Questions and Answers


1. What do you think is important for music teachers to teach?
Whether it be in a classroom or in individual private lessons, it is important for the students to learn how to hear the music (ear training), see the music (learn to read music), and feel the music (dynamics) and compose music. It is also important to learn how to count the music, because without counting others will not recognize the song and also you can not play with a group. And correct fingering on any musical instrument gives control, easy movement, smoothness of sound, and confidence in the students playing of the musical instrument.

2. Where did country music come from, what started it?
Country Music came from what was called Old Time Music. Over 300 years ago, immigrants brought their musical instruments to the New World. The Irish brought their fiddles, the Germans the dulcimer, the Italians the mandolin, the Spanish the guitar, and the West Africans brought the banjo. These were the most common instruments in the original Old Time Music. Country Music is considered a southern music movement, but it was a combination musical traditions of all the different ethnic groups playing together.

Just a reminder that you are never too old to learn a musical instrument. Here is a blog about the Good Samaritan Handbell Choir that I teach:

Good Samaritan Handbell Choir Show
July 15, 2010.

What an awesome group of people that are learning to play the handbells! Eunice plays middle "C" with a lot of heart. She can even play it as she scratches her ankle. Wilma May works very hard making "D" ring loud an clear. Mrs C. plays "E". She speaks no English, yet she knows when it is her turn to play. Bessie plays "F". Bessie has always wanted to play music and learn to read music. The group agrees they should learn to read music, so they are learning the note names and the values of each note.

Katherine is our very solid "G". It is very important to her to be at every practice. She is very diligent. "A" is what Delia plays. She brings smiles with her to class. Erlene plays "B". She loves music, she loves learning, and she thinks being in the handbell choir is very interesting. Fay plays "C" or whatever other bell we need. She is our pinch hitter for the bell choir. Fred reminds me he is hard of hearing, but he never misses when it is time to play the high "D". Clem was born in Milan, Italy. He loves music. He plays high "E". Donald, who was not feeling well enough to perform is usually our high "F". Ada played the high "D" for the show. She is another one of our pinch hitters.

I am very proud of this group. The youngest is 67 years old and the oldest is 99 years old. Listen to a part of their show by clicking here. This show was called "America".

If you have a question you would like me to answer about learning music please email me at Catherines.Music.Notes@gmail.com or Music.By.Catherine@gmail.com

Have a Musical Day! *smiles*

Catherine

"Music lessons should be about the student. Each student learns in different ways, and at different speeds. Music is a journey, and on that journey, we will work and learn together." - Catherine

Books with CDs include:
Impressions Volume One and Two
Marches

CDs include:
Wedding Bells
Lullabies

http://sites.google.com/site/musicbycatherine
www.ShoutLife.com/ClassyKeys
http://catherinesmusicnotes.blogspot.com