Mario

 (Toad- my favorite little guy)


This looks like a lot of fun!  I am inspired to write arrangements for my advanced band students.
<3
http://www.mariopiano.com/mario-sheet-music-overworld-main-theme.html

Preschool Piano

"I" know preschool.  I have taught preschoolers for sooo many, many years now... and they love their music.   Last year, I ventured out into the preschool piano cuteness and madness...  What a great idea! 

Kids that age love to touch the piano, they can't keep their hands off of it.  So, I began teaching piano to a few children that age...  Well, first let's just say, they are not all equal.  I had a handful of kids that really understood what I was teaching them and they actually played the piano and knew a few songs at the end of their sessions.  I had another couple of children that only enjoyed the whole musical fun of it.  Those children did not learn to play an actual song, but loved to take in as much as they could.



I have plenty of games, visuals and activities already, so my focus this summer is to add to my written curriculum; I will post a few pages soon.  The pages have my child-like art (that's how I draw - simple) in black and white so they can scribble and color them, encouraging them to explore the piano keyboard.   I am looking forward to using it with a few more students this year.

Piano Light Box

Something different to light up your piano lessons.  If you don't have a light box, make your own.  I used a rubbermaid clear box...it's about a foot long.  I drew a keyboard...the keys are each 3/4-inch wide.  I put some pretty glass stones on there.  I used red stones and used permanent marker to draw ladybugs.  The light makes it fun and the stones glow.  You could use any light...flashlight, white christmas lights, or one of those disc-shaped battery lights that you just push to turn on.
Glass stone idea inspired by http://www.colorinmypiano.com/.  Check out this more than fabulous website.

Magnetic Board

Don't throw out that old cookie sheet!  You know the one I mean...the one with the black grease build-up (you cookie monster  :)) ...and maybe rust on it from sitting around because you're afraid to use it anymore.
PAINT IT!

So, I painted it and added a staff.  The back of the sheet, I left blank for use

with any magnetic ideas.

I used acrylic paint to cover the pan.  Then, I used masking tape 

to create the lines, finishing with gray marker. 

For the final added touch, (to keep the marker from running and the paint from chipping)

I added poly on top.

I made "cookie" notes with magnets on the back to add to the staff.

The students always enjoy using this magnetic board.

Use cookie-notes to play games.

Use the back of the magnetic board to place other fun ideas.  Place hand in C position and let them learn their finger numbers, gaining flexible movement, etc...

Medieval Music for Piano

I am soooo excited about this project.  I have completed a book cover and 4 songs.  The songs are for my piano students and they will be challenged to learn most of the songs and fill out a few theory and history pages that accompanys the book.  They will be rewarded with small prizes so I believe they will be as excited about the new songs as I am.  They will also be mentored to write their own Medieval sounding song. 

Copyright 2012 Patty Hurlburt.

I will included a sample shortly for you to use if you like it.

Here is a rough draft of the front cover.
Go to Piano Music Page for a sample. 
More sheet music to come soon.

How Much Should I Practice?

Good question.  I like to tell my students to play their favorite songs as a warm-up.  Playing piano should be a joy and something you look forward to doing, so play your best-est ;] ones first. Then, practice your assignment.  It depends on your level.  If you are a beginner to advanced beginner, try practicing your songs 3 -5 times in a row.  15 - 20 minutes should do it.  As I tell my students, if there is a trouble area...play those measures at least a hundred times in a row....well, you know what I mean... And then add it into your song and see how smooth it will play. The key is to play 5 days a week.  You will see progress this way.  If you have extra time, play anything.  Just play.  Make up a tune.  We will talk about that later.
I like these quotes from this website: www.pianoped.com
We should be taught not to wait for inspiration to start a thing. Action always generates inspiration. Inspiration seldom generates action. – Frank Tibolt
Inspiration is wonderful when it happens, but the writer must develop an approach for the rest of the time… The wait is simply too long. – Leonard Bernstein