Category Archives: Never Too Young!

Music Helps Children Learn Math

Posted by MaryO on

music-math

For tapping out a beat may help children learn difficult fraction concepts, according to new findings due to be published in the journal Educational Studies in Mathematics.

An innovative curriculum uses rhythm to teach fractions at a California school where students in a music-based programme scored significantly higher on math tests than their peers who received regular instruction.”Academic Music” is a hands-on curriculum that uses music notation, clapping, drumming and chanting to introduce third-grade students to fractions.The programme, co-designed by San Francisco State University researchers, addresses one of the most difficult – and important – topics in the elementary mathematics curriculum.”If students don’t understand fractions early on, they often struggle with algebra and mathematical reasoning later in their schooling,” said Susan Courey, assistant professor of special education at San Francisco State University.

via Music helps children learn maths – Telegraph.

National Buy a Musical Instrument Day

Posted by MaryO on

Piano 8

 

 

Each year on May 22 we observe National Buy a Musical Instrument Day.  The day is all about playing music.  If you are a musician, it might be time for a new instrument.  Maybe you can learn to play a second or third one.  If you have never played an instrument before, National Buy A Musical Instrument Day might be the motivation you need to start.

Naturally, here at the O’Connor Music Studio, a piano, keyboard or organ is recommended but this day is for all types of instruments and is for people of all ages.  Grandpa can play his ukulele while the grandkids play the drums, trombone, and flute. Together they can all make terrific music!

Adapted from http://www.nationaldaycalendar.com/national-buy-a-musical-instrument-day-may-22/

 

Fun With Music, Playing, and Fellowship

Posted by MaryO on

 

fun-music

Fun With Music meets every Friday from 10-11:30 am in the Cornerstone Room (Room 215) of Pender UMC.  Directions to Pender.

This program is for parents/grandparents with their children ages 0 to 5. A fee of $30 covers the cost of food and supplies for the entire semester.

Each week there is 30 minutes of singing, a snack and toys are brought out for the children to play. The adults are served a breakfast and have the opportunity to fellowship with each other.

For questions, email Jim & Roberta Pont by clicking here.

The Magic Flute ~ Coming to Daniels Run Elementary School

Posted by MaryO on

MagicFlute

 

Music will fill Daniels Run Elementary at 9:55 a.m. on Friday, November 20, as the Children’s Opera Company performs “The Magic Flute” as a cultural arts assembly for students in grades 3 – 6. The assembly aligns with the fifth grade Program of Studies proscribed work, Mozart’s Magic Flute, while giving students an opportunity to experience a live opera, modified and adapted for a school-age audience.

Some members of the Daniels Run Singers will participate in the performance, and the sixth grade chorus will perform four adapted arias during the performance.  This professional touring ensemble performs opera for young audiences in Northern Virginia and the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area, and was started by an FCPS music teacher.

The Daniels Run PTA and Daniels Run Singers activity fund are underwriting the cost of the performance.

Contact principal Adam Erbrecht at 703-279-8400 or awerbrecht@fcps.edu or event liaison Lucinda Sexton at ljsexton@fcps.edu.

 

Simply Piano Teaches You Piano, Listens And Corrects Your Mistakes

Posted by MaryO on

Simply-Piano

 

iOS: Learning to play the piano can be difficult, and even moreso if you don’t have someone there to help you fix your errors and learn good tempo. Simply Piano can do both of those things, and all it takes is your iPhone or iPad. Best of all, it’s free.

Like many “piano-learning” apps, Simply Piano teaches you various pieces of music by essentially displaying sheet music in front of you to play, guiding you to the right keys on your piano or keyboard, and showing you the right order in which to press them and when — that’s all great, and not terribly unique, even if it works well. Where the app shines however is its listening feature. Simply put the phone down near the keyboard, and Simply Piano will “listen” to you play.

As you play, the app identifies what you’re playing and gives you feedback on how to improve. Maybe you need to pick up the tempo, or maybe you missed a few notes here or there — whatever it is, the app can give you a few tips, and encourages you to try again, all while it listens and tries to help.

Simply Piano is free, and available now. It comes bundled with a ton of songs to learn (including classical and pop songs you’ll probably recognise), and is geared to all skill levels — and keyboard types, so you don’t need a fancy piano just to use the app, any keyboard will do. Hit the link below to try it out.

Simply Piano (Free) [iTunes App Store via JoyTunes]

From http://www.lifehacker.com.au/2015/10/simply-piano-teaches-you-piano-listens-and-corrects-your-mistakes/

 

Another App from JoyTunes

Posted by MaryO on

Simply-Piano

 

Simply Piano helps you learn piano step by step, no previous knowledge required. It works with any piano or keyboard. Simply Piano is meant to teach people with little to no previous experience how to play songs and read music.

Run the app as you play and it provides real-time feedback as you progress through lessons. Just place your iPhone (or iPad) on your piano (or use your MIDI keyboard) and play, your iPhone will immediately recognize what you are playing!

The app slowly progresses from learning a few notes at a time to simple (and later, more complex) songs.

The app doesn’t let you skip ahead between lessons to maximize their effect. But not everyone has to start at square one. If you have some prior experience, you can indicate that the first time you use the app and it adjusts accordingly.

 

Free: iOS (I had to search for “Joytunes”)

IMAGE: JOYTUNES

How Do We Know If Children Are Ready To Begin Music Lessons?

Posted by MaryO on

child-piano

 

These days, there is much pressure for parents to begin their children in activities from an early age.  We know that children tend to pick up new skills easily and we want for them to have an opportunity to become experts at these new skills.  We also see curiosity, desire and eagerness to learn in our children and want to capitalize on that.

Music lessons are no exception.  We often get calls asking the question, “When is the best time to enroll my child in piano lessons?”  The answer to that is a tricky one, and varies for each child.  The right age for one may not be the right age for another.  Here are a few questions to ask yourself if you are considering enrolling your child in music lessons:

1.   Does my child have an attention span to sit still for chunks of time and listen to instruction?

Many teachers today are very creative in using off-bench activities during lessons and have a plethora of activities to make lessons fun and engaging.  However, the fact remains that your child will need to sit at the piano for some periods of time during the lesson.  It is important that your child have the attention span to do this.

Read more at  How do we know if children are ready to begin music lessons? « Piano Pedagogy @ The New School for Music Study.

Roadtrip! Preschool Method Book Released

Posted by MaryO on

RT_Front-cover
Roadtrip! Released…

Kris Skaletski and Jennifer Eklund are happy to announce that, Roadtrip!, the first book in our new preschool method book series, is officially for sale! Student books are available now in both digital and hardcopy. The teacher guidebook, with comprehensive lesson plans and multiple teacher duets for all 18 songs, is available digitally now. Hardcopies of the guidebook will be available next Wednesday, July 29th.

  • Ideal for students ages 4 and up.
  • On the staff from the start
  • Music is a mix of familiar tunes and original pieces
  • Multi-key approach
  • 18 songs that can be learned by note or rote
  • Clean easy-to-follow pages (great for special needs students!)

BONUS: The soundtrack is FREE in the introductory selling period! You can hear all the music and see the insides of the student book and teacher guidebook on the website. Full-time fun ahead!

Show me the Roadtrip! Student Book

Never Too Young!

Posted by MaryO on

piano-gym

Baby kicks. Music plays. And that’s just the beginning. Movable toys on the overhead gym encourage baby to bat and grasp. Move the arch down for tummy-time play, or let baby sit and entertain you with a piano concert! And now with a removable piano, you can take the musical fun wherever you and baby go!

Features
  • Four ways to play: Lay & play; Tummy time; Sit & play; Take-along
  • Music rewards baby as she kicks the piano keys
  • Five busy activity toys & a large mirror
  • Toys include a hippo teether, elephant clackers, rollerball frog, and more
  • Short or long-play music—up to 15 minutes
  • Soft, comfy mat
  • Power/volume control
  • Requires 3 AA batteries

Toys overhead encourage batting and grasping, including a hippo teether, elephant clackers, rollerball frog and more!

 

Stretching & kicking

With four ways to play, this musical toy grows with your little one! From laying and playing, to tummy time and sitting up, busy activities at each stage are just the beginning of the fun. Baby’s in charge of the action as her little kicky feet activate music. Moveable toys overhead encourage batting and grasping, including a hippo teether, elephant clackers, rollerball frog and more.

When it’s time to change modes, move the arch down for tummy time or let baby sit up and entertain you with a piano concert. Remove the piano and take the fun on-the-go. Includes long and short play modes with up to 15 minutes of music. Power and volume control for quiet play.

Removable piano provides musical fun wherever you and baby go!

 

Learning through play!

As baby plays, new discoveries are made and key developmental skills get stronger and stronger. As baby stretches and kicks at the piano keys or bats at and reaches for the busy activity toys, gross motor skills are enhanced. Music, lights and bright colors stimulate baby’s senses.

Help baby learn the connection between actions and reactions. Put baby’s foot within reach of the piano. From there, it’s bound to happen: baby’s foot will connect and activate a fun and rewarding response from the gym!