This Summer Enhance Music Skills with Special Group Classes!

This Summer Enhance Music Skills with Special Group Classes!

Wednesday mornings 10 am -1 2 pm

Session 1  June 3, 10, 17, 24 : 

Mind Craft  - Play music and music theory based games to craft minds into those of true musicians!

Session 2  July 8, 15, 22, 29: 

Dancing with the Stars!!!  - Music and dance go hand in hand.  We will join the 2 together as we explore rhythm and beat with our whole bodies.  The goal is to learn a new song and dance each week!

Session 3  August 5, 12, 19, 26:

 Musical Ninja Warriors – Train your self to be a composing ninja!  We will break all boundaries by composing and creating original songs and lyrics

Choose any 1 session - $80 per student

Choose any 2 sessions - $155 per student

Choose all 3 sessions - $230 per student

All classes:  minimum 4 students, maximum 10 students!

Sign up now to hold your spot in the classes of your choice!!

Contact: Ms. Tonya (916) 812-2875 www.stringskeysandmelodies@gmail.com

Rock - a - Bye Rests - Learn the Names of Musical Rests

Rock-a-Bye Rests

This is another easy song to help children remember the names of the most common musical rests.

Watch the video to learn the song!







Here are the words:

Rock-a-bye Rests

By Tonya Dirksen

Rock-a-bye notes

Its time to rest

We must be silent

While we take a nap

Quarter rest

Half and whole rests too

When we see one of them

Note time is through

Enjoy!

Learn About the Whole Note with an Easy and Fun Song

Children can remember just about anything if they learn it in a song!

I love to make up songs to help my students remember the names and beats of musical notes.

Watch the video to hear my Whole Note Song!

Whole Note

By Tonya Dirksen

Tune of Daisy, Daisy

Whole note

Whole note

Nice and round and fat

You look like a donut or a tire that went flat

You are often in a song

You are 4 beats long

Whole note

Round and fat

You are 4 beats long

Enjoy!

ABC's of Music Practice

26 Ideas to help practicing at home!

Happy New Year!  

I hope you all had a wonderful holiday season.

I am looking forward to a new year of blogging with more fun and creative music ideas.

A lot of parents have been asking me how to get their child to practice their instruments at home.  It is important to have the right expectations especially when dealing with children in the 3-8 year old range.  At this age we need to keep music fun and interesting in order for their love of music to grow and grow.

So to help with music at home, I have come up with 

ABC’s of Music Practice

Appreciate all efforts to sing and play

Believe everyone has some musical ability

Consistency-practice everyday!

Delight in accomplishments – no matter how small

Enjoy yourself and music

Find favorite songs and artists, listen to them and copy what you hear and like

Get the new assignments from your teacher

Have a set practice check list:  Posture, warm-ups, old songs, new songs, and listen everyday

Ignore the moaning-children will moan but don’t listen to it and keep going

Juggling too many after school activities will slow down progress

Kick start your day by practicing before breakfast!

Listen to good examples on CD’s, YouTube and live concerts

Muscles- build music muscles by playing and singing scales, arpeggios and chords

No quitting!  All desirable goals take time and hard work!

Orchestra and opera- listen and dream about playing in the orchestra and singing in an opera

Posture- are you sitting correctly at the piano, holding your violin correctly, 

standing tall for singing?

Qualify for a prize – fill out your practice charts and get a prize!

Relax –don’t hold tension in your shoulders, back or knees

Share your gift of music with others – play at recitals, for the family and at nursing homes

Time – play or sing each song at least 3 times before moving on to the next song.  Practice time for 3-6 year olds will only be 5-15 minutes per instrument.  Older 

children will be able to play longer.

Unite with other musicians- play in recitals and group classes

View lessons – as parents it is important to watch your child’s lessons, at least once 

in a while, so that you can help them at home

Warm-ups are important exercises to build strength in muscles

eXpect mood swings, waning interest, tired days from your children and lighten 

the load for the day but don’t quit!  Good days are just around the corner

You and your children can do it!

Zero in on strengths and weaknesses-Point out where your child is great (good rhythm, good listening skills)!  Some songs require extra practice before they are mastered so just gently encourage playing it one more time!

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ

Print PDF Version

Enjoy!

Easy Half Note Chant

Learn the name and beat of the half note in a super easy song!

This chant is a super easy way to remember and learn the name and beat of a half note.

Half notes are musical notes that are held for 2 beats.  They are white or not colored in, compared to the quarter note that is completely filled in black.

Children remember best if the words are clear and rhythmic.

Trouble viewing the video?  Click here.




Easy Half Note Chant
By Tonya Dirksen

Half note, two
Half note, two
One, two,
Half note, two!

Carolyn, at Wise Owl Factory, has a fun  Free Do You Know Your Music Notes Power Point.  This is a great way to practice the names and beats of the notes as well as seeing how all the notes compare with one another.

Musical Twister Hopscotch is another fun way to reinforce note names and beats.  My students love playing it whenever we get a chance.  They spin and have to tell the name and beat of the note the spinner lands on.  Then they get to hop to the correct colored circle. 

Musical Twister Hopscotch

 



Check out the Easy Quarter Note Chant!

 

 

Enjoy!

 



An Easy Quarter Note Chant

Children's Song to help them learn the quarter note.

One of the first musical notes my students learn is the Quarter Note.  I made up a chant to help them remember its name and its number of beats.

Quarter note = 1 Beat

I have made a video to demonstrate the chant.  If you have trouble viewing the video click here.

Quarter Note

By Tonya Dirksen

 

 

Quarter note

Quarter note

Tap your knee

 

Quarter note

Quarter note

Black and neat

 

Quarter note

Quarter note

Has one beat!

 

 Carolyn, at Wise Owl Factory, has a fun Free Do You Know Your Music Notes Power Point  This is perfect for learning and reviewing notes.  It also shows the relationships between the different notes.  Be sure to check it out!

Music and Movement - Carnival of the Animals

 

This semester I have been introducing my students to Carnival of the Animals by Saint-Saens.  But we don't just sit and listen! 

 We get up and move!

 

Today I am writing at GoDandelion.com

Music and Movement:  Fun with Carnival of the Animals

 

Enjoy!

Finger Play Fun Day: Oh Once I Had a Pumpkin!

 

Pumpkin and Jack-o-Lantern Finger Play for Halloween

   

Fall has arrived and Halloween is just around the corner!

Today's finger play "Oh, Once I Had a Pumpkin," is a wonderful song about turning a pumpkin into a jack-o-lantern. 

To make the song even more fun, I made a simple pumpkin out of orange felt.  I also cut out 3 black triangles for 2 eyes and a nose and a funny mouth with teeth cut out. 

I have been singing this in all of my classes for the last few weeks and the children love helping me make the jack-o-lantern.  They take turns putting on the eyes, nose and mouth and then laugh at the funny face they made! 

I hope you all enjoy this song!





Trouble viewing the video?  Click here.


Carolyn, from Wise Owl Factory has a great Free Pumpkin Writing PDF with prompts for writing about pumpkins.  Be sure to check them out!  She also made a free power point presentation with the same pumpkin worksheets!

Free Pumpkin Writing PDF

 

 Free Pumpkin Power Point


Happy Halloween!



Finger Play Fun Day: Diez Perritos



Diez Perritos (10 Puppies)



 

 

Diez Perritos

Today for Finger Play Fun Day, we will be singing a Spanish counting song!  This children's song focuses on the Spanish words for the numbers 1-10. 

The PDF printable that Carolyn from Wise Owl Factory has provided for us, teaches the Spanish names for the numbers 1-20!





Trouble viewing the video?  Click here.

 

Free Count to 20 in Spanish PDF

 

This is a fantastic matching game!  Be sure to check it out.

 

 

Count to 20 in Spanish Free Power Point

 

 

 

 

Diez Perritos

By Tonya Dirksen

Tune:  10 LittleTurtles

 

Uno

Dos

Tres  perritos

 

Cuatro

Cinco

Seis  perritos

 

Siete

Ocho

Nueve  perritos

 

Diez perritos en la casa

 

Diez

Nueve

Ocho perritos

 

Siete

Seis

Cinco perritos

 

Cuarto

Tres

Dos perritos

 

Un perrito en la casa.

 

Music is a fun way to learn!  Enjoy!

 

Title picture was created using artwork by Trina Clark at www.digiscrapkits.com

 





All I Ever Needed to Know I Learned in a Children's Song

All I Ever Needed to Know I Learned in a Children's Song

Today, I have listed 10 skills that children can learn through a children's song.  There are certainly more than 10 but I thought this was a great place to start.  I actually wrote this post for Dandelion Magazine's Blog over at GoDandelion.com and hope you will go there to read the list of skills and song ideas. 

10 Skills Learned Through Children's Songs

Thank you for reading!

Explore Music Camp July 16-20, 2012

This past week we had our first week of Explore Music Camp at our home studio. 
Every day we explored a different instrument, sang songs, played boomwhackers and rhythm sticks and had a lot of fun with music.

We did finger plays, call and response songs and even played with the parachute on Friday!

Monday was Piano Day.
Tuesday was Violin Day.
Wednesday was Ukulele Day.
Thursday was Guitar Day
Friday was Voice Day.

Miss Rachel showed everyone how to rosin the bow so it doesn't slip on the strings.

Then she explained the different parts of the violin including the names of the strings.

She helped everyone get a nice bow position.

Everyone got a chance to play on the instruments each day.  I don't have pictures of every day since I was teaching piano, guitar and voice.  I need to recruit more photographers!

Miss Amanda showed everyone how to play the ukulele, after explaining the different parts of the ukulele.

We did an experiment with different levels of water in glasses.  It was just like playing a xylophone.  The children enjoyed experimenting with the different sounds.

The children also helped me do a video for my Finger Play Fun Day.  They did a great job with 5 Little Monkeys Swinging in a Tree.  Be sure to check that out!


We still have 2 more weeks of camps.  Be sure to join us!
July 30-August 3 and August 6 - 10.

Cost:  $50  ($45 if you register early!)

For more information see Explore Music Camps or email Ms. Tonya at stringskeysandmelodies@gmail.com

Fun with Music - Kid-Made Instruments and the Great Outdoors

Welcome to our Fun with Music series! 

Angelique Felix and I have been writing about fun ways to engage our children in music.  Today's topic is Kid-Made Instruments and the Great Outdoors. 

Be sure to check out Angelique's post on Musical Outdoor Play at angeliquefelix.com

Kids love crafts-especially the ones that make a lot of noise!  There are a lot of ways to make instruments that make music.  Now, I will be the first to admit that I am not very crafty or talented making things with my hands.  So I like projects that are extremely easy with very few supplies.

My number 1 go-to instrument is the Paper Plate  Tambourine.

Supplies:  Paper plate

        Beans

          Stapler

                        Pens or crayons

Color the plate any design.

Fold the plate in half and fill it with beans. 

Staple the outside edge of the plate so the beans don't fall out.

Ta-da!  You have a tambourine!

Instrument #2  Water Bottle Shakers

Supplies:  Clean and dry water bottles

Different fillers such as cut up straws, beans, and beads

Fill the bottles.  This is a great fine-motor building activity.  It takes a bit of concentration to get the small objects in the water bottle's small opening.

Finished Water Bottle Shakers.

Instrument #3  Drums

Supplies:  Empty tubs

Scissors

Wrapping paper

Tape

We wrapped the outside of the tubs with the wrapping paper.  If you put the paper on inside out the outside will be white and can be colored any design.

Tap on the lid of the drum for a nice hollow sound.

Instrument #4  The Tin Can

Supplies: Unwrapped tin can with ridges

Metal spoon

Run the spoon up and down the ridges for a wash-board kind of sound.  This instrument is extremely easy but is one of the most popular!  It is amazing that something as plain as a tin can will make such an interesting sound.

After making our instruments, we sang a bunch of songs such as The Alphabet Song, and Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.  The girls enjoyed it so much they kept singing for about an hour even after I went back into the house!

You are probably wondering where the great outdoors is in this post.  Well, we made all our instruments and played our orchestra while outside!  Music doesn't always have to be a solemn occasion while sitting  silently in a chair.  We can take our fun outside and let the whole neighborhood hear! 

We sang while playing our instruments but other times we put on a CD and kept time with children's music and classical music.

I found some wonderful articles about homemade instruments.  My instruments are easy even for those craft-challenged like me.  Take a look at these links, if you would like more ideas:

Make a Driftwood Tambourine with Mama Scout

Tin Drum with Red Ted Art's Blog

Paper Towel Roll Shakers with Z is for Zel

Fancy Egg Shakers with Mama Smiles

Be sure to check out play-expert Angelique Felix's posts at angeliquefelix.com

Visit the other Fun with Music articles!

Introduction

Sing with Your Child

Classical Music and Creative Art Project

Kid-Made Instruments and the Great Outdoors.

5 Classic Musical Games

Fun with Music Series Summer 2012

In the science community there is the big question:  "Which came first, language or music?"

There have been studies done tracking the cries of babies and they have found that babies cry at musical intervals.  There is also a universal singing/call that all children around the world use to call for "mommy".  Plus, there is the universal sing-song children use when teasing one another - "na-na-na na-na".

Music comes very naturally to children.  As parents and teachers, we need to help them develop their musical instincts and abilities.  We can do this in a fun, playful way while everyone is having a great time.

This July, I have teamed up with Angelique Felix at angeliquefelix.com to bring you a series called "Fun with Music." Angelique is a play expert and has some wonderful ideas on playing with children and music.  Read her first Fun with Music post.  I love music and believe the best learning comes through play.  This series will be all about playing with music!  Each week we will both bring you musical ways to play with your children.

Week 1 will have ideas on singing with children and helping them boost their creativity to create their own songs.

Week 2 will be about combining drawing and painting with music.

Week 3 will have ideas on making musical instruments at home!

Week 3 will be all about musical games.

Music is relaxing and stimulating!  Everyone can make and enjoy music.  It is a wonderful way for families to connect.  I have written many family music ideas in the past.

Dance of the Butterfly  

Dancing - One Body Part at a Time 

Write a Song with Your Child

High and Low Sounds:  Melt like a Snowman, Grow like a Flower

Visit the other Fun with Music articles!

Introduction

Sing with Your Child

Classical Music and Creative Art Project

Kid-Made Instruments and the Great Outdoors.

5 Classic Musical Games

More Fun with Boomwhackers: Listen for Bells

Boomwhackers are a fun, easy way for children to practice rhythms and tones.  The tubes are already tuned to the note and all you have to do is wack them on the floor or your hand to get a nice sound.

This song only uses 3 notes so it is really easy to learn. 

The words for this song goes:
Listen for bells in the steeple to ring,
Ding, ding, ding,
Ding, ding, ding,
Ding, ding, ding, ding.

Watch the video to learn the tune of the song and see how easy it is for children to learn!

Trouble seeing the video?  Click here.



Like this video?  Subscribe to our YouTube channel!

To order boomwhackers, visit our Amazon Store!  Our Music Store is full of music items that we like and recommend.  We will get a tiny percentage for any order placed directly from our store!

Exploring Major Tones with Boomwhackers

It is important to have correct pitch when making music whether you are singing or playing an instrument.  You need to know if you are on pitch and if not, then how to get back on pitch.


  Boomwhackers make it fun to practice pitch and tones.  Boomwhackers come in a C Major Diatonic Scale Set.  There are all kinds of accesories such as caps to change the tones to an octave lower and little mallets for hitting the boomwhackers if you don't want to hit your hand or the floor.  But the most important items are the boomwhackers.

In this video, I introduce the children to the boomwhackers and we practice singing "So, Mi, Do". 

First we play and sing So, Mi Do.
2. Do, Mi, So.
3. So, So, Mi.
4. So, So, Do.

You can make up numerous variations.






Trouble viewing the video?  Click here.

If you like this video, you can subscribe to our YouTube channel and get all the latest videos.

Have fun!

Summertime! Summertime! Sum, Sum, Summertime!

This summer, we have a lot of fun things planned here at Strings, Keys, and Melodies.

First up is:

Free Fun Music Day

• When:
  Saturday, June 16 from 9:30 AM to 2:00 PM

We are hosting a Free Music Day for all kids!
We love music and we want to share that love in a fun exciting way. Come experience singing and moving, rhythm instruments, games, boomwhackers, violins, guitars, piano, ukulele and more!
9:30-10:30am Under 3 years olds
10:30-11:30am 3 to 8 year olds
11:30-12:30am 3 to 8 year olds
1-2am 9 years and older
Please extend this invitation to anyone you think would enjoy playing with us. This fun day is completely free with no obligations in any way. We just want to play with your kids!
Please RSVP for which time you will be joining us by emailing at stringskeysandmelodies@gmail.com


Explore Music Camps

We are still taking registrations for our 4 different weeks of summer camp.  Each day, we will explore a different instrument - piano, voice, violin, ukulele and guitar!  Check out the different times for different ages more details here at Music Camps.

Summer Series:  Fun with Music

Be sure to check out our series this summer on ways to have fun with music.  We will be teaming up with Angelique Felix from AngeliqueFelix.com The Magic of Play who is an early experience expert in Italy and the Netherlands.  We will be having some great play ideas for your whole family!

Summertime Learning eBook
Hot off the presses!  The we teach summertime learning eBook 2012 is HERE!

And Strings, Keys, and Melodies has been featured in it!  Check out our "Take a Nature Sound Walk" on page 51.

      The 2012 eBook features:

• over 30 ideas for summer learning created by 'we teach' members
• unique, creative craft ideas
• cooking ideas with ready-to-use recipes
• literacy ideas for all ages
• hands-on math ideas
• totally cool science ideas and experiments
• focused play ideas, indoors and out
• considerations for taking learning a step further
• bonus pages and resources--including songs
• an additional 25-page downloadable game
• links to all sites, blogs, and activities!

The ebook is free to all members of weteach, which is a free forum for anyone!  Go to  weteachgroup.com for videos, photos, forum chats, and all the support you need to make learning--any time--fun for everyone. And make this summer a memorable one for you and your family!

Once on the site, all you need to do is click on the summertime learning eBook to enlarge it. Then up at the top center of the screen, next to the four tiny boxes is the 'download' icon.  That should allow you to download the eBook to your desktop!

Looking forward to having fun with you this summer!

Mr. Wiggle and Mr. Waggle

Mr. Wiggle and Mr. Waggle is a very popular finger play with all of my students.  This fingerplay works on fine motor skills using the thumbs as the characters that go in and out of their houses and up and the down the hills.  It also provides a lot of pitch exploration as the voice goes up and down when the characters go up and down the hills. 



Trouble viewing the video?  Click here.



Did you know we have our own YouTube channel?  Subscribe to it so you don't miss any videos.


Linked up with

There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly

Singing songs is a fun way to tell a story!

"There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly"  is a great song that is full of educational moments!

*It is full of rhyming words: 
fly/die
spider/inside her
bird/absurd
cat/that
dog/hog
goat/throat
cow/how
horse/of course

It also teaches timing and beat when the children engage and become part of the song.  They learn when it is time to chime in to sing their part.

Plus, it is just plain fun!

Trouble viewing the video?  Click here.



Did you like this video?  Subscribe to our YouTube channel StringsKeysMelodies

If you would like a study unit on a similar book, There was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Trout,  Wise Owl Factory has a free PDF which includes pocket chart cards with pictures for the teacher resource, a student work page, and an answer key.

Music Classes and Special Events with Strings, Keys and Melodies

These are the classes we offer at our studio, Strings, Keys, and Melodies.  We believe children learn best while having fun and enjoying themselves. 

Lullabies
Ages Birth - 1 1/2 years

Lullabies is a parent participation class where the parents sing to and engage their baby in melodies and finger plays. We will relearn precious traditional lullabies and finger plays and learn new ones to add to our family collections. Singing songs to baby increases precious bonding, starts language and vocabulary learning and develops gross and fine motor skills.

Wiggles and Giggles
Ages 1 1/2 - 3 years

This class emphasizes fun!
Music involves singing, dancing, listening and play. Singing lyrics increases vocabulary and language skills. Dancing and games are beneficial for spatial development and gross motor skills. Listening to music develops listening and social skills. Making music with instruments develops the brain and thinking skills.
We will learn call and response songs, be introduced to different music genres, use musical instruments to work on rhythms, tones and pitches and play all kinds of musical games all while having fun!

Little Strings, Keys and Melodies
Ages 3-8 years

Music learning is fun! In these group classes children work on: singing, pitches and timing; rhythms and dancing with rhythm instruments and dancing ribbons; as well as beginning musical notation along with beginning instrument instruction. You choose which instrument your child focuses on-piano, violin, voice, ukulele or guitar!

Private Classes
All ages

Private classes are taylored for each individual student. Music is taught in an enjoyable, relaxed way with lots of games to reinforce music notation, rhythm and listening skills. Choose between piano, violin, voice, ukulele and guitar.

Special Events

Birthday Parties, Scout Meetings, One Time Music Classes will include singing, dancing, rhythm instruments, music and parachute games.

Or Customize your Event

Do you have your own idea?
Women's Night out Voice Class
Special Intro to Stringed Instruments
Intro to Classical Concert Music

We'll create a special class for your event!

Ms. Tonya
Strings, Keys and Melodies
(916) 812-2875
stringskeysandmelodies@gmail.com

High and Low Sounds: Melt Like a Snowman, Grow Like a Flower

Children learn with their whole bodies.  There are a bunch of fun music and movement activities to teach children to hear and identify high and low sounds.

You will need a piano or other instrument that you can play high and low notes on.  Before you begin the games be sure  the children know what high, medium and low sounds are. 

Play a high note and have the children put their hands on their heads.

Play a medium note and have them put their hands on their tummies.

Play a low note and have them touch their toes.

Then go faster and start mixing up the order.  See if they can tell if you are playing high, medium or low notes.

Once they have gotten that down you can play Melt Like a Snowman.

Melt Like a  Snowman

The children stand up straight and tall.  Then start playing high notes and slowly walk your fingers down the keyboard.  As the notes go down the children start melting very slowly like a snowman melting in the sun.  They have to learn to melt slowly.  Don’t go too fast!  My students have fun melting across the floor.

Grow Like a Flower

Once you get to the bottom of the keyboard and your children have melted across the floor, it is time to Grow Like a Flower.

Start at the low notes and start walking up the keyboard.  As you play your children can grow from a tiny seed in the ground, sprout and burst into a flower.

These activities help children identify high and low sounds with high and low body positions.  They are perfect for teachers to use in a classroom setting and simple enough for parents with no musical background to do at home.