Half Steps, Whole Steps and Pentascales

My student, C, had already learnt some of the five-finger major pentascale positions and was eager to complete the technique chart on my wall.

So out came the half step and whole step cards. I used the materials from http://www.susanparadis.com/whole-step-half-step-game/

By analysing the notes in the few pentascales that he had already learnt by rote, he figured out for himself that the pentascale pattern is Whole-Whole-Half-Whole.

Which meant that he could construct a pentascale in any key. Which also meant that he completed all the major key pentascales on the technique chart today. ;)

Happy Labour Day!

Wishing everyone a Happy Labour Day! Have a good rest!

5th Performers' Festival

2 more days till registration closes for Singapore's 5th Performers' Festival. Hurry if you haven't already registered. Register online at www.smtasingapore.com.

Happy Monday!

This business of training little humans for life is a mind-boggling process.

Toys as Teaching Aids

My students are often amused when I produce toys from my cupboard to use a as teaching aids.

A few days ago, I used play-dough to teach singing tone.

Today, it was these little fellas. Guess what we did with these?

Technique Achievement Chart - AWARDS!

What's a Technique Challenge without Awards?

Finally got down to getting the prizes I promised for completing the Technique Achievement Chart! :)

Scales - Technique Achievement Chart

As of today, Irvin has completed the pentascales of all the major and minors (red stars).

Cindy has completed the 4 octave scales of all the major and harmonic minor keys (gold stars).

Noel has completed the 4 octave scales of all the major, melodic minor and harmonic minor keys (gold stars).

Congrats! ;)

Analyzing Structure

My student did an analysis of the structure of his piece today. Using thin sticky note flags, we colour-coded the phrases to mark out the structure.

After that, we used the same colour-codes to make a mind-map of his piece in his notebook.

The result was that he was able to play his piece using just the mind-map for reference, bringing him one step closer to full memorisation.

Then, we used skittles with colours that matched the sticky note flags to learn the piece. I would rearrange the order of the skittles and he would have to play the corresponding phrases in the order I presented! Fun! :)

Grade 5 Theory Group Lessons (update)

Group 1: 2-4pm

Group 2: 4-6pm (please note the change in time)

Session 11: May 4th, 2014

Topics: Transposition

Musical Terms Spelling List: http://youtu.be/UiFmtNaZ0c8

Session 12: May 25th, 2014

Topics: Melody-writing

Musical Terms Spelling List: http://youtu.be/tRP1jr2g4_A

Session 13: June 8th, 2014

Topics: Past-Year Papers

Musical Terms Spelling List: http://youtu.be/MhrbZJnVRdY

SMTA 48th AGM 2014

Singapore Music Teachers' Association is the oldest and only music teachers' association in Singapore, and I have been serving as the Honorary Secretary since 2009.

It held it's annual general meeting on April 13th 2014. (That's me, front row, 5th from right) We discussed plans for future Performers Festival, Teacher's pedagogy courses, and... *drumroll please*... there may be plans for future local exams!
You can view a slideshow of this event here.

My first post... and Rhythm Cups

Yes, finally! High time I put up a blog. It seems like everyone else has one. Excuse me while I figure my way around this website. Yes... I am getting on in years and I need time to catch up.
For my very first post, I thought I'd introduce something new we started doing this week --> Rhythm Cups!
We are using "Rhythm Cup Explorations" by Wendy Stevens fromComposeCreate.com
Check out this video of me and my students having fun here: http://youtu.be/BW8GnRZAQlI
I'm thinking of doing a 20-person rhythm cup band during the September group class. Haha. Watch out for it!

Picture Scales!

It's been lots and lots of scales and revision on Keys and Key Signatures lately in my piano studio.

Here's a student's (J's) picture scales.

The coloured stickers show the groupings (groups of fingers 1-2-3, and groups of 1-2-3-4), while the positions of the stickers show where the fingers are supposed to be placed on the keys!

I used Susan Paradis's printable scales, which are very pretty, but unfortunately a little small to use with the stickers. Will have to make my own printable soon!

Inspired by Dalcroze

I attended some courses on Dalcroze Eurhythmics many years ago and was very inspired from then on to use Eurhythmics in my teaching.

My student, C, had to learn a tricky passage today (Allegretto in F by J. C. Bach, 2013-2014 ABRSM Grade 5 Piano). We overcame it using a movement exercise that I devised to help coordinate her left and right hands.

The plan: walk out the LH part while clapping the RH part. The student has to know exactly how the parts go together in order to do this. We practise this many times until the student is able to do this fluently.

The outcome: the student then transfers this onto the piano. No problems! :)

Here's a video of the process: http://youtu.be/Uf4IhLp4nyo