Winter Semester: Week 4

The recital Saturday went so well.  I am so pleased with all the effort that went into those performances and how everyone shined.  I am proud of each student for their great accomplishment.

This week we will be supplementing with some extra Christmas songs and some fun Christmas music games.  I wish all you a very Merry Christmas!

Reminders:
Studio is closed Dec. 19th-30th
Studio reopens Jan.2nd

Recital Pictures

Performance Guidelines

Performance Guidelines

•  Dress nicely.  Girls wear a dress or nice shirt and slacks. Guys wear a nice shirt and slacks

•  Do not wear rings or dangling bracelets

•  Bring your music. Mark your piece with a paper clip or tab.  Sheet music should held by the   

    rings in your folder.

•   Any music that can not fit in the music folder because of its size needs to be strengthened so it  

     does not fold on the piano stand.  To achieve this you need to staple construction paper to it.

•  When someone is performing do not leave.  If you need to leave do so     

    after the performer is done.  When you return, wait until the performer is 

    finished before taking your seat.

•  Do not talk or make noise with your program.  Quietly listen.  You will 

    want the same courtesy when you perform.

•  When it is your turn to perform adjust the bench and position your music.

•  Put your hands in the correct position and double check to make sure 

    they’re right.

•  Take a breath and think about how you want the piece to sound.

•  Count one measure at a comfortable tempo and begin.

•  If a mistake is made, keep going.  Do not repeat the measure.

•  When you are finished, take a bow and smile.  Bowing is important 

    because it communicates appreciation for the audience’s time and 

    applause.

•  After you bow, take your music off the piano and have a seat.

Performance Guidelines

What to wear: Dress nicely, not to formal

What NOT to wear: Bracelets, rings, uncomfortable clothes, jeans

 What to bring: Music marked with a paper clip or sticky tab to make it easy to find.  Any loose leaf music should be held by the rings in your folder or mounted on construction paper to make it sturdy.

What to do before the recital: Practice pieces as you would perform them.  

If you make a mistake pretend it didn’t happen and keep playing.  

Try not to repeat the measure or restart the phrase.  

Perform them for friends, family, pets, or a pretend audience of toys.

Play the piece three times everyday until the recital.

What to do when you get to the recital: Get a program and sit on the first two rows.  

I will put you in order of your performance.  Sit quietly and wait for your turn.

What NOT to do at the recital: Do not talk while someone is playing.  

Do not make noise with your program or music.  

Do not leave while someone is playing.

What to do when it is your turn: Go sit at the piano and make sure the bench is 

adjusted to your size.  Fix your music.  

Take your time and make sure everything is in the right place. 

Position your hands and breathe. 

  Think how the piece sounds and begin.

What to do if you make a mistake: Keep playing.  If you get lost you can restart the 

piece.  Know that everyone makes mistakes.  A recital is meant to be a fun 

way of showing what you have learned, but it can make you nervous.  

Take some deep breaths.  Think of how many times you have played it well and have confidence you can share your music with others.  

One mistake out of hundreds of notes is still a score of 99.  

You can still be proud of yourself and this accomplishment.

What to do when your turn is over: Bow after you play.  Bowing is important 

because it communicates appreciation for the audience’s time and 

applause.  Take your music and sit down.  Celebrate your accomplishment.  You had enough courage to play for someone else.  Congratulations!!!

Winter Semester: Week 3

The recital is this Saturday at 10:00 AM at Tabernacle Methodist Church located at 5601 Liberty Road.   The performance guidelines are located in this post: Performance Guidelines.  This week the students will prepare performing for the recital.

In December, students can earn 3 extra jewels for anytime they perform outside the studio.  There may be opportunities at school at a Christmas program or at church.  If they perform for someone outside their immediate family, it will also count.  Call up the grandparents and have them listen over the phone.  Play for a friend or video yourself and send it out on facebook.  To get credit, simply right a note in their assignment book.

There will be lessons next week and then we will take a two week break for Christmas.  Lessons will resume on Jan. 2nd.

Winter Semester: Week 2

We all had a wonderful time at the group lessons and the students spent their hard earned jewels on some great prizes.  This week we be playing a game to help the students focus on having a solid performance at the recital on Dec.10th.  If they can play through their pieces without stopping or making a mistake, they will get to shoot for a point.  If they falter or stop playing I get to try for a basket.  Whoever wins, gets a little piece of candy.  It is a fun way to add a little pressure to performing.  Students need to practice having the nervous feelings and being able to focus and complete their piece.

Don't worry, I am not very good at Nerf Basketball, so they should beat me :)

Recital: Dec.10th at 10:00 AM  I am planning to have it at Tabernacle United Methodist Church on Liberty Road.
Studio Closed: Dec.18th- Jan.1st

Group Lesson

This week we are having our group lessons.  I have planned some Gingerbread Themed Games.

We will be playing a rhythm game, where students count and clap the rhythm in the gingerbread house.  We are also playing a fun game where we try to find the gingerbread man who is hiding in some musical symbols.  We are also trading in our jewels for some great prizes.  Make sure your child brings their music, because we will be sharing some pieces we have been working on.

Juletta is our pirate of the week!


Group Lesson Schedule: 
Monday, Nov.21st  5:15-6:15: Emma, Juletta, Nathan, Chandler, Ryan and Adam
Tuesday, Nov.22nd 5:15-6:15: Anna Paige, Kelsey, Connor, Alec and Maddie

Upcoming Dates: Winter Recital, Dec.10th at 10:00 AM

Winter Semester: Week 1

This week we are matching up Gingerbread boys and girls as we match notes and keyboard names.  Next week we will have our group lesson.  Here is the schedule:

Monday, Nov.21st  5:15-6:15: Emma, Juletta, Nathan, Chandler, Ryan and Adam
Tuesday, Nov.22nd 5:15-6:15: Anna Paige, Kelsey, Connor, Alec and Maddie

This Pirate of the week is : Ryan Douglas and Seth Hansard

The studio will be closed for Thanksgiving on Wednesday Nov.23rd-25th

Last week we had a wonderful time playing Musical Mayflower.  Connor is helping get the Mayflower safely to America by identifying intervals

Upcoming Dates: Winter Recital, Dec.10th at 10:00 AM

Fall Semester: Week 12

This week we will sail the high seas with the Mayflower in a game that reinforces intervals and steps and skips.  Several students enjoyed seeing the music games I compiled online.  Simply record the amount of time spent playing the music games and I will give 3 jewels for every 20 minutes spent playing.

Our top pirate of the week is Chandler Harris!

Our group lessons will be held on Nov. 21st and Nov.22nd.   I plan on having every student perform one piece for each other so be thinking about what piece you would like to play.  It can be a Christmas piece we have been working on or another one you like.

Here is a picture of Emma playing Jewel Quest:

Emma playing Jewel Quest

Upcoming Dates: Group Lesson Week: Nov.20-25

                            Winter Recital: Dec. 10th at 10:00 AM

Fall Semester: Week 11

This week we will be testing for the One Minute Club.  For primer students, we will review note names with a game called "Jewel Quest."

Our top pirate of the week is Maddie Woods.

In the month of November students can earn 3 extra jewels for playing musical computer games online.  I have added a Online Games link on my site.  Students need to log in 20 minutes a week in order to receive the 3 extra jewels.  Simply record the games played in your practice log, under notes and have your parents sign it.  There are a lot of games to choose from, so have fun!

Group Lessons are also coming up for the week of Nov.20-25th.  You can sign up for group lessons using this link Group Lessons Fall Semester

You can email me if you have trouble with the link.

Group Lessons are a free hour of lesson time that serve as a make up lesson for missed lessons   throughout the semester.  Students engage in games and activities, share a piano selection and    will turn in their jewels at the treasure box for a prize.  If you cannot open the link or are having       trouble, email me your preferences.  

Times available are: 

Monday, Nov.21 3:00-4:00; 4:15-5:15 and 5:15-6:16;  

Tuesday, Nov.22nd 3:00-4:00; 4:15-5:15 and 5:15-6:16.  

Wednesday there is no school.  3:00-4:00 and 4:00-5:00 will be available as well. 

Upcoming Dates: Group Lesson Week: Nov.20-25

                            Winter Recital: Dec. 10th at 10:00 AM

Fall Semester Week 10:

This week we are focusing rhythm again with a fun game called Witch's Brew.  Students pick rhythm cards out of the cauldron and if they get the witch card they get a piece of candy.

Our top Pirate of the week is Shane Hansard.  See Shane below playing our "Rattling Bones Rhythm Game"

Most students have started learning some Christmas music in preparation for our Winter Recital. The recital will be held on Dec.10th at 10:00 AM.  We will hopefully have it at Tabernacle United Methodist Church off of Liberty Road.

Group Lessons are also coming up for the week of Nov.20-25th.  You can sign up for group lessons using this link Group Lessons Fall Semester

You can email me if you have trouble with the link.

Group Lessons are a free hour of lesson time that serve as a make up lesson for missed lessons   throughout the semester.  Students engage in games and activities, share a piano selection and    will turn in their jewels at the treasure box for a prize.  If you cannot open the link or are having       trouble, email me your preferences.  

Times available are: 

Monday, Nov.21 3:00-4:00; 4:15-5:15 and 5:15-6:16;  

Tuesday, Nov.22nd 3:00-4:00; 4:15-5:15 and 5:15-6:16.  

Wednesday there is no school.  3:00-4:00 and 4:00-5:00 will be available as well. 

Upcoming Dates: Group Lesson Week: Nov.20-25

                             Winter Recital: Dec. 10th at 10:00 AM

Fall Semester: Week 9

This week we are learning about rhythm with "Rattling Bones Rhythms."  Students will pick cards to complete rhythms and then practice counting them.

Our Top Pirate of the Week is Maddie Woods.

Maddie Woods, Juletta Klein, Adam Douglas and Emma Ask performed a piece from memory this week, earning them 3 bonus jewels!

Pictures from our Studio Game: Spider Legs

Fall Semester: Week 8

This week we are playing Spider Legs.  This game focuses on intervals and scales by putting note names around the spider legs.

Our top Pirate of the Week is: Adam Douglas

Shane Hansard, Maddie Wood, Adam Douglas and Juletta Klein all performed a piece from memory this week and earned 3 bonus jewels.

Here are the results of our One Minute Club:

One Minute Club: Note Names

1. Christina Beasley
2. Maddie Wood
3. Kelsey Walrond/ Nathan Weems
4. Connor Edmondson/ Ryan Douglas


Way to go!!!

Fall Semester: Week 7

This week we will be playing "Don't Eat Jack" to work on symbols.

Our Great Gem of the week is a secret.  I will reveal the great gem at the end of the lesson.  If the student has displayed this gem the get 3 bonus jewels.

Our Great Gems are:  Notes, Rhythm, Articulation, Dynamics, Preparation, Technique and Focus.

In the month of October students can earn 3 bonus jewels for memorizing a piece.  The piece must be 90% accurate with dynamics and articulation displayed.  The student can play one memorized piece per lesson.

Our top five pirates of the week are:  Maddie, Juletta, Emma, Alec and Ryan.
The student who earned the most jewels this week is Connor Edmondson.  Way to go Connor!

Fall Semester: Week 6 UNO

I will be posting some results from the One Minute Club next week.  Any notes the students missed will go in their drill book.  This week we be playing UNO with level one and above and Three in a Row with the primer level.  Students will match note cards and alphabet cards to get three of the same notes.

Our Great Gem of the week is:  Articulation: Observing all markings.  Students can earn extra jewels for paying attention to markings like staccato, repeats, accents, phrases, etc. . .

This is the last week to bring in extra theory sheets.

Our top pirate of the week is Juletta Klein with 36 jewels!  Way to go Juletta!

The Teaching Studio: Practice Abacus

Wonderful Idea! Can't wait to try this creative way of having kids practice. Sounds like a good project to attempt at group lessons and then they can have their very own at home.

The Teaching Studio: Practice Abacus

Fall Semester: Week 4: One Minute Club

This week we are testing for One Minute Club in notes, chords and key signatures.  This will be our base score for the year, so I hope to see improvements in the months to come.  Students need to name 23 notes in one minute to become a part of the note club.  To become a part of the chord or key signature club, students must name 14 cards.

If your student is not at level one yet, we will be playing piano races up the keyboard.  We identify different notes and race up the keyboard.

This week's Great Gem is Dynamics: Observes Louds and Softs.  If students display this musical ability they will earn extra jewels.  Students can also earn extra jewels for completing three theory sheets.  The extra theory sheets can be found in their notebook.

Fall Semester: Week 3: Bea's Keys

We are continuing to work on note names this week with a game called "Bea's Keys."  Bea's Keys are little cards with the note written on them that fit perfectly on the piano key.  It is a great visual for the student to see the note where it should be played.  We will also drill some flashcards with our flip cards.  Next week we will be testing for the One Minute Club, so I am trying to get the students ready to do their best.  One Minute Club is for students Level 1 and above to see how many notes, chords or keys they can name in a minute.

One way you can prepare at home is to study the flip cards with your student at home.  Another resource is the internet.  There are several great games online to practice note names.  Here are some good ones:

Clef Reading
Music Theory: Click on note identification.  You can customize your exercise for your level.
Music Tech Teacher: I like Note Invader, Treble-Bass  Lines and Spaces

I would like to congratulate Nathan Weems on his recent audition for Southeast Middle School's Jazz Band.  He has been working hard all summer and was selected as the pianist for the band this past Friday!

Our Great Gem this week is Rhythm: Good Counting and Accuracy.  If a student display a good concept of rhythm they get an extra jewel.  Remember a student can earn 3 extra jewels if they complete 3 theory sheets.

Fall Semester: Week 3 LEGOS

Legos!

This week the students will have fun building with Legos!  I have some legos that have note names on them and the students will arrange them in different ways to practice their understanding of note relationships.  We can build the musical alphabet, intervals, chords and scales.

Great Gem of this week is: NOTES, Good reading and listening.

I will reward students for really paying attention to playing the correct notes.

This month our bonus jewel reward is: Theory Sheets.  Complete 3 theory sheets to earn three extra jewels at each lesson.

Fall Semester Week 2: Canon Blast

Here some pictures I captured of a fun game we played this week:  "Canon Blast"

First I have students pick a color for their pirate ship.  I have magnetic chips, or "magic notes" in a variety of colors for the students to choose from. 

Students identify their notes with flashcards and if they identify it correctly they get to put a chip on the matching ship.  "Fire Canon One"  

Students had to get three chips on a ship to blast it out of the water and win the ship.  Whoever has blasted the most ships wins!  

The students enjoyed this game and it was a great way to review our note names!

Juletta is naming the flashcard

3 blue chips!  She won a ship!

Fall Semester: Week 2

This week our Great Gem is "Preparation"

A good musician is prepared and brings all the necessary materials to their lesson.  They practice every day and prepare their piece for their teacher.  Get extra jewels this week if you come Prepared.

We will being playing Canon Blast this week!  A fun game where students pretend to blast ships out of the water by matching note names and intervals to the correct ship.

In the month of September, students can earn bonus jewels for completing extra theory work, found in their folder.  Students may turn in 3 sheets a week to earn 3 extra jewels.  The worksheet will be graded and students must fix any mistakes before receiving credit.

First Week of Lessons

We had a great week of lessons.  Most students reviewed some pieces and got some new ones as well.  Each student got a folder with their new pirate treasure map!  We will plot their journey on this treasure map.

In each packet there was also sections for Sight Reading, Rhythm and Theory.  Students will complete these exercises each week during lesson time.  When a student completes 5 exercises, they will get 3 bonus jewels!

Some students also took home their drill cards.  Students are working on these specific notes, chords or keys to improve their reading.  Students can practice naming the notes and chords during the week to improve their reading skills.  The student has mastered the card when they get 10 stickers on one card.  Then they get 3 bonus jewels for mastering a card!

We are also focusing each week on a "Great Gem of the Week"

This week's gem was Focus.  We talked about being focused during the lesson.  Keeping our hands on our lap between songs.  Listening to the directions of the teacher and not getting distracted.  If the student displayed Focus during the lesson they received a bonus jewel.

Here is a picture of our Great Gem's

Consent Form

Google Docs: Consent Form

Fall Semester Starts Next Week

Dear Parents, 

Piano lessons start next week and I am so excited about our new theme for the year "Hidden Treasures". As you prepare for school, please look over your child's folder and bag and make sure they are in good condition. If your child needs a new three ring binder, please purchase one. I have a lot of goodies to put in there at their first lesson. I will begin to update you through my new blog: Jeana Beasley's Piano Studio so please click on the link and follow through your email. If you have any questions or problems let me know.

Reminder:  

Fall Semester Payment is past due. Please mail a payment by Friday if you have not already done so.

Jeana Beasley

http://singanewsongmusic.blogspot.com/

Hidden Treasures Theme

Our theme for 2011-12 is Hidden Treasures.

Here you can find information on this fun incentive program for this year.

Google Docs: Treasure Map

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Welcome!

Welcome to my new Piano Studio blog!  Here you can find policies, schedules and information on my studio.  Our new semester starts soon!