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!!

 

Music For the Cows Soul

Music can even reach the soul of a cow.  Very fun!!

 

Teacher Spotlight

Let's Play Music has many wonderfully talented and super qualified teachers sharing the fabulous LPM program all over the United States.  We want to spotlight our teachers so others can learn more about the wide variety of instructors we have, where LPM is being taught, and the joy that music brings into all of our lives!

Our next Teacher Spotlight is Angela Shaner from Mesquite, Nevada!

                  

1. How long have you been teaching LPM?  This is my third year teaching Let's Play Music.
2. What is your current teaching schedule?  I teach two 3rd Year classes back to back on Mondays, Red Balloons and Green Turtle Shells on Tuesdays and Red Balloons and Green Turtle Shells on Thursdays.
3. How did you hear about LPM? I heard about LPM through a forum for Primary Music Leaders as that was my calling in church at the time...funny how things work out.  I researched LPM and it sounded exactly like what I had been looking for.  I was hooked after that!!
4. What is your favorite LPM song?  Oh gosh, I have to choose just one song?  I absolutely love the "March of the Gnomes" puppet show.  It's one of my favorites.
5. How many are in your family?  (Kids, dogs, cats, ect..)  There are six in my family...my husband and I, our two girls and two boys (and a dog & cat too)!!
6. What is your favorite food?  My favorite food is popcorn.  :)  I love popcorn...I guess that's more of a snack, so my favorite food...hmmm...Roast and Potatoes!!
7. What is your favorite past time or hobby?  My favorite past time or hobby is crafting.  When I have the chance I love to make all kinds of crafts!!
8. Do you have any advice for other teachers or lessons learned while teaching that you would like to share?  I'm sure I could still take the advice too.  I learn something new about teaching all the time.  Just enjoy yourself.  If you love it, it will show through in your teaching.  Have fun and the kids will have fun too!  Some days may not go as well as others...just pick yourself up and the next time you teach you will be reminded why you love teaching and why you do what you do.

Thanks for the advice Angela!  You are so right.  Some days are harder than others, but aren't we all so lucky to have the best "job" in the world!!

 

Practice Session Contest Winner

And the winner is...

 

Congratulations Ella & Sergio!!  And of course great job mom for helping to keep practicing fun!  Keep up the great work!!

2012 Training Dates



Just to remind you of our 2012 Training and events schedule!

 

Contest Update

The Practice Session Contest is for ALL students...including Red Balloons.  Just please remember the practice guidelines for Red Balloons as outlined on page 9 in the Parent Reference Section of your theory books:

"Practicing should be natural and ongoing - not necessarily a 'set practice time'...Once a week, you will need to get out this manual (the theory book) to check the focus concept, complete the theory assignment and do the bell and CD activities."

Your actual practice time, minus the theory assignment, should only be about 3-4 minutes.  First year is all about internalization so it's more about listening to the CD all the time and playing around on the bells as much as possible.  

So, First Year Practice Session Videos should be short and sweet!!  

Practice Session Contest

Attending a Let's Play Music class is informational, fun and exciting!!  However, what happens when you get home and it's time to practice with your kiddos?  It can sometimes be a bit frustrating.  

From time to time we would like to post tips and ideas on how to get the most out of your practice sessions at home while still keeping it fun, yet effective.  

This week we have an example of how to practice when you have two children participating in LPM.  This can sometimes be a challenge.  You want to make sure and give them both the attention and help that they need without them comparing themselves to one another.  Most likely their skill levels will be different, so how do you help them both feel accomplished and rewarded?

 Hopefully this video will give you a few ideas.

 

In addition to the awesome videos and practice tips that we will be posting, we would LOVE to post videos of you practicing with your children.  As a little incentive we will be choosing one of your videos each month to post and that person will win one month free tuition.  

You are already practicing each day, so turn on your video camera, post your video to YouTube, send the link to your LPM teacher and help inspire all of us!!  Free tuition is up for grabs!!  

 

Let's Play Music Takes off in Utah County

Clink on the link to read an awesome article all about how LPM Has Taken Off in Utah County!!  

"Let's Play Music engages children first with singing and dancing, clapping and chimes. By the end of the three-year music course, students can play the piano at an early intermediate level, read all of the notes on the grand staff, play cadences and scales in five keys and compose music of their own."

Read it...you won't be sorry.  

The Love of Music

Music is loved and enjoyed by all ages.  This video makes me happy!!

 

Teacher Spotlight

Let's Play Music has many wonderfully talented and super qualified teachers sharing the fabulous LPM program all over the United States.  We want to spotlight our teachers so others can learn more about the wide variety of instructors we have, where LPM is being taught, and the joy that music brings into all of our lives!

Our next Teacher Spotlight is Liz Pike Murdock from Salt Lake City, Utah!

                                

1. How long have you been teaching LPM?  This is my third year teaching Let's Play Music.
2. What is your current teaching schedule?  I teach two 3rd Year classes on Tuesday at 4:50 and 6:00.  One 2nd Year class on Wednesdays and two 1st Year classes on Fridays at 3:30 and 4:30
3. How did you hear about LPM?  I heard about LPM from one of my voice students several years ago.  I tried doing a search for it at the time and couldn't find it.  A few years later a friend of mine from BYU was talking about LPM and how she was preparing to certify the following week.  That night I talked it over with my husband and we just knew this was something we wanted to be a part of.  The following week I was dancing around in some hotel lobby singing and thinking, "what have I gotten myself into?"  Just kidding, it was, and still is a lot of fun tapping into my inner child.  :)
4. What is your favorite LPM song?  II love so many of our LPM songs but one of my favorites is "Magic Keys."  The new Bugs song for 3rd year could be a close second.
5. How many are in your family?  (Kids, dogs, cats, ect..)  There are six in our family.  One husband and 4 kiddos - we've got two boys and two girls and would love to have another (actually it depends on the day).
6. What is your favorite food?  I'm so bad when it comes to "favorite" of anything because I like so many things, especially when it comes to food.  I'm also a bit indecisive.  I love to bake...darn those sweets!!  Oh, I love frozen custard, and pretty much anything that is fattening...unfortunately.
7. What is your favorite past time or hobby?  My "favorite" past time is spending time with my family.  I lost my mom to Cancer 7 years ago when my oldest was just a year.  We spend a lot of time with family making memories together.  My children and my husband are my world and make me want to be better in every way.  I also enjoy performing (singing) and exercising to burn off some of those baked goods!!
8. Do you have any advice for other teachers or lessons learned while teaching that you would like to share?  I'm still learning along with everyone else, but my advice to myself as much as anyone...keep it simple!  It's easy to get caught up in all the cutesy stuff but it's the teaching that matters most!!  If we are prepared and are having fun, our students will feel the magic and power that comes from this inspired program.  Finding that balance as a mother and teacher can be really difficult.  I want to be the best teacher I can, but I have to remember that four little ones are counting on me to teach them in all aspects of their life as well.  No pressure right!!  I guess it comes back to simplifying and finding what works for you.  :)

Liz, I think that your words of advice are right on point.  Thank you so much for sharing a bit of yourself with us.