Are you looking for something for your child to do this summer?
How about learning how to play the piano?

"It has been noted that music can have a very positive affect on a child's personal development. Music helps to teach children crucial skills that have a postive impact on their lives. Studies have shown that children who learn music have better pitch. Better pitch will often help children to learn languages much easier." - www.sovietrussia.co.uk/music-can-help-children-learn-a-new-language/

"A research team exploring the link between music and intelligence reported that music training is far superior to computer instruction in dramatically enhancing children's abstract reasoning skills, the skills necessary for learning math and science."

"Research shows when a child listens to classical music the right hemisphere of the brain is activated, but when a child studies a musical instrument both left and right hemispheres of the brain "light up". Significantly, the areas that become activated are the same areas that are involved in analytical and mathematical thinking." - Dee Dickinson, "Music and the Mind," New Horizons for Learning, 1993.

Piano Lessons with Catherine!

Sign Up Today!!!

These lessons are given using SKYPE.

Send an email to Catherines.Music.Notes@gmail.com

If you have any questions about teaching music or about learning music please email me at: Catherines.Music.Notes@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 included:
Impressions Volume One, Two, and Three
Marches
The Frog Prince
Reading Music, Middle C, D, and E
CDs include:
Wedding Bells
Lullabies

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

Discovery

Saint Patrick was born in the 4th. century. He used the shamrock to teach about the Holy Trinity. He died March 17, 461. As early as the 17th century people wore shamrocks to celebrate Saint Patrick's Day.

Answer the two questions. See if you get the answers right. The answers are at the bottom of the page.

1. True or False. The "wearing of the green" means to wear a shamrock on one's clothing.

2. True or False. Originally the color that everyone associated with Saint Patrick was blue.

Write a poem or song about Saint Patrick, or a Shamrock, or the color green. I'd love to hear what you wrote. Please send it to me at Catherines.Music.Notes@gmail.com

If you have any questions about teaching music or about learning music please email me at: Catherines.Music.Notes@gmail.com

Have a Musical Day! *smiles*

Happy Saint Patrick's Day!

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 included:
Impressions Volume One, Two, and Three
Marches
The Frog Prince
CDs include:
Wedding Bells
Lullabies

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

Answers:
1. True.
2. True.

Preschool, Toddlers, and Babies

Today let's make believe!!!

Have your child or children perform each activity after you describe it. Of course, it's fun if you do the activity also.

1. You are the rain.
(click here for the rain song to move to)
2. You are a snowflake.
(click here for the snowflake song to move to)
3. You are leaves falling from the tree.
(click here for the leaves falling song to move to)

If you have any questions about teaching music or about learning music please email me at: Catherines.Music.Notes@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 included:
Impressions Volume One, Two, and Three
Marches
The Frog Prince
CDs include:
Wedding Bells
Lullabies

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

Just A Little Reminder

These are things you should have already noticed while reading my blogs. You can find the answers to these questions by looking through my past blogs, or just look at the bottom of this page.

1. True or False. Music is sometimes loud and sometimes soft.

2. What is A capella?

3. True or False. The more you practice on your instrument the better you become.

4. What is tessitura?

5. What is tempo?

6. Can learning a musical instrument improve grades in school?

7. Does taking piano lessons help with SAT scores?

8. Who was Richard Wagner?

9. Name some musical instrument that make high sounds. Name some musical instruments that make low sounds. 10. When singing, should you ever 'belt it out'?

If you have any questions about teaching music or about learning music please email me at: Catherines.Music.Notes@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 included:
Impressions Volume One, Two, and Three
Marches
The Frog Prince
CDs include:
Wedding Bells
Lullabies

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

Answers:
1. True
2. A cappella music is music sung without any accompaniment.
3. True
4. Tessitura is the range in which a given voice has it's best timbre and texture.
5. Tempo in music is the speed of a composition. The tempo is measured according to beats per minute.
6. Yes. Studies have linked active music making with better language and math ability, improved school grade, better-adjusted social behavior, and improvments in "spatial-temporal reasoning". - American Music Conference, 2001.
7. Yes. There is a direct correlation between improved SAT scores and the length of time spent studying the arts. College-bound senior who'd had music experience scored 52 points higher on the verbal portion of their SATs and 37 point higher in math, than those without arts instruction. - Profiles of SAT and Achievement Test Takers, The College Board, 1998.
8. Richard Wagner, a German composer was born May 22, 1813. He was the court composer for King Ludwig of Bavaria. You can see frescoes of his opera on the wall of Neuschwanstein Castle. This is the castle Disney copied for the Disney Castle.
9. High sounds - recorders, flutes, piccolos. Low sounds - bass fiddle, tuba.
10. Absolutely NO! It can ruin your voice and vocal chords.

Questions and Answers

This week's question is:
What are the different types of voices called in singing?

A high woman's voice is soprano. The medium is mezzo-soprano. And the low woman's voice is called alto.

The high man's voice is tenor. The medium is baritone. And the low man's voice is bass.

If you have any questions about teaching music or about learning music please email me at: Catherines.Music.Notes@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 included:
Impressions Volume One, Two, and Three
Marches
The Frog Prince
CDs include:
Wedding Bells
Lullabies

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

Discovery Page

Happy Valentine's Day!

1. True or False. Valentine's Day is associated with the mutual exchange of love notes.

2. True or False. Valentine's Day is the third largest card-sending holiday of the year.

Interesting Fact:
Using the language of the law courts for rituals of courtly love, a "High Court of Love" was established in Paris on Valentaine's Day in 1400. The court dealt with love contracts, betrayals, and violence against women. Judges were selected by women on the basis of a poetry reading. -- Wikipedia, the free encycolpedia, "Valentine's Day".

Today write a poem about love and put it to music. If you would like to share it send it to me. I'll put some of the songs on this blog. Send to: Catherines.Music.Notes@gmail.com


If you have any questions about teaching music or about learning music please email me at: Catherines.Music.Notes@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 included:
Impressions Volume One, Two, and Three
Marches
The Frog Prince
CDs include:
Wedding Bells
Lullabies

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

Answers:
1. True.
2. False. Valentine's Day is the second largest card-sending holiday of the year, behind Christmas. Approximately one billion Valentine's are sent each year worldwide.

Preschoolers, Toddlers, and Babies

Let's be rag dolls and wooden soldiers today.

To the song below, have your child or children move around like floppy rag dolls. This is a very relaxed movement.

(click here for the floppy rag doll song)

Next have your child or children move around like stiff wooden soldiers to the song below. This is a tense movement. Remind them to walk straight and tall.

(click here for the stiff wooden soldiers song)

These musical exercises teach the children about contrast in movements.


If you have any questions about teaching music or about learning music please email me at: Catherines.Music.Notes@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 included:
Impressions Volume One, Two, and Three
Marches
The Frog Prince
CDs include:
Wedding Bells
Lullabies

http://sites.google.com/site/musicbycatherine

www.ShoutLife.com/ClassyKeys
http://catherinesmusicnotes.blogspot.com/

The Musical Staff


The staff is made up of five lines and four spaces. The notes are written on the lines and spaces. The pitches are named, A, B, C, D, E, F, G.

A phrase is a complete musical thought. Just like a sentence is a complete spoken thought.

Think of someone with a one-syllable name. Say their name four time as you clap quarter notes.
Can you find the quarter notes in the song below?
(Click here for the sheet music)

If you have any questions about teaching music or about learning music please email me at: Catherines.Music.Notes@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 included:
Impressions Volume One, Two, and Three
Marches
The Frog Prince
CDs include:
Wedding Bells
Lullabies

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

Musical Form

Music has melody, rhythm, and harmony. These are the three main elements of music.

Music also needs form. Form is what organizes and structures music. Much of music is written in the ABA form. This is also known as ternary form. People like the idea of hearing a section, leaving that section, and then returning to that section.

Let's take "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" as an example. The first section and the last section are the same. The middle section is different.

(click here to listen to "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star")
(click here to see the music of "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star")

Exercise:
Write a short song in the ABA form. If you would like to share it with me, please send it to me at Catherines.Music.Notes@gmail.com

If you have any questions about teaching music or about learning music please email me at: Catherines.Music.Notes@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 included:
Impressions Volume One, Two, and Three
Marches
The Frog Prince
CDs include:
Wedding Bells
Lullabies

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

Questions and Answers


1. What is a Shantey?

Shanties were the work songs sung aboard sailing ships. There are different types of shanties. Each has it's own rhythm and goes with a certain job on board a ship. On larger ships there would be a shanteyman, a singer hired for his huge voice and his ability to make up verses for songs. Each verse he made up would further help getting the work done.

A well-known Shantey is the song "Rio Grande".

(Click here to listen to the melody.)

Suggestions:

1. Think of adjectives to describe how a shantey might be sung.

2. What musical instruments might be used to help get the work done?

3. Write and play a percussion pattern that would work with this song.

If you have a question you would like me to answer about learning music please email me at Catherines.Music.Notes@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, Two, and Three
Marches
The Frog Prince
CDs include:
Wedding Bells
Lullabies

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

Discovery Page:

Find out the answers to these questions and then see how many of your family and friends know the answers. The answer are at the bottom of the page.

1. True or False. All cultures that measure yearly calendars have New Year celebrations.

2. In Jewish tradition, what is the symbol for the new year -- Rosh Hashana?

3. The Chinese New Year is also known as what?


The Song: "Auld Lang Syne"

"Auld Lang Syne" is usually sung each year at midnight on New Year's Eve in most English speaking countries. It signifies the start of a new year.

"Auld Land Syne" is a Scottish poem written by Robert Burns in 1788. It was set to a traditional folk song. It is not known if the tune we now sing is the original tune that Burns used. The tune to which "Auld Land Syne" is sung is pentatonic.

Literally translated "auld land syne" means "old long since".

Some Interesting Facts:

Billy Joel sang and released Auld Lang Syne in his live CD titled "2000 Years - The Millenium".

Bobby Darin recorded a Christmas version in 1960.

In George M. Cohan's song "You're A Grand Old Flag", the first line "Should auld acquaintance be forgot": is part of the original song's chorus.

"Dick Clark's New Years Rockin Eve" uses Auld Lang Syne as it's 'theme' song.

If you have a question you would like me to answer about learning music please email me at Catherines.Music.Notes@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, Two, and Three
Marches

The Frog Prince
CDs include:
Wedding Bells
Lullabies

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


Answers:
1. True.
2. In Jewish tradition, honey is a symbol for the new year -- Rosh Hashana. At the traditional meal for that holiday apple slices are dipped in honey and eaten to bring a sweet new year. Some Rosh Hashana greetings show honey and an apple, symbolizing the feast.
3. The Chinese New Year, also known as the Luna New Year, occurs every year on the New Moon of the first lunar month, about four to eight weeks before spring.

Preschoolers, Toddlers, and Babies

Pat, Walk, and Play the Beat. The even, steady beat of the song is usually the quarter note. Listen to the song below and pat the steady beat that your hear. Then clap the steady beat that you hear. Then walk to the steady beat that you hear. If you have rhythm instruments use them to play the steady beat of songs during the week.

(click here to listen to the song. Remember to do the activites as the song is playing.)

Here is what the quarter note looks like.

Practice drawing the quarter note.

If you have a question about music or music lessons that you would like me to answer, please email me at Catherines.Music.Notes@gmail.com I'd love to hear from you!

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, Two, and Three
Marches
The Frog Prince
CDs include:
Wedding Bells
Lullabies

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