For the first week of music class this year, I chose two great videos to share with the classes as motivation for the coming year. Both videos involved a concept called “live looping”, which involves the use of a electronic pedal or a computer to produce a loop or repetition of a sound. Live looping […]
Though a full drum kit can be pricey, getting started practicing drums at home is a relatively inexpensive endeavor. There are really only two essentials: drum sticks and something to drum on. Below are some recommendations for drum sticks and a practice pad. However, if you want to be sure you are playing the correct […]
In the spring of 2018, I made a significant shift in the nature of lessons offered in my after-school music program. Now, most all of the lessons I teach are some sort of “group” lesson. This came partially as an experiment because I simply had too many students interested in lessons and I did not […]
Over the past couple months, students at Open School have been introduced to new and exciting instruments. And, in the last few weeks, we began putting the instruments in their hands. The fourth and fifth grade clusters have a special treat: ukuleles! Over the course of this year, we will be learning all about the […]
It is true that electric guitar are generally easier to learn more quickly than acoustic guitars. But, few young students think about the possibility of getting a guitar appropriate for their size. Even electric guitars with full size fretboards can make it difficult for young students to reach the notes they wish to play. The […]
I have wrote before about the amazing free MuseScore program for music notation. With it, you can write sheet music and advanced musical scores on your computer for absolutely no cost. It’s 100% free and incredibly rubust. For just $2, you can take MuseScore with you on your mobile device. It is currently available in […]
At Open School this year, the Blue and Purple Clusters are learning the ukulele! Learning any instrument takes hard work. And, I would love for all of my students to have the opportunity to practice at home. Ukuleles are not at all the most expensive instrument. In this post, I have listed suggestions that are […]
UPDATE: As of the summer of 2018, I have switched to using MyMusicStaff’s Student Portal for keeping track of assignments. Admittedly, it is not quite as flexible or robust as Trello. However, it is simple for students to use and offers a lot of other useful features for overall studio management. I still use Trello […]
Starting the week of September 12th, I will be announcing our third and final topic of the year, “Playing Music”. Students will be introduced to the instruments they will be playing with their cluster. Red & Silver clusters will be playing beginner level mallet percussion instruments (xylophones, glockenspiels, and metallophones). Indigo & Orange clusters will […]
This year at Open School, our 2nd and 3rd grade clusters will be learning to play the recorder! At our school, the students are given recorders to use in the classroom and keep at the end of the year. However, it is up to the parents whether they wish to purchase the instruments for their […]