Chicago's Magical Piano

Pure pianistic merriment- that's what I'm talking about! Also, see how simple and fun duets are.

Article: Let’s Rethink Our Holly-Jolly Christmas Songs

Let’s Rethink Our Holly-Jolly Christmas Songs - Russell Moore

...We ought to make sure that what we sing measures up with the, as this fellow would put it, “narrative tension” of the Christmas story.
The first Christmas carol, after all, was a war hymn. Mary of Nazareth sings of God’s defeat of his enemies, about how in Christ he had demonstrated his power and “has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate” (Lk. 1:52). There are some villains in mind there.
Simeon’s song, likewise, speaks of the “fall and rising of many in Israel” and of a sword that would pierce the heart of Mary herself. Even the “light of the Gentiles” he speaks about is in the context of warfare. After all, the light, the Bible tells us, overcomes the darkness (Jn. 1:5), and frees us from the grip of the devil (2 Cor. 4).
In a time of obvious tragedy, the unbearable lightness of Christmas seems absurd to the watching world. But, even in the best of times, we all know that we live in a groaning universe, a world of divorce courts and cancer cells and concentration camps. Just as we sing with joy about the coming of the Promised One, we ought also to sing with groaning that he is not back yet (Rom. 8:23), sometimes with groanings too deep for lyrics... 
Read More:   Let’s Rethink Our Holly-Jolly Christmas Songs

Bach: Industrious

Food for Thought: Sacred Music

I read this interesting article:   I Don’t Like The Song In My Head… But I Might Need It
Historically, it is interesting to see that simplicity is common.  Kyrie pieces had the same two phrases over and over, often with complex musical setting.  Psalm Chant from the synagogue/monastic tradition same tune phrase over and over, often to accomodate a complex psalm. 

Your Ears Are Like A Donkey's Back

That's what my piano teacher Mr. Clark would say about learning to like new music.

It's humbling to recognize that training for animals is not all that different from the training that gives us humans habits and skills.  Repetition is the mother of skill, whether you're training your dog, or learning your scales.

A commonly quipped rule of thumb is that it takes 21 days to learn to like something or form a habit.  I heard this type of reasoning used by Sesame Street characters to encourage kids to try new foods.  Try it, you might like it! And then, try it again.  Give it time!

 When it comes to music, our ears work like our tongues.  We might not like sushi or reggae at first, but with time, our body responds less and less in opposition to it.  All five of our senses are remarkably adaptable.   A new sound will  cause an excited reaction, either positive or negative.  It's up to you whether you avoid the sound so you continue to dislike it, or get used to and eventually enjoy it.  You decide what your ears like and what they don't.

If you swat the donkey enough times, eventually it moves.  If you listen to it enough times, eventually, you will like it.

Learning to love good things is a lifelong pleasure and gift from God.

"He that has never traveled thinks that his mother is the only good cook in the world."(Kenya)

Taylor Swift: Begin Again (Piano/Cello)ThePianoGuys

These guys take simple tunes, and fly with it.  Amazing. Remember how Mozart did the same thing with the tune we know of as "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star?"



Taylor Swift -- Begin Again (Piano/Cello Cover) ThePianoGuys

Art Philosophy & Criticism ( and a New Album)

I loved reading Gregory Wilbur's thoughts on the arts.  While non-Christians may find Biblical teaching irrelevant, aesthetics are still an obvious and worthy study.


CREDO
I believe that beauty is an attribute of God and is therefore a theological issue.
I believe that beauty and excellence are objective and that the Bible provides the standard for what is beautiful and excellent.
I believe...  Read more.

YouTube Sensation: Kyle Landry

http://kylelandry.com

This pianist and arranger (perhaps composer too?) is one of my new favorites.  His performances are stellar, though every time I see him sitting so cramped up and close to the keys I just want to give him a pull back so he's not so uncomfortable!  He offers many arrangements for free, so go get some free sheet music!!

http://kylelandry.com

Method Books I Use

Method books vary according to age, music styles, and teaching strategies... oh, and price.   The two main categories are adult and children.  Between children's methods there are some variations, and I enjoyed surveying many methods in my pedagogy studies.  I bring in elements of these other methods to my students to supplement the method books I use.  I also use whatever method books students may have on hand.

Students under about 6 can start with this:

Step by Step Piano Course - Book 1 (Step by Step (Hal Leonard))   (like this:http://www.amazon.com/Step-Piano-Course-Book-Leonard/dp/0877180369 )

 These are the first two books for older beginners:

Schaum Notespeller  - a workbook.   (like this: http://www.amazon.com/Schaum-Note-Spellers-Method-Supplement/dp/0769234534 )

M. Aaron Lessons Book One - method book (http://www.amazon.com/Michael-Aaron-Piano-Course-Lessons/dp/0898988551/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1380216794&sr=8-1&keywords=aaron+piano+lessons+1)
 
Belwin Piano Method Book One  - method book   (http://www.amazon.com/Belwin-Piano-Method-Book-Grade/dp/B003FQQ96K/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1380216784&sr=8-2&keywords=belwin+piano+method+1)

 Add note flashcards.

After completing Book 2 of either method book, introduce:

Dozen a Day Book 1 - Technique / Finger agility (http://www.amazon.com/A-Dozen-Day-Book-1/dp/0877180318)

I generally introduce chord symbol and playing by ear around intermediate level note reading, since the reading takes the most discipline and sets a student solidly in a mindset of hard work.   I demarcate intermediate level as my teacher did, with Bach's Minuet in G.

Musical Activities for Toddlers

Since I have a 12 month old, this has been a recurring theme of late.

Movement and Music Activities for Toddlers:

Row, Row, Row Your Boat

1. Sit on the floor across from your child, legs spread far enough apart so that you can hold hands.
2. Pull your child toward you, then lean forward and have your child lean back.
3. Continue the rocking motion, forward and back, as you sing the familiar song "Row, Row, Row Your Boat" or other rocking rhymes. 

I Hear Thunder

This is sung to the tune of "Frère Jacques," or "Are You Sleeping?"

I hear thunder, I hear thunder, (Drum feet on the floor.)
Hark, don't you, hark, don't you? (Pretend to listen.)
Pitter-patter raindrops, (Flutter your fingers for raindrops.)
Pitter-patter raindrops,
I'm wet through, (Shake your body vigorously.)
So are you! (Point to your child.)

Read more on FamilyEducation: http://fun.familyeducation.com/toddler/music/36975.html#ixzz2gg84j75W

From Kindermusik's website: 

• Singing and vocal play along with Story Time, chants, and finger plays all help stimulate language development in a fun and pressure-free way.
   
• Vocal Development – For toddlers, learning to use their voices starts with imitating sounds, playing with the many sounds our voices can make, singing short songs, and chanting simple rhymes – all with you as a model and inspiration.

• Cognitive Development – You’ll be able to enhance your child’s growing comprehension and cognitive skills through happy classroom routines like coming to get instruments and putting them away, musical activities that invite clapping and tapping to music, and themes that engage the toddler’s delightful sense of curiosity and imagination. 

• Gross Motor Skills – Toddlers on the go love all their Kindermusik classes – we’re never still for very long!  From holding and shaking instruments to running and jumping to stopping and going, you will enjoy being part of helping your child’s skills blossom through a wide variety of creative movement.

• Fine Motor Skills – At a child when your child is becoming more and more independent, a little practice with smaller-sized instruments, finger plays, and turning pages ...means that the hand muscles learn to cooperate more and more with the brain.

• Social Emotional Development – There’s no doubt that your toddler is becoming his own little person, but he still needs you as his anchor of security.  Kindermusik ensures your child’s healthy social and emotional development through predictable routines and special rituals, being around other children, practice with sharing, and best of all, play time with you.

• Musical Development – Toddlers are delighted by music, and there’s no better time than in these early years to inspire what will become a lifelong love for music....from drumming to singing to dancing together.

Activities I thought of from reading this: 

Musical Chairs

Musical Red Light Green Light:

Play music, children dancing, using instruments (drums, rattles, recorder)

Freeze when music goes off.

imitating sounds ( animals, hi, lo, long, short, fast, slow, happy, sad, instruments)

songs and fingerplay