Making Musicians

Practice Session - Yellow Indians Lesson 1

This student had a VERY hard time in Green semester, and probably will NOT go on to Purple semester.  This is a great example of how to work patiently with a student that is either not progressing as they should or has NOT practiced enough and is having to catch up. 

At times it will be a struggle to keep a smile on your face while practicing with a child who is struggling, but if you do, your child will continue to learn and grow and music will bless their life!!

 

2011 Composition Contest Winners Video

 

Playing Two Grand Pianos At Once?

I love to see people really challenge their abilities.  This is amazing!!

 

 

Say What?! Musicians Hear Better

Musicians have years of training in listening to sounds. For example, their brains are trained to hear the sound of their own instruments even though other instruments may be playing at the same time. This training reshapes the brain and builds mental muscle in auditory processing and attention skills. Because these are the very skills that are often weak in children who struggle with language and reading, researchers believe that musical training may offer a real solution.

Listen to the NPR Broadcast.

                                 

 

 

December Raise Your Voice Winner

This month's Raise Your Voice winner is Colleen from Middleton, Wisconsin. Her child's teacher is Darlayne Coughlin. Colleen said:

"My daughter asks every day, "I love that the kids start young and that the teachers teach more than concepts, they actually teach music skills. I'm so impressed with the method and curriculum. I didn't get the opportunity as a child to participate in music classes. I'm thrilled my children will learn to love music and will unknowingly have such great knowledge of music."

Colleen, enjoy $10 off next month's tuition!!

Raise Your Voice Winner

This month's Raise Your Voice winner is Dawn from Meridian, Idaho.  Her daughters teacher is Tina Gosney. Dawn said:

"My daughter asks every day, "When is my music class?" It may be only hours after the last class, but already she is anxious for the next one. She loves her own practice, and I love that even at barely 4 yrs old, she is so enthusiastic about music."

Dawn, enjoy $10 off next month's tuition!!

 

Amazing!!

Watch this and be amazed!!

Let's Play Music Symposium 2010

It's hard to believe that over a week has passed since we all gathered in Mesa, Arizona to share, learn, and have a blast!!

Each year the Symposium gets bigger and better and this year didn't disappoint!! All that attended left feeling inspired, smarter, and excited for the year ahead. As Let's Play Music grows, the LPM advisory board works hard to train and teach each of us to be the best that we can be!!

On Saturday we checked in for the conference and were welcomed by a beautiful table of super yummy sweets!! Bags were filled and refilled as we enjoyed and devoured the sugar.

**After the sugar rush things got a little crazy!!**

Exciting new products and curriculum were announced as well as the winner of the LPM essay contest, Celeste Stott, and the winner of this years "Vision Award", Gina Weibel.  Congratulations Ladies!!

Celeste Stott is a LPM Teacher in Choteau, Montana.

 Gina Weibel is a LPM Teacher in Madison, Wisconsin.
Tiffany Madsen, a LPM teacher, attorney, and mother was our keynote speaker. She had many great suggestions to help us learn how to juggle our many daily tasks and continue to be great at all of them.

 
Next we were free to set our own agenda. We were able to choose to participate in three different workshops: Kodaly, Echo Ed Evolution and Classroom Management, shop at the LPM store, get our professional headshots, and browse all the booths for fabulous ideas about different topics from fellow LPM teachers.

Kodaly

Sherie Kent, Kodaly Expert, helped us get a deeper look into the techniques that provide much of the foundation of Let's Play Music.

Echo Ed Evolution

Shelle Soelberg, LPM Founder, shared tips and ideas for making Echo Ed, Edna, and Edison successful and FUN in the classroom.

Classroom Management

Jenny Smith, LPM Teacher and Advisor, taught different discipline techniques and how to keep control of the classroom with a positive feedback approach.

There were 15 different booths with awesome and creative teaching ideas, computer help, introductions to our Private Piano Teacher Certification program, and parent communication.  

At the end of the day Shelle Soelberg, LPM founder and music extraordinaire, asked us all, "What is it about LPM that makes you feel deeply and vitally alive when you teach?" She then went on to tell us that, "When you say, 'This is the real me.' and follow it, you will truly be fulfilled." Aren't we all lucky to have such a wonderful and inspiring leader?! Because Shelle is so amazing everyone got together to present her with a fun present and crowned her "Queen for the Day"!!

I think it's safe to say that we are all counting down the days until we get to attend the Let's Play Music Symposium 2011!!  Maybe we should all plan to come sporting the LPM logo on our toes like Lori Halverson did this year.  Love it!!

 

Orange Roots Composition Contest Winners - 2010

We are excited to share video of the AWESOME Orange Roots Composition Contest Winners performing their original pieces!!

Best Use of ABA form:  Jorgan Goodman

"Break in the Clouds"

Teacher:  Aria Lambson 

Best Melody

"Trying to Catch the Train"

Teacher:  Suanne Bowcut

Most Original:  Annie Richins

"The Adventure at the Rain Forest"

Teacher:  Rosanne Tidwell

Best Use of Chords:  Jake Maloy

"The Knight's Crusade"

Teacher:  Marci Flowers

Best Overall:  Grace Fillmore

"The Haunted Forest"

Teacher:  Suanne Bowcut

Honorable Mention:

"Kingdom of Goo"  Andrew Higgins (Aria Lambson)

"Chinese Girl Picking Flowers" Aubrie Bradshaw (Aria Lambson)

"Watching Clouds Go By" Emma Marx (Renae Steere)

"Falling in a Hole" Paul Probst (Alissa Hartley)

"Creeps!" McKell Mathis (Suanne Bowcut)

"The Happy Zone" Anne Judy (Britney Rohner)

"Keep a Smile" Spencer Fillmore (Melissa Lunt)

"I Know I'm an Indian" Grace Marx (Renae Steere)

"The River Song" Anne Bigler (Kendra Flake)

"The Halloween Moon" Gaby Guiness (Lori Halverson)

Congratulations to all of our winners, their parents and their wonderful teachers!!  Isn't the Lets Play Music program EXCITING!!

How Smart They'll Get

We just pulled this post out of the archives because it's Music Alphabet time again!

Oh, how I LOVE the music alphabet!  Josh is a Yellow Indian and we just started learning the names of the white keys last week!  I love to see him pick up a letter, look at the picture, and find it on the key!  He is loving this simple game and having no idea how smart he'll get with his music alphabet!