video of the student performing their piece, introducing themselves and the name of their piece and explaining the 'story' that their song will tell. I can help you with any of the technical things that will be needed to submit your child's masterpiece! This is a great opportunity to be recognized for their hard work! The deadline to have it to LPM is May 15th, so don't procrastinate!

For a quick and fun review, you can do a virtual ESCAPE ROOM for Orange Roots here: https://escaperoomlpm.wixsite.com/home/orangeroots

Thank you so much for a wonderful 3 years! Your children are truly amazing! 

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, April 22, 2025 | Blue Bugs Lessons

Lesson #15

We have had an incredible 1st year! Thank you, parents, for making that possible! This program wouldn't work without you!

It was so fun to celebrate all the children's accomplishments at the showcase tonight. This was the first time some of these kids have done any kind of performance thing ever, so I'm very proud of what they were able to do! 

Next year we get to start on the keyboards! It will be so fun to take what we have learned from the autoharp and bells and be able to transfer that knowledge to the piano!

I chose to let the parents participate with their child in the puppet show, rather than do the survey during that time. Please take the time to fill this out. It really helps me to be better as a teacher! You can remain anonymous if you wish.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf2EmOTu5wHGhVF8mn4h87uk2SETECjE-6dCFJyaWUUA0pLLw/viewform

Here's a link to the Blue Bugs version of the "Escape Room" challenge for you to do with your students. This is a fun review of all the things we did this semester in class.
https://escaperoomlpm.wixsite.com/home/bluebugs 

For those of you who feel like your child will want a little bit of review over the summer, here's a fun review packet that you can purchase from LPM, either in digital format or in physical format. It's completely optional, but highly recommended for those of you who know your child has struggled a little bit this year. I'd love to do a review class in August if I get enough interest, so please just let me know if that is something you'd like to have your child do. It will review the concepts we have learned this last year, but being presented through different games that we didn't get to do during our regular classes.

How to Skip
The children are really getting really good at reading notes off the staff. This is a BIG deal! It helps to set the stage for what next year will bring when we introduce the piano.

Subdividing with Bugs Part 3

We are officially finished with our Blue Bugs semester and it's time for summer break! To help fight off summertime boredom, play the bells, create bell music and read from the staff, play games on your lines and spaces page, listen to music and have fun creating all kinds of BUGS!! Here, here and here.

https://www.notimeforflashcards.com/2009/07/not-just-for-booboos.html

http://pagingfunmums.com/2013/07/07/cute-bug-craft-using-spoons-and-pipe-cleaners/

https://www.freekidscrafts.com/paper-loop-lady-bug/

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 :)