In our 5th lesson, we reviewed how to play C-major scales.
Thank you Renée and Micheal for showing us how to play C-major scales with a curved hand-position and a steady beat.
Now you can try practicing scales legato - smoothly. We learned about the difference between smooth connected notes (legato) and bouncy detached notes (staccato) today.
We also had 2 performances of the song we were working on last week, Old Grey Goose, from Ben and Aidan. Thank you! Then, we learned a new song, Pop Goes the Weasel, that uses 2 hands - the treble clef and the bass clef.
Great work!
We then, played a game naming Intervals - the distance between 2 notes, and also the Grand Staff Note Placement Game.
For more practice, click here for a Note Naming Game you can play on the Internet.
We ran out of time before we could play Bongo Boy, but we will next week for sure.
Practice Old Grey Goose and Pop Goes the Weasel.
To print off copies of the music use the following links: http://www.musiqclub.com/blog/resources/Lesson3_Old_Grey_Goose.pdf
http://www.musiqclub.com/blog/resources/Lesson6_Pop_Goes_the_Weasel.pdf
Don't worry if Pop Goes the Weasel is still a little tricky for you. I'm just giving you a head start with this because everyone did so well with Old Grey Goose today. We're going to be working more on the new song together next class.
Thanks everyone!
I'm happy with how much we've learned so far.
See you next week :)
Thursday, November 22
Wednesday, November 21
BLT Elementary School Wed. Nov. 21 2.00-3.00pm
BLT - Nice work today!
I'm so happy we've learned so much already. We made some pretty important discoveries today, about rhythm, high and low, and reading circle notes.
First of all, we did some clapping exercises. We learned there are long sounds and short sounds in the English language - and that music is a kind of like a language. We found out that music always has a steady beat (like a heart beat) and that we can play different rhythms over this constant beat.
We got to clap along with an interesting contraption that I brought in called a Metronome.
We reviewed how to name the letters of the keys. Middle C is in front of the 2 black keys. F is in front of the 3 black keys.
We talked about Fur Elise, 5th Symphony and Minuet and G by Beethoven. What a great composer he was - everyone in the class enjoyed listening to the music he wrote.
Remember when you're reading circle notes, that your Right hand plays the high notes above the line, and your Left hand plays the low notes below the line. Any notes that are on the line will be Middle C.
Practice naming your notes at home using the musical alphabet and keeping a steady beat.
Practice low notes and high notes!
See if you can compose some of your own 4-beat rhythms on Middle C, or using word-phrases like "My Feet Smell Like Roses". (Especially Cameron! See if you can come up with some new ones for me!)
Next time we're going to meet our new computer teacher. It's going to be fun!
See you next week :)
I'm so happy we've learned so much already. We made some pretty important discoveries today, about rhythm, high and low, and reading circle notes.
First of all, we did some clapping exercises. We learned there are long sounds and short sounds in the English language - and that music is a kind of like a language. We found out that music always has a steady beat (like a heart beat) and that we can play different rhythms over this constant beat.
We got to clap along with an interesting contraption that I brought in called a Metronome.
We reviewed how to name the letters of the keys. Middle C is in front of the 2 black keys. F is in front of the 3 black keys.
We talked about Fur Elise, 5th Symphony and Minuet and G by Beethoven. What a great composer he was - everyone in the class enjoyed listening to the music he wrote.
Remember when you're reading circle notes, that your Right hand plays the high notes above the line, and your Left hand plays the low notes below the line. Any notes that are on the line will be Middle C.
Practice naming your notes at home using the musical alphabet and keeping a steady beat.
Practice low notes and high notes!
See if you can compose some of your own 4-beat rhythms on Middle C, or using word-phrases like "My Feet Smell Like Roses". (Especially Cameron! See if you can come up with some new ones for me!)
Next time we're going to meet our new computer teacher. It's going to be fun!
See you next week :)
Hammonds Plains Elementary School Wed. Nov. 22 8.00-9.00am
Great work today everyone.
You're sounding better and better each week. I love how you listen to instructions so well.
First, some of you volunteered to demonstrate the Finger Number tunes that I gave you to practice last week - thank you Brennon, Jess and Megan. Remember to keep your hand position in a round shape.
We learned that the position we've been playing in so far is called C-position; with your Right hand thumb on middle C, and your Left hand thumb on bass C.
We reviewed the musical alphabet, and then we learned a new song together - Old Grey Goose.
Nice sightreading! We talked about quarter notes, half notes and whole notes. Most of you were able to score 100% holding all the notes for the correct values!
If you have the Piano Suite software at home, try practicing Old Grey Goose without missing any beats - there shouldn't be any rests in the music yet! (We'll learn how to play songs with rests next time).
After this, we did quite a few exercises in the Theory Thinker, practicing reading notes in the Treble and Bass clef. Then, we played the Bongo Boy game to practice our rhythms again.
I gave you 3 new Letter Name songs to work on this week at home. Please practice them always keeping a steady beat (remember, music is often grouped into 4-beat measures).
Can't wait until our next class! We're going to revisit the improvisation room that some of your were asking about. Thanks everyone!
You're sounding better and better each week. I love how you listen to instructions so well.
First, some of you volunteered to demonstrate the Finger Number tunes that I gave you to practice last week - thank you Brennon, Jess and Megan. Remember to keep your hand position in a round shape.
We learned that the position we've been playing in so far is called C-position; with your Right hand thumb on middle C, and your Left hand thumb on bass C.
We reviewed the musical alphabet, and then we learned a new song together - Old Grey Goose.
Nice sightreading! We talked about quarter notes, half notes and whole notes. Most of you were able to score 100% holding all the notes for the correct values!
If you have the Piano Suite software at home, try practicing Old Grey Goose without missing any beats - there shouldn't be any rests in the music yet! (We'll learn how to play songs with rests next time).
After this, we did quite a few exercises in the Theory Thinker, practicing reading notes in the Treble and Bass clef. Then, we played the Bongo Boy game to practice our rhythms again.
I gave you 3 new Letter Name songs to work on this week at home. Please practice them always keeping a steady beat (remember, music is often grouped into 4-beat measures).
Can't wait until our next class! We're going to revisit the improvisation room that some of your were asking about. Thanks everyone!
Tuesday, November 20
Westmount Elementary School Tues. Nov. 20 12.15-1.15pm
We had a fun lesson today. We're going to be having MusIQ Club on the stage every week from now on.
After I checked everyone's C-major scale, we reviewed how we play high notes with the right hand and low notes with the left hand.The reason we did this is because today, we learned how to play with two hands at the same time.
Mr. Bach taught us about "Double Notes". Everyone was very nice about taking turns and letting their partners have a chance to play the double notes on their own.
We practiced rhythms with Miss Melody and played all the games that we've learned so far: High/Low, Princess Story, Holding the Train and Bongo Boy.
Then we talked about a neat-looking machine that I brought in called a Metronome. We did some rhythm playback challenges: first, I challenged you. Then you challenged each other. Then you challenged me! All of you came up with interesting rhythms to show me.
We had a lot of fun with the games. Then we talk about Vivaldi's Four Seasons and the words Legato and Staccato.
I showed you how legato means to connect the notes when you walk your fingers on the keys, and staccato means to play notes bouncy and disconnected. We practiced this using our C-major scale.
Everyone practiced their legato and staccato notes in the Improv room, and then it was time to go.
Here's what you can do at home:
- Practice 4 beat rhythms on middle C.
- Practice your C-major scale legato and staccato with the write fingers: 12312345
- Create a 10 note song that uses double-notes, holding notes, middle C, legato and staccato, to show me for next class.
Monday, November 19
Fleming Tower Elementary School Mon. Nov. 19 2.15-3.15pm
Today we learned about how to play "Double-Notes" with Mr. Bach.
Everyone was very nice about taking turns so that both partners would have a chance to use 2 hands at the same time on the piano. Good work!
We practiced rhythms with Miss Melody and played all the games that we've learned so far: High/Low, Princess Story, Holding the Train and Bongo Boy.
Then we talked about a neat-looking machine that I brought in called a Metronome. We did some rhythm playback challenges: first, I challenged you. Then you challenged each other. Then you challenged me! Some of you came up with some very complicated an interesting rhythms. (Noah and Sergio especially!)
We had a lot of fun with the games. Then we talk about Vivaldi's Four Seasons and the words Legato and Staccato.
I showed you how legato means to connect the notes when you walk your fingers on the keys, and staccato means to play notes bouncy and disconnected.
You got a chance to practice legato and staccato in the Improv room, and then it was time to go.
Here's what you can do at home:
Everyone was very nice about taking turns so that both partners would have a chance to use 2 hands at the same time on the piano. Good work!
We practiced rhythms with Miss Melody and played all the games that we've learned so far: High/Low, Princess Story, Holding the Train and Bongo Boy.
Then we talked about a neat-looking machine that I brought in called a Metronome. We did some rhythm playback challenges: first, I challenged you. Then you challenged each other. Then you challenged me! Some of you came up with some very complicated an interesting rhythms. (Noah and Sergio especially!)
We had a lot of fun with the games. Then we talk about Vivaldi's Four Seasons and the words Legato and Staccato.
I showed you how legato means to connect the notes when you walk your fingers on the keys, and staccato means to play notes bouncy and disconnected.
You got a chance to practice legato and staccato in the Improv room, and then it was time to go.
Here's what you can do at home:
- Practice 4 beat rhythms on middle C.
- Name the keys: C, D, E, F, G, A, B and back to C.
- Create a 10 note song that uses double-notes, holding notes, middle C, legato and staccato, to show me for next class.
Friday, November 16
J. W. MacLeod Elementary School Fri. Nov. 16 2.45-3.45pm
Good work today everyone!
After I checked your C major scales and Letter Name Tunes, we went right away to practice our Grand Staff Note names.
We played a game called "Face Off" to see who could name the notes the fastest. It was a close call: 11 to 12 points!
Then we practiced placing notes on the staff in the Theory Thinker.
I'd like everyone to practice playing songs in the Grand Staff this week. If you have the Piano Suite software at home, you should practice Old Grey Goose, Twinkle Twinkle and Pop goes the weasel, for next class. Make sure you are holding your notes for the correct beat values and finger numbers.
After learning how to read these songs together, we went to the History Happens section and looked up some facts about Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. He was the composer who wrote Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. Everyone in the class read a little bit about Mozart, and then told me what they learned: Born in 1756, the youngest and only surviving son in his family, a great composer from the age of 5, and many other interesting facts.
Finally, we talked about 4-beat rhythms and how to count while we play music. We practiced rhythm playbacks, and then tried the game "Bongo Boy" in the Children's Music Journey program.
This was a successful exercise and all of you did very well.
We'll try some things from CMJ next time too.
Have a great week!
After I checked your C major scales and Letter Name Tunes, we went right away to practice our Grand Staff Note names.
We played a game called "Face Off" to see who could name the notes the fastest. It was a close call: 11 to 12 points!
Then we practiced placing notes on the staff in the Theory Thinker.
I'd like everyone to practice playing songs in the Grand Staff this week. If you have the Piano Suite software at home, you should practice Old Grey Goose, Twinkle Twinkle and Pop goes the weasel, for next class. Make sure you are holding your notes for the correct beat values and finger numbers.
After learning how to read these songs together, we went to the History Happens section and looked up some facts about Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. He was the composer who wrote Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. Everyone in the class read a little bit about Mozart, and then told me what they learned: Born in 1756, the youngest and only surviving son in his family, a great composer from the age of 5, and many other interesting facts.
Finally, we talked about 4-beat rhythms and how to count while we play music. We practiced rhythm playbacks, and then tried the game "Bongo Boy" in the Children's Music Journey program.
This was a successful exercise and all of you did very well.
We'll try some things from CMJ next time too.
Have a great week!
Thursday, November 15
Kingswood School Thurs. Nov. 15 11.40-12.40pm
We had a very fun and productive lesson today!
After I checked your C major scales and Letter Name Tunes, we played a note naming game called "Face Off" to help us get faster at finding notes on the Grand Staff. We also played the "Grand Staff Note placement" game. Everyone is becoming more familiar with the musical alphabet and counting up or down by line and space with the staff. Good work!
I'm also pleased to see that our piano playing skills are coming along nicely.
Your songs are sounding better and better.
I'd like those of you who have the Piano Suite software at home to try practicing Old Grey Goose, Twinkle Twinkle and Pop Goes the Weasle, level one songs (in the Grand Staff) for next week.
We tried these songs together in class, and all of you seemed to enjoy the Piano Player lesson. Then we did your Theory Thinker lesson, and you did some more review on how the Treble and Bass clef work, as well as note values: quarter notes, half notes, etc.
To reinforce these concepts we did some playback exercises together.
I would clap a 4-beat rhythm and you all had to clap it back to me.
Finally, we played a game called "Bongo Boy" in the Children's Music Journey program, where you had to play a drumming competition on Middle C.
Then the bell rang and we were out of time! We'll try Bongo Boy again next time so that everyone gets a chance to win the game. (Josh - you beat Bongo Boy first try! Great sense of rhythm!) Have a great week everyone!
After I checked your C major scales and Letter Name Tunes, we played a note naming game called "Face Off" to help us get faster at finding notes on the Grand Staff. We also played the "Grand Staff Note placement" game. Everyone is becoming more familiar with the musical alphabet and counting up or down by line and space with the staff. Good work!
I'm also pleased to see that our piano playing skills are coming along nicely.
Your songs are sounding better and better.
I'd like those of you who have the Piano Suite software at home to try practicing Old Grey Goose, Twinkle Twinkle and Pop Goes the Weasle, level one songs (in the Grand Staff) for next week.
We tried these songs together in class, and all of you seemed to enjoy the Piano Player lesson. Then we did your Theory Thinker lesson, and you did some more review on how the Treble and Bass clef work, as well as note values: quarter notes, half notes, etc.
To reinforce these concepts we did some playback exercises together.
I would clap a 4-beat rhythm and you all had to clap it back to me.
Finally, we played a game called "Bongo Boy" in the Children's Music Journey program, where you had to play a drumming competition on Middle C.
Then the bell rang and we were out of time! We'll try Bongo Boy again next time so that everyone gets a chance to win the game. (Josh - you beat Bongo Boy first try! Great sense of rhythm!) Have a great week everyone!
Wednesday, November 14
BLT Elementary School Wed. Nov. 14 2.00-3.00pm
It was nice to see you again after last week's break.
Today, we reviewed everything that we learned in our very first MusIQ Club class.
High notes and low notes, middle C and the musical alphabet, as well as keeping curved finger with our hands on the keys and keeping a steady beat. I was very impressed with how much everyone remembered! Try finding 'Group of 2 (black keys) down to C' on your pianos at home.
In our lesson with Mr. Beethoven, we talked about his song "Fur Elise" - a famous piece of music that Beethoven wrote for the piano. We also learned about "In the Hall of the Mountain King" with Ms. Melody. I think all of you really liked that one!
After doing some more high bird/low whale/middle C exercises, we played a new game. You had to save the monkey from the island by rescuing all the coconuts he threw into the ocean! That was fun - Try playing this game with your Mom or Dad at home. They will play a note for you and you will have to say whether it is High, Low or Middle C.
See who wins after 10 notes!
At the end of class we went to the Improvisation room and recorded some new songs. Then we practiced arranging the letters of the musical alphabet in order using some flashcards.
You're all doing very well. Thanks for all your hard work - See you next week!
Today, we reviewed everything that we learned in our very first MusIQ Club class.
High notes and low notes, middle C and the musical alphabet, as well as keeping curved finger with our hands on the keys and keeping a steady beat. I was very impressed with how much everyone remembered! Try finding 'Group of 2 (black keys) down to C' on your pianos at home.
In our lesson with Mr. Beethoven, we talked about his song "Fur Elise" - a famous piece of music that Beethoven wrote for the piano. We also learned about "In the Hall of the Mountain King" with Ms. Melody. I think all of you really liked that one!
After doing some more high bird/low whale/middle C exercises, we played a new game. You had to save the monkey from the island by rescuing all the coconuts he threw into the ocean! That was fun - Try playing this game with your Mom or Dad at home. They will play a note for you and you will have to say whether it is High, Low or Middle C.
See who wins after 10 notes!
At the end of class we went to the Improvisation room and recorded some new songs. Then we practiced arranging the letters of the musical alphabet in order using some flashcards.
You're all doing very well. Thanks for all your hard work - See you next week!
Hammonds Plains Elementary School Wed. Nov. 14 8.00-9.00am
It was great to meet all of you for the first time this morning.
Last week you had Hannah for your teacher, and she did a great job of helping you learn everything you need to know to get started with MusIQ Club (Check Hannah's blog below).
Today, we started learning about how to read notes on the Staff. Remember that your Right Hand plays in the Treble Clef, and your Left Hand plays in the Bass Clef.
You can always figure out what note to play on the staff by counting up or down from Middle C, by line and space.
I was so glad that all of you were familiar with the musical alphabet already: A-B-C-D-E-F-G, and back to A.
You were pros at the 'Word Play' game, finding the letter names on your keyboard.
I gave you 2 songs to practice at home this week: Mary had a little lamb and When the Saints go Marching In.
Practice them with a curved finger hand position and keeping a steady beat.
We reviewed the number order of our fingers: thumbs are 1 and pinkies are 5. Make sure that you use the correct fingering when you play your songs - watch out for 'steps' and 'skips'.
After we did our Theory lesson, learning about quarter notes, half notes and whole notes, we did some rhythm exercises together in 4-beats. You were excellent at clapping back rhythms to me! In the game 'Bongo Boy', you got to battle against the computer to see who could make the best rhythms.
Everyone in the class was able to beat the Bongo Boy and escape the crab! Good work.
Next time we'll talk more about the staff, and other kinds of rhythms. Please bring a folder to keep your song sheets in, and bring your songs to class so that I can hear all the wonderful practice that you've been doing. ;)
Last week you had Hannah for your teacher, and she did a great job of helping you learn everything you need to know to get started with MusIQ Club (Check Hannah's blog below).
Today, we started learning about how to read notes on the Staff. Remember that your Right Hand plays in the Treble Clef, and your Left Hand plays in the Bass Clef.
You can always figure out what note to play on the staff by counting up or down from Middle C, by line and space.
I was so glad that all of you were familiar with the musical alphabet already: A-B-C-D-E-F-G, and back to A.
You were pros at the 'Word Play' game, finding the letter names on your keyboard.
I gave you 2 songs to practice at home this week: Mary had a little lamb and When the Saints go Marching In.
Practice them with a curved finger hand position and keeping a steady beat.
We reviewed the number order of our fingers: thumbs are 1 and pinkies are 5. Make sure that you use the correct fingering when you play your songs - watch out for 'steps' and 'skips'.
After we did our Theory lesson, learning about quarter notes, half notes and whole notes, we did some rhythm exercises together in 4-beats. You were excellent at clapping back rhythms to me! In the game 'Bongo Boy', you got to battle against the computer to see who could make the best rhythms.
Everyone in the class was able to beat the Bongo Boy and escape the crab! Good work.
Next time we'll talk more about the staff, and other kinds of rhythms. Please bring a folder to keep your song sheets in, and bring your songs to class so that I can hear all the wonderful practice that you've been doing. ;)
Tuesday, November 13
Westmount Elementary School Tues. Nov. 13 12.15-1.15pm
Great class today!
We all caught up to the same level - 8 - with Mr. Bach today, and did a lot of fun rhythm exercises, clapping in 4-beats.
Do you remember some facts about Mr. Bach?
He was a famous composer who worked for the church in Germany.
He wrote Minuet in G and some pretty amazing music for organ and harpsichord. An organ is like a piano, but much bigger. It uses the sound of wind, when we play the keys. A harpsichord is like the piano but smaller. Instead of hitting the strings, like a piano does, the harpsichord plucks the strings (kind of like a guitar).
We practiced 'holding notes' with Ms. Melody, and learned about the song 'Spring' from 'The four seasons'.
I was so glad you knew about this song when I asked you about it. Very good listening.
Finally, we learned how to play a C-major scale.
Can all of you practice the C-major scale this week using your fingers like I showed you?
Try walking your fingers up with the Right Hand: 1-2-3-1-2-3-4-5
Then try walking back down: 5-4-3-2-1-3-2-1
Remember to always keep a steady beat.
Also, why don't you try playing 'holding note' rhythms on your scale?
If this is a little too tricky, just keep practicing holding note rhythms on Middle C.
Thanks everyone - See you next week in the library!
We all caught up to the same level - 8 - with Mr. Bach today, and did a lot of fun rhythm exercises, clapping in 4-beats.
Do you remember some facts about Mr. Bach?
He was a famous composer who worked for the church in Germany.
He wrote Minuet in G and some pretty amazing music for organ and harpsichord. An organ is like a piano, but much bigger. It uses the sound of wind, when we play the keys. A harpsichord is like the piano but smaller. Instead of hitting the strings, like a piano does, the harpsichord plucks the strings (kind of like a guitar).
We practiced 'holding notes' with Ms. Melody, and learned about the song 'Spring' from 'The four seasons'.
I was so glad you knew about this song when I asked you about it. Very good listening.
Finally, we learned how to play a C-major scale.
Can all of you practice the C-major scale this week using your fingers like I showed you?
Try walking your fingers up with the Right Hand: 1-2-3-1-2-3-4-5
Then try walking back down: 5-4-3-2-1-3-2-1
Remember to always keep a steady beat.
Also, why don't you try playing 'holding note' rhythms on your scale?
If this is a little too tricky, just keep practicing holding note rhythms on Middle C.
Thanks everyone - See you next week in the library!
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