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 :)

Wednesday, April 16, 2025 | Orange Roots Lessons

Lesson #14

Our 3rd Year and Bridge Recital is on Friday, April 25th and will begin @ 6:15pm at the church at 2750 North 800 East. Please put it on your calendar! If you'd like to see the 1st and 2nd Year Showcase, it will begin @ 5:30pm. Sound Beginnings kids will be singing 2 songs at the start of the showcase. 

For our recital, I'd like all the students to wear "Sunday Best" dress.

 So a dress or skirt for girls and a nice shirt and slacks for the boys. We're going to make this a nice event. Everyone else can dress however they want. :)

Next week is STATION DAY! Have your kids wear their LPM T-shirt to class that day so we can take pictures! I will be adding your child's picture to my "composer's wall" and using it in their composition book that they will each get!

This week each student got to introduce their song and practiced bowing at the end. Some of them had their introduction memorized, but some did not. This should be memorized so they can be confident at the recital. Be sure your student is practicing introducing their song each time they practice (which should be minimally once every day). Don't forget to have your student practice on 3 different pianos and fill out the practice log on page 55. (Follow the instructions on page 54!) I will have a special prize for everyone that has it completed by next class! You can schedule a time to use MY piano for one of those if you would like...just let me know!

Every year, Let's Play Music corporate has a composition contest. All 3rd Year students are invited to submit their composition. There are awards for Best Melody, Best Use of Chords, Best Use of ABA Form, Most Original, Best Story, and Best Overall. If you'd like me to submit your student, let me know by next class. I can only submit one student from my studio each year, so if you're interested, let me know as soon as possible. If I have more than one interested, I'll have an impartial judge look at the compositions and select the piece they think will do the best. To enter, 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!

Do you remember the lesson of the bamboo??It is no coincidence that our 6th and final semester is called Orange Roots. This is not the end of your child's musical journey, we’ve built the roots for them to continue to grow every day in every way as a musician! By now, your child has attended at least seventy-five classes: 3,675 minutes of classroom instruction. You've found babysitters for siblings so you could be in class on parent week. You've arranged schedules and meal-times and errands so your child could get to all seventy-five classes on time. You set up a daily practice plan and played with your child and assisted in hundreds of hours of practice. You helped with homework. And now something wonderful is finally happening: your child is learning some serious music theory, performing some fantastic songs, and even composing and transcribing their own music. Finally, your bamboo has sprouted! 

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 9, 2025 | Orange Roots Lessons

Lesson #13

Our 3rd Year and Bridge Recital is on Friday, April 25th and will begin @ 6:15pm at the church at 2750 North 800 East. Please put it on your calendar! If you'd like to see the 1st and 2nd Year Showcase, it will begin @ 5:30pm. Sound Beginnings kids will be singing 2 songs at the start of the showcase. 

For our recital, I'd like all the students to wear "Sunday Best" dress. So a dress or skirt for girls and a nice shirt and slacks for the boys. We're going to make this a nice event. Everyone else can dress however they want. :)

In 2 weeks (lesson 15), we'll have Celebration Day! Have your kids wear their LPM T-shirts to class that day so we can take pictures to add to the composer wall!

In class this week we got to experience more harmonic dictation. We listened to a MI, RE, DO at the same time as a SOL, SOL, DO. It was quite a challenge, but they did surprisingly well at hearing both parts!

Any changes your child would like to make to their compositions must be given to me by next class. I'm planning to print final copies very soon, so I'd like to be sure they are exactly the way the students want them. Be sure your student is practicing introducing their song each time they practice (which should be minimally once every day).

Don't forget to have your student practice on 3 different pianos and fill out the practice log on page 55. (Follow the instructions on page 54!) I will have a special prize for everyone that has it completed BEFORE the recital! You can schedule a time to use MY piano for one of those if you would like...just let me know!

Remember that when we transpose, we use the same fingerings and same solfege, but just change where we start playing and match the key signature for the new key. 

Yankee Doodle
This familiar favorite will have us adding chords to a melody and learning to improvise in a varied accompanying style.

For extra fun staff practice at home, try our dry erase student magnet board and 3rd year magnet set to practice transposition. Practice making 4-8 note melodies on the staff and then transpose them.
  
https://www.letsplaymusicsite.com/product-page/student-magnet-staff

https://www.letsplaymusicsite.com/product-page/3rd-year-magnet-set

Our Let's Play Music blog has a fun post all about Yankee Doodle and gives all sorts of little known facts as well as ideas to continue practicing through the summer!

Here's a really fun version of Yankee Doodle, trying to rhyme "pony" as opposed to trying to finish the chords!

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, March 26, 2025 | Orange Roots Lessons

Lesson #12

NO CLASSES NEXT WEEK FOR SPRING BREAK! The following week will be parent week and final tuition is due! If you are unsure if you are caught up on your payments or not, please just ask.

I will be printing each child's composition in a book that I will present each child at the recital. I will need to finalize their compositions this week so they have time to practice them. I want them to feel confident playing them in front of an audience. If any changes need to be made, please let me know ASAP!

In class this week we got to experience harmonic dictation. We listened to more than one note played at a time and wrote it in our books. The students are getting really good at knowing the difference between how the red, blue and yellow chords sound!

Any changes your child would like to make to their compositions should be given to me as soon as possible. I'm planning to print final copies pretty soon, so I'd like to be sure they are exactly the way the students want them.

Our compositions are coming along great! Please be sure your student is introducing their piece (as it is written in their homework book) each time they practice it so they can be well prepared for our recital! The introduction should be memorized, but their composition doesn't need to be... although it will help them feel more confident if they do!

We are getting so good at playing our scales in F Major, G Major, and A minor. Check out this fun video to see what it would look like to play your scales with your feet!!!  

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, March 18, 2025 | Orange Roots Lessons

Lesson #11

Notice that this week your child will be practicing most of the same things as Lesson #10. Here's a video that covers some of the songs they will be practicing this week. PLEASE have your child watch it if they are struggling with the songs in the homework this week! 

Be sure your child practices any new changes we have made to the composition. We have almost all finished our compositions and they sound great! I’m so proud of all my Orange Roots! Please make sure that your child practices their composition EVERY DAY. Use theory assignment #11 to help your student introduce their recital piece. They should practice saying it out loud EACH TIME they practice their composition. I want them to be prepared and confident at our recital.

The progress that we have made in developing our compositions has been exciting. Our homework is preparing us to perform our composition at our recital. Look how cute this spider is as he introduces his composition!

Practicing Help (Homework)

Composition Help

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, March 11, 2025 | Orange Roots Lessons

Lesson #10

Next week for private lessons have your child come 1-3 minutes early. If you haven't already, start writing in possible elements to your child's existing composition--a bridge, a coda, an introduction. Or at LEAST talk to your child about adding some elements and I can work my magic on my end. Either way, send their old composition (with any new notes) in addition to the homework booklet so I can still check practicing and homework (if I have time). I have added a supplemental video (below) that you can watch together this week to help generate some additional ideas for your child's composition!

I will send a text with the times your child is expected to be here for their private lesson. If you need to make a change, please let me know ASAP! 

Did you know that Echo Edison's page in your orange songbook (pg. 9) is a GREAT warm up page for any song your child will be playing. See what key the song is in and play Edison's questions and answers for that key. You can call it the "5 finger warmup!" Just for fun, your child can try improvising new QUESTIONS with the same answers!

I'm seeing fewer and fewer flashcard times as the semester progresses! Please don't skip this part of the homework! If your child really doesn't like flashcards (mine didn't!), check out the Quizlet games I made (mainly those listed under Purple Magic because that's where they were introduced). You can select a variety of ways to use the flashcards by selecting the drop down box in the bottom right corner of the Quizlet window.

I still have a few openings in Sound Beginnings and my 1st Year Let's Play Music classes. I've also got an evening Sound Beginnings class for working parents! If you know of anyone who might be interested, I'm holding a free preview class Monday at March 24th @ 5:30 for LPM and 6:30 for SB. PLEASE share this link to any friends you think might be interested in music classes! https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/free-preview-classes-at-musik-me-studio-1756869 Also, I LOVE having current students at my preview classes. Please sign up if you are able to come to either or both of the classes. I can't do "make up" classes, but you can think of this as being a bonus class if you ever missed one... or even if you didn't!

Are you still working on your Spirit Month BINGO worksheets? I will have drawings for a MINI YOTO PLAYER, an mp3 player, egg shakers, cage bell set, tambourines, singable storybooks, CASH ($20, $10 & $5), and MORE! I have attached the worksheet again, if you need another copy. They will be due on lesson #12, where you or your child get to decide which prizes you want to put your tickets toward! I'll do the drawing the following Friday.

The Circus
The official name of this puppet show is Symphony No. 1, 2nd movement by Gustav Mahler. Mahler named his entire first symphony 'The Titan'. It was originally written as a symphonic poem, meaning that the music followed a "plot," in five movements instead of the traditional four. The second movement, the finale of which we use as our circus puppet show, is labeled "Set With Full Sails." Interestingly, this melody is in an Austrian folk dance form called a ländler (in 3/4 time). For those of you who like trivia, this is the dance from The Sound of Music during which Maria and Captain Von Trapp fall in love.

Composition Help

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, March 4, 2025 | Orange Roots Lessons

Lesson #9

Thank you, parents for attending this week!

SPIRIT WEEK IS UNDERWAY! Let me know if you need any substitutions for any of the squares. The BINGO card is in the Student Portal, if you lose yours and need to make a copy! As a reminder, some of the drawing prizes are some instruments and an MP3 player that you can put your class music on! 

One of the items on the BINGO card is to leave a Google review. I'm striving for a 5 star rating. If you don't plan to give me 5 stars, please talk to me BEFORE you post a review so I can address any issues you may have. Unfortunately, negative feedback has much more impact than positive feedback does, so please give me the chance to earn 5 stars if I'm not already there. Thanks! Here is the link to post a review on Google: https://g.page/musikandmebethany/review?gm

Bridge is a fun class for Let's Play Music graduates that is a great "bridge" between Let's Play Music classes and private lessons. I will be starting a new Bridge class next year, and will be teaching it as a 2-year program. If you are interested, let me know and I can get you more details.

I just want to remind you of our new puppet show elements that can be incorporated into your student's composition. We have the introduction, which is at the beginning of a piece, the coda, which is at the tail (end) of the piece, and the bridge that leads from one section to another, often when changing keys.

We've been working on our G Major scale this week. Don't forget that the key of G has the F# as the magic key!

Bagatelle Bridges
This repertoire piece has all the elements that we've learned about in our puppet shows! It has an introduction, a CODA (special ending) and it has 2 BRIDGES. We will actually learn the theme in C Major and then we will get to show off our transposingskills to play it in F and G. 

G Major Scale
This is the last of the major scales we will learn during our time in Let's Play Music. All of our scales have taught us finger technique and strength, but also allowed us to understand key signatures and scale compositions. Just as our Magic Keys Song will tell us, Do is G because the F# is a ti-- so don't forget to play that F# on ti!!! 

G Major Scale

A Minor Cadence

Even Disney's Aristocats know how important it is to practice their scales (and arpeggios)!

Also, it's in the book, but you can also download the coloring pages for our new Circus Puppet Show in "Online Resources" when you go to the student portal of my website!

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, February 25, 2025 | Orange Roots Lessons

Lesson #8

Parents come next week, tuition is due, and it's SPIRIT MONTH! (See separate email with details.) 

1st Year Registration & Enrollment:

If you have a child you want to go through 1st year and aren't on my waiting list, or you know someone who wants to do Let's Play Music, email back and let me know their name and email address so they can get registered ASAP. After next week I'll open registration up to the general public.

Thank you for sending the Marco Polo videos this week. It really helps us get through more fun things in class when we don't need to take the time for each student to play their song during class. 

We started working on the A minor scale and cadences this week! The best part about A minor is that the scale feels just like playing a C Major scale, with no sharps or flats! We did have to change our solfege words though. A minor scale is DO, RE, ME (pronounced "may"), FA, SOL, LE (pronounced "lay"), TE (pronounced "tay"), DO. Our cadences are almost the same, but when we play the yellow chord, we do have to remember to play the G#!

Our dictation exercise was different today. We had all the same notes, but we had to listen to the rhythm and write the rhythm we heard. We also practiced drawing a bass clef, which is also called the "F clef" because the big dot is on the F line and the two dots are on both sides of the F line.

Next week we will do Showtime as a class with New World Symphony. Have your child practice the part they want to play in class and we'll all play our parts at the same time to make a beautiful ensemble!

Students should now have all orange rhythm flashcards unbanded so they can practice all 16 cards! They can also use Quizlet from my website to practice the same things!

Optional: if you'd like to have your student practice more rhythms in a super fun way, you can print off the orange counting cards. They are in the student portal (www.musikandme.com) in the online resources section. There are 3 sets with 2 pages each. You can print them front-to-back and you'll have the same rhythms with bugs to help on one side and no bugs on the other side!

Russian Sailor Dance
This song is ALWAYS a student favorite. Another great repertoire piece that reinforces ABA form, improvisations, and provides a study in legato and staccato themes. But it's the the accelerando at the end that will have your student BEGGING to practice it all the time! 

a-minor Scale

Russian Sailor Dance

Bridge is a really fun class for Let's Play Music graduates that is a great "bridge" between Let's Play Music classes and private lessons. I will be starting a new Bridge class next year, teaching it as a 2-year program. The kids will learn lots of new songs, scales, musical concepts, and so much more! It is more self-paced than LPM, so it's perfect for if you feel like your child has missed out on some musical concepts or skills in Orange Roots. If you are interested, let me know and I'll get you more information.

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, February 18, 2025 | Orange Roots Lessons

Lesson #7

We learned the real names of our chords today! While it seems like most of the kids understood this concept, I'm posting this video to show you parents how we discovered the names during class. Feel free to watch this video on your own or with your child. Since I'm no longer allowed to record my classes, this is another teacher demonstrating what we did in class.

We started playing the blue chord in its inversions today. We used smarties on the keyboards - putting them on middle C, F and A, (which is actually 2nd inversion) and then jumped the first blue counter up to the next octave C - for the root position version of this triad. Remember, the letter names stay the same, the order is just mixed up! Here's a quick demo video to help visualize how this works. Go ahead and try it with your child. Build a blue chord with 3 little erasers or small toys. Then jump the bottom note up to the next same note and keep going!

Showtime is back! While we haven't been playing this in class, your child has been practicing "Cockled and Mussels" at home. Please send me a Marco Polo video or a video text message of your child playing it so I can be sure they understand the concepts we're working on for this song.

Registration for next fall begins IN JUST A COUPLE WEEKS! You’ll want to get your registration complete quickly because classes fill up fast! I want to make sure you have the class time that works best for you. If you have not filled out the survey for when you can do classes next year, PLEASE do that as soon as you can:
https://forms.gle/sTUmc4MuPGf9NBAo7

Have your children continue to practice their recital pieces. Don't forget, it is THEIR composition and if they want to add to it or change anything, they are allowed to do that until lesson #11, when we have our next and final private lesson. You can send me revisions by text or email or send it with your child to class next week. They can use the lined pages in their composition section of their songbook to add extra music, such as a B part, if they so desire.

DO is Home
While finding a pitch (out of thin air) through audiation isn't a new thing for our Let's Play Music student, we are now switching it up. We started to find 'fa' and make F home instead of C and now we will make G home, instead of C and F. We are always doing this relative to Middle C to continually reinforce the sound of Middle C and to teach relative pitch.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Relative_pitch
   
Scale Degrees
Actually numbering the steps of the scale as 'scale degrees' is the first step in transitioning out of calling our primary chords by colors. The Red, Blue, and Yellow chords are respectively the I, IV and V chord (we call 'em 1, 4, and 5) and they get their chord names because their root is that numbered scale degree within the scale. 

C Major and F Major Scales

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, February 11, 2025 | Orange Roots Lessons

Lesson #6

Wow! What a fun lesson #6. I was blown away with your children's compositions this week! Everyone came to their private lesson with an idea of what they wanted to do. Some even had it notated on their staff pages for me. (Thank you moms!) It was fun dreaming up ideas of what was to come next. Every student felt successful and happy with what they had accomplished.

Please have your child play their piece for you and prepare to be amazed. Our compositions are not finished yet so encourage your child to keep working. Now that we have something on paper, encourage your student to continue practicing their composition and complete whatever notes from me that you see. (i.e. finish filling in the chords or finish notating a melody line etc.) Many of the children have finished their "A section" and now need to focus on writing a contrasting "B section". We will have another private lesson on Lesson 11. Let me know if your child needs a little extra help between now and then. Persuade them to start working on the next part of their song.

Students should continue to add to their compositions. I'd love to see any changes or additions they make. They can write directly on the music I printed for them, or they can make additions in the line section of their songbooks. They can bring it to class or you can send me a picture and I'll get it updated on my computer. You’re on a roll, so don’t stop now!

I am holding free preview classes in a couple weeks. I'd love for you to invite your friends to come check out Let's Play Music! I'm also doing free preview classes for Sound Beginnings for those too young for Let's Play Music. (I know a lot of you have younger children!) I LOVE having experienced families attend my preview classes, so please sign up and invite a friend or two! I offer referral bonuses! 
   
Click here to sign up for a free preview class!

On From the New World, don't forget about the 'blue chord position' and special 'bass C' position that the LH will need to move to on pg. 15 of Part III. Here is a quick video to help with that.

Composition

The composition is the culminating event for your Let's Play Music student! We have been experiencing, internalizing, and now labeling many things over our three year development as a young musician. We will rely on our knowledge of: major and minor, time signatures, chord uses and sounds, ABA song form, staccato and legato, theme and variations, block, broken, and marching chords, and MANY other skills that will help your child as they compose and create their own original composition. We've got a starting point, now I'll encourage implementing more of these musical attributes to really make their composition musical!

Practicing Help (Homework)

Composition Help

Start with melody

Start with rhythm

Start with chords

Watch this video of a young prodigy composer who pulls four musical notes out of hat, improvising and composing a piano sonata in under a minute.     

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, February 4, 2025 | Orange Roots Lessons

Lesson #5

Thank you parents for coming this week! Your participation plays such a big role in your child's success! Don't forget tuition is due for those of you that didn't pay for the semester up front. You can pay through Zelle (using my phone number) or Venmo me (@musikandme). 

Here's a little help with this week's theory assignment. In a major scale, we start numbering each note at 1 and because it begins to repeat after number 7, we go back to 1. This is the same way we go back to DO or C. 

 Even though the students cannot play all three parts of New World at the same time, you (the parent) should be able to play a part or two with them at home. Have fun playing as a family ensemble!
     
This next week I will be meeting with your child in their 1st private lesson to begin creating their composition. We have been working during class to brainstorm ideas we might like to use, and have been encouraging 'tinkering' at the keyboard at home. Please encourage your child to be thinking about a musical question (and maybe an answer) that we could work on together next week. This could be a simple melody or some chords that they have written down, can play, or even just hum. Or if they have specific characters they want in their song, they can write a short melody for each character. This is only the beginning of this process, so I'm not looking for you to send a 'finished' product. Feel free to watch the supplemental videos with your child (links down below). Please send your child with their Orange Roots Songbook so we can look over their Composer's Corner activities together. Thanks!

I'll text the schedule for next week's private lesson.

PLEASE be on time for drop off and pick up! This private lesson is only for the students, but if you need to come stay warm inside, you are welcome to!

Composition

The composition is the culminating event for your Let's Play Music student! We have been experiencing, internalizing, and now labeling many things over our three year development as a young musician. We will rely on our knowledge of : major and minor, time signatures, chord uses and sounds, ABA song form, staccato and legato, theme and variations, block, broken, and marching chords, and MANY other skills that will help your child as they compose and create their own original composition.

Magic Keys

This is our 2nd song to graduate up with us from our purple semester. As we continue to sing (and play this song) we will further expand our understanding of key signatures and note relationships--This is the KEY in transposing music. Our new verse allows us to understand and play in the key of G Major, with our new magic key, F#. 

G Major Cadence

Composition Help

Start with melody

Start with rhythm

Start with chords

Inspiration for composition can come in many ways. Here is a great story about a man who saw birds sitting on telephone wires and it inspired him to create his own composition. Can't wait to see where all of our students get their inspiration from! Excited to meet them all individually next week.
https://vimeo.com/6428069

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, January 28, 2025 | Orange Roots Lessons

Lesson #4

Parents come next week and tuition is due for those of you that didn't pay for the semester up front. You can pay through Zelle (using my phone number) or Venmo me (@musikandme). 

We started working on chord inversions this week. Use the red stickers on the cover of your child's homework booklet to help them easily jump from inversion to inversion. Starting on Middle C, put 6 red stickers on your keyboard at home as shown on Lesson 4. of your student manual. The stickers should be placed on middle C, middle E, middle G and treble C (the C above middle C), treble E and treble G.

Please, please make sure your child is using the correct fingers listed in the book. I made a chart for quick reference:

We learned how to play the F Major scale! We play the left hand the same as in a C Major scale (don't forget the B-flat)! The right hand is DIFFERENT! We learned a fun chant to help us remember what fingers to use:

For going up: 1-2-3-4, 1-2-3-4. Different than I played before!
And for going down: 4-3-2-1, 4-3-2-1. Wow, my F scale's lots of fun!

Do NOT have your child play hands together until they can do both LH and RH independently! We want them to feel successful, not frustrated!

We reviewed that eighth notes have one beam (the horizontal line) holding them together. They get half a count when bugs (quarter notes) get one. They are counted out loud: one and two and three and four and. 

Sixteenth notes have two beams and they get 1/4 of a count. They are counted out loud: one ee and a two ee and a three ee and a four ee and a. We write this a little more simply (as shown in the homework). 

Be sure to look at reference pages 50 and 51 in your homework book if you need a little clarification. If you still can't make heads or tails of it, please ask me! I know this is just as new to some of the parents as it is to the students.

Cockles and Mussels

Here's a video of how the LH chords step up and stay in root position. It also shows how to play broken chords if your student would like something additional to work on!

Inversions / Mixed Paint

We actually HAVE played our yellow and blue chords in inversions--we just didn't realize it. We are now ready to take a root position chord and 'invert' it. This just means re-arranging the pieces. The chord is still CEG, but C moves to the top, then the E moves to the top, then the G and you are in root position again. We will play Old Paint in a new 'Mixed' up way to help us hear that it's still a red chord no matter matter if it is in root position, 1st inversion or 2nd inversion. No matter what the shape or order is, it just has to retain the same 'pieces' (in this case C-E-G) for it to be a red (C) chord. Be sure to add your stickers to your keyboard! (See diagram above!)
  
New World Symphony

Our Let's Play Music students have created harmony in many different ways in 1st and 2nd year. Now in 3rd year we have the unique opportunity to play as an ensemble in class to produce harmony and a much fuller sound than they can accomplish playing by themselves. By listening to the CD, the children are provided the opportunity to model and to audiate the music in their heads as they practice.
  
Our Bugs are So Fun! (new verse)
A few of our songs from our purple CD have upgraded to our orange CD--with some new lyrics! The new verse in 'Our Bugs are So Fun!' will help us to learn to count those tricky 'beamed' rhythms that include eighth notes and sixteenths notes! If counting in this new way seems tricky, I have attached a parent help that dissects the lyrics to Our Bugs are So Fun! with visual examples and simple explanations to help.

F Major Scale

Check out this young group of musicians experiencing the value of playing as an ensemble. Your student will recognize this piece as our very own Largo from New World Symphony by Antonin Dvorak.

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, January 21, 2025 | Orange Roots Lessons

Lesson #3

I can build a triad! From any note on the staff, I just add a 3rd and a 5th. Then guess what! I can move the notes around (as long as they stay on the same letter) and the root is still the same. If the chord isn't in root position, then "the note above the gap's the root" (just listen to the song... it explains it all!). We will continue to explore this concept in the coming weeks.

In "John Jacob Jingleheimer Smith" we found that it was missing a note in the first measure in the bass clef. We decided what note we should put there by finding out what the root of the chord was in the treble clef. We wrote some of the letter names in the space between the treble and bass clefs during class, but the kids were told to finish writing them at home.

While we are only practicing the first two lines of part I in "From the New World," it would be easy to just simply 'play' it, but remember to not only sing the note names, (“e-g-g-e-d-c” etc.) but try singing the rhythm as well (“shoot-the half note” etc.) while playing it this week. Or you could even sing the counts! (1+ 2+ 3+ 4+...)

John Jacob Jingleheimer Smith

This fun song from your childhood will get us learning a new style of bass root accompanying. Once we understand this we can improvise on a two handed marching style. It also is another opportunity to feel a half cadence. This song is also another opportunity to feel a half cadence (ends on a yellow chord instead of red).

 I Can Build a Triad 

Like the song says, "Pick any note to be the root... then add a third, and add a fifth!" Now that we are learning chord structure, our skipping snakes will help us to chant and spell each of our triads. Like any language, you speak (sing) it first, and then you can learn to write it. Want to practice making your own Skipping Snakes at home? Print out the attached file and have fun with your own alphabet magnets at home!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triad_(music)

John Jacob

There are lots of different variations on our 'John Jacob' song. I remembered singing it as 'Schmidt' instead of 'Smith' as a kid, and instead of 'look there he goes again' we would just sing 'la la la la la la la.' It can be lots of fun to take a familiar tune and improvise in fun and crazy ways. Which way does your family like best? The  Rock'n'Roll, the Sesame Street, or the Sing a Ma Jig version??  

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, January 14, 2025 | Orange Roots Lessons

Lesson #2

We're beginning a fun new way to celebrate how fast the kids know their note flashcards. It's called the "In a Flash Club" and the kids get to compete against their own best time for how fast they can go over all their PURPLE NOTE FLASHCARDS. There's a place in the homework each week where the kids are supposed to time themselves for how long it takes. This only needs to be done 3 times each week, not every practice. We will record their best time on a card in class so they can see how much better they get each week! The kids will also get "fish food" stickers to put in their fishbowl (in the back of their homework book) for each time they do "In a Flash" and "Say It, Then Play It" as part of their homework. They can earn up to 5 stickers each week. Let's get those bowls so full of fish food that we can't even see the fish!

We also began counting rhythms (very simple ones) today. If you would like to print out some practice counting pages for home, you can download them from your student portal. (If you don't know how to access that, please just let me know.) You can either cut each card apart, or you can randomly pick one for your child to clap and count. Just know this is completely optional and have fun with it! 

Echo Edison
The newest member of our Echo family has arrived. He is Echo Ed and Echo Edna’s grandfather! He doesn't like when he gets echoed though. He likes to ask musical questions and have the kids give him musical answers. He will not only help us learn technique and play finger exercises in 5 keys, but is the vehicle for helping us create our compositions this semester!  
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Musical_composition  
   
Cadence Blues 
Cadence Blues is actually ONLY printed in the key of C in your songbooks, but on your CD you have the 'Blues' in other keys. While playing in the key of F or G, you still have to read the song written in the key of C. That's right! Your little musician will be transposing! Woot woot! Be sure to keep the CD player near the keyboard to make practicing fun!  
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transposition_(music)  
   
Monsters 
The new puppet show is entitled Monsters. However, the real name of the puppet show is Montagues and Capulets, also known as Dance of the Knights and is from the ballet 'Romeo and Juliet' composed by Sergei Prokofiev. This puppet show is similar to many of our past puppet shows--it follows the ABA formula that composers love! But the themes are layered on top of each other, and we will further develop our ear training to distinguish the individual layers of sound.

Musicians definitely have a sense of humor! Check out this fun video of a trick played on an orchestra conductor: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oipg71dSem0

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, January 7, 2025 | Orange Roots Lessons

Lesson #1

What a great first lesson! There is always so much info to pack in while I have you in class once a month! Thank you for coming! In class we signed up for the times when we will do our private lessons on weeks 6 and 11. If you weren't there, I'll text you with the remaining times available and you can let me know what works for you.

Please check the calendar in your student portal so you can be sure you are scheduling parent days in the right places! You can sync the calendar to your google calendar or whichever digital calendar you use. If I need to make any changes, I'll text you to let you know.

Our last semester of Let’s Play Music is packed with amazing musical concepts that some kids will get in middle and high school music classes, if they are lucky! This is going to be an amazing ride as we make skipping snakes, play with the roots of chords, build triads, compose a song, add to our musical repertoire, and much, much more.

Because we are moving right along now, my hope is that you will continue to put highest priority on your practice time. Each week we will be building on concepts and skills practiced the previous week. Of course, we have been doing this all along in the other LPM semesters. However, if the students get behind this semester, they will most likely feel lost rather quickly. As a result, they won’t feel happy going to class because they won’t know the material and won’t have practiced the songs. This will quickly lead to frustration and unhappy students. We’d like to avoid this from the start, by putting highest priority on practice from the beginning. This will eliminate much of the distress that could develop because of neglected practice.

More than any other semester, the music has lyrics that will really help teach musical concepts. There are way fewer songs, but that is because they are very important! Be sure to listen to the class music with your child so you can know how to help!

Tuition is due this week and is $280 for the Orange Roots semester. You can pay via Zelle using my phone number (preferred, so I don't have to pay Venmo transaction fees). Zelle is a way to transfer money from your bank account to my bank account without needing to wait or pay extra fees. It's easy to set up through your bank and even easier to use once it has been set up. You could pay via Venmo @musikandme if you really can't set up Zelle. If you need to make monthly payments, rather than paying for the semester, it will be $75/month. (You will save $20 by paying for the semester up front!) 

Celebrate Connection
Think of ways you can focus on making practice time as fun as possible – give your child warm, friendly eye contact, smile with your voice, be a little silly, show you are relaxed and happy to sit with your child, and look for the good in your child's effort. Notice the joy in your child's eyes. Verbalize the good you see and hug your child often. This practice relationship will be essential to your child's success in Let's Play Music. The more you invest your energy into positive interaction, the more solid and successful this habit will become.     
      
After doing your assignment for class, allow your child to fool around and experiment if he wants to, and play a song he knows -- no matter how simple. This can be done anytime or multiple times throughout the week. Model joy as you play the piano. If you make a mistake, smile and show that you are relaxed and enjoy trying again to fix the mistake. Celebrate your effort to give him the idea his efforts are something to enjoy and celebrate.

Primary Root Chords Song
Wow! We had to do some hard thinking during class with this song. Playing our old familiar song in a new way is helping us understand that root and how to play chords when they are in root position. We are jumping all over the keyboard to play this song, but don't forget, to play these root position chords you simply put your thumb on the root and then play what 'feels' like a red chord.

Cockles and Mussels
Our first repertoire song this semester is an old Irish folk song from the 1800s. This week, we are focusing on learning the melody. The fun part of this song comes soon, when we look at the ROOT position chords in the left hand. This piece allows us to strengthen our fingers as hands play together, tests our sight reading skills, and gives us the opportunity to improvise with a broken chord variation. Ha ha! Is there anything it doesn't do??? Our Let's Play Music blog has a great post with fun facts and practice videos dedicated to our new 'Cockles and Mussels' repertoire piece. Gather the family together and enjoy!

Let's Find the Root
Ever wonder why we learn so much about chords in Let's Play Music? Chords are the building blocks of songs and harmonies. In our 6th and final Orange Roots semester, we will finally analyze and label the chord theory and structure that our fingers have been playing and singing since we were Red Balloons! The idea of 'it's not about the shape, it's about the pieces' will take on new meaning as we label those pieces and discover the most important of those pieces-- the ROOT! Don your sunglasses, and keep it cool while you sing 'Let's Find the Root' to understand what the root is, and how to find it in our chords! In case this feels a little foreign to you, I have added a couple pages to the online resources in the Student Portal: There is a parent help that dissects the lyrics to Let's Find the Root  with visual examples and simple explanations to better help you understand the theory concepts I am teaching in class. There is also a Parent Theory Note that has a little more info and explains things a little differently. Please ask me if you need ANY clarification on these. This video is good at explaining how our chords can be rearranged to be in root position, but still be red, blue and yellow chords.

Primary Root Chords Song

As you start out this year, check out this practice tip from our Let's Play Music Blog. Here's a little 'practice humor' for you, just for fun!

Also, the Monsters puppet show puppets are in your book now, but if you'd like you can also download them and print them from your student portal! Log in at www.musikandme.com and you can download, print and let your child color the characters as you discuss their favorite part about the puppet show! (Can you hear the characters that you are coloring?)

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 :)