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!

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

Practice Piano with Ms. Tonya

One of my awesome students asked me to make a video to help him practice his newest song.

The song is "Indian Tom Toms"  from the Thompson Easiest Piano Course.  I'm not sure I love the title but it does have a fun beat!

In the video, I start with the left hand part first, then the right hand, and finish with both hands together.  Keep practicing one hand at a time until it is easy for you before putting both hands together. 

If you like this video you can subscribe to my YouTube channel at StringsKeysMelodies

Have fun!

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

Explore Music Camps in Elk Grove and Sacramento CA

Explore Music Camp

Come join us for a week of exploring music.

Learn musical notes, rhythms, and singing skills.

Explore the piano, violin, ukulele and voice. All in one week!

Summer Camp Classes available:

Wiggles and Giggles (1 ½-3 year olds) M-F 9-9:30am $20/wk

Little Strings, Keys and Melodies (3-8 yr olds)

M-F 9:30-11am or 11am-12:30pm $50/wk

Early registration: Take $5 off when you register early!

Drop ins: $15/day: Please call to insure available space

Camp weeks:

June 18-22, Early registration ends June 1

July 16-20, Early registration ends July 1

July 30-Aug 3, Early registration ends July 1

Aug 6-10, Early registration ends August 1

To register for camp or sign up for on-going classes

Call Ms. Tonya at (916) 812-2875

email: stringskeysandmelodies@gmail.com

Sacramento, CA
Call for studio location

"Follow the Musical Notes"

I am always on the look out for fun games that also teach.  Last month I came across Letter Treasure Maps on Reading Confetti and I knew this would be a great way to reinforce musical notes to beginning music students.

I started out by creating pathways using colored circle stickers.  Then I drew one kind of note from the "Start" sticker to the "You Win" sticker.  I filled in the other circles with different types of notes.

I made 4 different maps:

Quarter Notes

Half Notes

Dotted Half Notes

Whole Notes

These treasure maps are for all my students to use so instead of using a pencil, the students use a little heart eraser  to move along the pathway.

This game teaches note recognition in a fun, easy way.

Musical Twister Hopscotch!

Children learn best using their entire bodies.  This game is a fun way to learn the names and beats of musical notes.

One of my daughters received the Twister Hopscotch game for one of her birthdays.  I just knew there was some way to use it in my music classes.  A bit later I found the perfect idea at Notable Music Studio.

Preparation:

Twister Hopscotch can be bought at any large retail store such as Walmart or Target.

I used colored circle stickers on the spinner.  The colors match each of the circles from the game.  On each sticker I drew a note.
      quarter note-1 beat
      half note-2 beats
      dotted half note-3 beats
      whole note-4 beats

The rings for the hopscotch can be put together in a bunch of different ways.  I usually make a simple wiggly line with the colors all mixed up.

How to Play:

Each child takes a turn spinning the spinner and saying the name and beat of the note on the sticker.  After that he can hop to the ring matching the color on the sticker.

Whoever reaches the last circle first is the winner!

We usually play several times so everyone gets a chance to win.  It is amazing how quickly the children learn the names and beats of each note.  I'm sure there are other versions that could be played with this concept.  Let me know if you think of any!

Have fun!

Learn the Names of the Keys with These Easy Songs

New to the piano?

The first step is to learn the names of the keys!

Watch this video to see a few of the easy songs we use to practice the note names.  Play the keys and sing along too!

Have Fun!

Let's Practice Star Wars!

I have made a video to help those students who are learning Star Wars on the piano.

*Remember the ties mean you won't play the note again but will continue counting.

*And get your left hand ready to reach for High C and put it back again to play in its regular place.

Watch the video and then go practice! 

Have Fun!

More Fun than Flashcards!

Instead of using plain flashcards, quiz beginning piano students the names of the keys by having them place little letters on the keys.

*Start with C and let them use that as a reference point to add the others.

*When that is easy, try doing one key at a time, taking the letters off as you go.

This is much more fun than plain old flashcards!

Play often!

Animals at School

Use this video to help you practice "Animals at School"  aka "Mary had a Little Lamb"

Watch the video and then go to your keyboard and try it on your own.  Come back when you need to watch again!

Have fun!

Let me know in the comments if you like this video.  Thanks.

Watch a video to Learn C Position and Middle C Position

"C" Position is a little different than "Middle C"  position.

Watch this video to see how to move from one position to the other

Now you are set to practice your songs!

Let's Practice "Music Friend Waltz"

Practice piano at home with Ms. Tonya!

This is a beginning piano song in which the student only needs to know notes "C", "D" and "E". 

Watch where to put your fingers.

Listen to Ms. Tonya play and sing the song.

Go practice on your piano!

Have fun!

Please leave a comment!

Practice with Ms. Tonya: See the Pony & Listen for Bells

I made two videos so students can practice their piano pieces at home.

We have been singing these two songs in class for several months.  We have clapped, danced, play boomwhackers along with singing to them.  So they should know these songs and playing on the piano should come pretty easily.  It is just a matter of finding the right notes on the keyboard.

Watch the videos a time or two and then try playing the piano along with me.
Good luck and have fun! 

See the Pony

Listen For Bells

Please leave a comment if you use these videos!  Thanks!



Let's number our fingers!

Young children learn fingerplays and songs to learn the names of their fingers and to practice wiggling them separately.  "Where is Thumpkin" is a popular one.  My favorite is the fingerplay "Mr. Wiggle and Mr. Waggle".

 Well, we number our fingers to make piano playing easier.  Watch this video to see how the fingers are numbered. Then practice saying the finger numbers and wiggling each finger seperately.

Where do their fingers go?

Parents without musical experience often have a hard time helping their young children practice piano.  They aren't quite sure where fingers are suppose to go on the keyboard.  This video shows where to put fingers for beginning songs that have fingers on the black keys and where to put fingers for middle C position.

Happy practicing!