November Composer- Haydn

We've been having a lot of fun with these composers.

Mr. Franz Joseph Haydn was quite funny at times. We'll be listening to the Surprise Symphony this month in lessons. It starts piano and has an abrupt forte about 30 seconds into, it was to awaken the sleeping audience he sometimes wrote for. He had the privilege of serving in a castle for royalty on a regular basis.




A couple of good websites to check out-

this one has free sheet music and coloring pages

http://www.makingmusicfun.net/htm/f_mmf_music_library/hey-kids-meet-franz-joseph-haydn.htm

http://www.dsokids.com/listen/ComposerDetail.aspx?composerID=14

http://www.classicsforkids.com/composers/bio.asp?id=27

October Composer- Bach

Welcome back.

We'll get right to it- our composer this month is JS Bach. He was born in Germany in 1685 on March 21st. How old would he be on his birthday?

I thought my guitar students would like this!

Here is a fun website about Bach especially for kids-

http://www.classicsforkids.com/shows/showdesc.asp?id=31

Be sure and listen to the toccata at the end. You'll hear it again!




What instrument is being played? Is there more than one? I like the visual line on the video, helps you see the direction of the melody.

Here's some informative and fun videos about him.

September Composer(s) of the Month- Clara Schuman

I will post once a month, the composer we are studying. Very little time in the lessons will be given to this so I encourage you to explore all the links, songs, and games I post here on the web. 

Quick facts about Ms. Schumann 

* her parents were musicians in the early 1800's

* she grew up in Germany and learned from her father, piano and violin

* she began performing at the age of 9, with a full recital all on her own at 11

* she toured playing music all over and outside of Germany
* she fell in love with one of her parent's students Robert Schumann
* she not only cared for her family of 8 but also found time to PRACTICE , perform and teach! 

Starting back up

I will begin my 16th year of teaching private lessons the week of August 16th, 2010.


My schedule should be the same- in Velma Monday and Wednesdays


in Duncan Tues and Thursdays


call me to get a prefered time 580 467 0631


after a full 2 months off I am ready to get back to it

Duncan Piano Students- The third and fourth graders

This is Collin Thornton. Collin came as a transfer student. He has taken since kindergarten. I am his third teacher. He is advanced and is always amazing me with his knowledge of scales, theory and his ability to sightread. He made a superior plus rating on this piece at state May 15th. Way to go, Colin!



Burlesca by Bach



This is Lauren Jones. She's a fourth grader as well. I love her cute personality. She and I are both the third child with 2 older brothers. We share a need for fun. So this year aside from working through Faber's level 1 book, memorizing a few songs, sightreading for prizes & learning a new key- G, we managed to play lots of games.



Her own arrangement of Surprise Symphony by Haydn

She has another song to post...I have to record, check back soon.....


Also another sweet and fun 4th grader- Alyssa Cox. I was Alyssa's first teacher in 1st grade. Then she moved and I had Charis - I was glad to welcome her back this year. She's progressed well finishing Faber's book 2a and well into 2b. She's branched out to several new keys and taken on scales this year. I am confident she would've done well at contest had I known she had memorized this piece....

Dance of the Irish by Faber





We missed the deadline this year but we will not next year I promise!

Here she is playing Rhino in the Mud...



Brock Bell is my lone 3rd grader this year. He is quite charming and fun to teach. He has completed book 1 and on to a new key- G as well. He is playing in that new key here in Game Time arr. by Faber-

Duncan Students- Piano, The First Graders...

I had 4 First Graders this year. Three were actually returning from last year.
I have some budding musicians.
The are all quite talented.

My own nephew, Nathan Robbins and Leska Weightman came together each week.
Not only do they carpool but they are in the same class at school. They are very close.
They know each other well.

They are quite a pair.

We did some activities together. Having just come from 6 plus hours of learning and being on their best behavior, the prize box had a lot more draw than the theory worksheets each week.
We will just say T-Rex and Angelina Ballerina helped us learn a music this year.

Nathan playing an original song and Beethoven's Ode to Joy

Leska's video

She's playing Alouette from Faber's Primer book.

 
Miss Lindsay Delaughter.

Lindsay has a quiet demeanor and is a quick learner. She is very concerned about each of songs and makes sure they all get learned. She completed the Faber primer book this year. Below she is creating her own sightreading exercise on the white board.

Lindsay's song...

Can you guess what it is?

Gordan started the year before in lessons taking guitar. As a Prefirst grader he picked up the guitar very quick. This year he decided to play the piano.

Gordan is quiet, polite and fun to listen to.

Sometimes we use different instruments to play our rhythm exercises on. Here he is on the flute.

This is the snake charmer song....

Duncan Students - Guitar

These are my guitar students from Duncan.

Ryan Neal.

I have to post this picture...

I've know Ryan since he was born.





Ryan is playing Joshua fit the battle of Jericho.

He started with me in November after getting his electric guitar for his birthday.

He likes tab and chords, but has learned notes and this song is on the A or 5th string...

We've covered a lot in the last 7 months!

This is Brett Bell.

Brett has taken a year and half. He has a good sense of precision and works at learning each piece correctly.

What I love most about Brett is his excitement when he "gets it". His perseverance pays off and he delights in the finished product. Brett will continue to play and get better and better I am sure. He is a delight to talk with, a very polite young man. He is usually my last student of the week and we have an end of the week tradition :)

This is Sydni Blalock.
I have known Sydni since she was born as well.
It's always a joy to see kids progress over many years.
She has taken a year and a half as well. She has a quietness about her that is beautiful. She is always willing to work at lessons. She's been in Faber's Level 2 guitar book all year. Here she is playing Arpeggio from that book. Sydni dances and plays tennis. She graduated from 5th grade this year. Now that she's mastered most of the notes on the guitar we are exploring more chords, I think she's excited about that.

This is Alex Bowers.

Alex is in 7th grade. She came to me last summer for piano lessons. She has had several years of piano from an area teacher. She is very talented. She also plays tennis competitively and is on the academic team.

After the summer I was glad to get her as a guitar student. Alex had no problem picking up the guitar. She's a natural musician.

Video coming....