Last week was our Let's Play Music recital.
The students did fabulous! They sang the songs beautifully, played the bells accurately, and had fun doing the actions.
Here's a short slide show I made of the recital.
It's hard to believe I'm already done teaching my first year of Let's Play Music! I came to know and love my students, and I truly enjoyed guiding them through this musical journey. They are ready to transition to playing keyboards next year. I'm so proud of them!
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Why Solfege?
Why do we teach the Solfege syllables in Let's Play Music?
A Story
I will illustrate with a story by KL Wong, a musician who learned to play the piano by taking traditional piano lessons:
I always admired people who could just improvise and play any tune on the keyboard. This was especially so because I sometimes played in a band and composed music, and not being able to do that was a severe handicap. It dawned on me, when looking down at the keyboard, that despite all those years of learning the piano, I basically didn’t really KNOW it at all! I could operate it mechanically, sure, but without any deep understanding of it.
Many years ago, I had a Filipino singing teacher who could also play the keyboard. He never took any piano exams, and could never play some of the pieces that I could. But he was someone who really understood the keyboard. He understood it as well as he understood his own voice. The keyboard was like an extension of his body. Just name him any song, and he’d be able to play it even if he had never played it before. A song was too high to sing to? No problem! He’d just transpose it down instantly.
So I asked him how he did it. And that, sadly, was the first time I heard about solfege (or “solfeggio”, as he called it).
“What’s that?” I asked.
“You know, like: Do, Re, Mi, Fa, So…” he replied.
“Oh, from ‘The Sound of Music’?” I asked. “Yes! I know that song!” I commented enthusiastically, though I still had no idea how a song from a popular musical could help.
My ignorance on the subject was plain to see. Since the day he enlightened me how solfege works (and that solfege did not ‘come from’ that song!), I have always kept in mind the importance of learning solfege.
Learning Solfege develops the ability to really KNOW music, not just to be able to produce pleasing sounds on the piano.
Like Reading
From BrillKids:
Compare singing “C, D, E, F, G” (See, Dee, Ee, Eff, Gee) with singing “Do Re Mi Fa So” and it should be obvious which system is more practical for singing.
Teaching children to sing solfege is so easy and natural – which little child has reservations about singing out loud, even if it may not be in tune? If using the voice is encouraged and fostered from a young age, children grow up to being less self-conscious about singing.
I don't know anyone who doesn't enjoy listening to music, but not everyone is able to experience the joy of participating in the creation of music. Singing and playing music has been a profound source of happiness in my life. I love that I am able help children develop their musical abilities and foster true musicianship.
- Encourages the use of the most important instrument that we will ever have—our VOICE.
- Gives PHYSICAL PLACEMENT to each note in the major scale.
- AUDIATION or inner hearing is developed.
- Increases the ability to IMPROVISE.
- Improves SIGHT READING skills.
- We auraly learn MUSICAL RELATIONSHIPS independent of the key we are in.
A Story
I will illustrate with a story by KL Wong, a musician who learned to play the piano by taking traditional piano lessons:
I always admired people who could just improvise and play any tune on the keyboard. This was especially so because I sometimes played in a band and composed music, and not being able to do that was a severe handicap. It dawned on me, when looking down at the keyboard, that despite all those years of learning the piano, I basically didn’t really KNOW it at all! I could operate it mechanically, sure, but without any deep understanding of it.
Many years ago, I had a Filipino singing teacher who could also play the keyboard. He never took any piano exams, and could never play some of the pieces that I could. But he was someone who really understood the keyboard. He understood it as well as he understood his own voice. The keyboard was like an extension of his body. Just name him any song, and he’d be able to play it even if he had never played it before. A song was too high to sing to? No problem! He’d just transpose it down instantly.
So I asked him how he did it. And that, sadly, was the first time I heard about solfege (or “solfeggio”, as he called it).
“What’s that?” I asked.
“You know, like: Do, Re, Mi, Fa, So…” he replied.
“Oh, from ‘The Sound of Music’?” I asked. “Yes! I know that song!” I commented enthusiastically, though I still had no idea how a song from a popular musical could help.
My ignorance on the subject was plain to see. Since the day he enlightened me how solfege works (and that solfege did not ‘come from’ that song!), I have always kept in mind the importance of learning solfege.
Learning Solfege develops the ability to really KNOW music, not just to be able to produce pleasing sounds on the piano.
Like Reading
From BrillKids:
Imagine looking through a musical score and being able to ‘read’ it (by singing it out, or having the melodies reproduced in your head) as easily as you’re able to read a book (aloud or in your head). Knowing solfege is like being able to read words.
Conversely, not knowing solfege is like not knowing how to read out words. It’s like all you’re able to do when encountering words is to type them back out on a computer, and let the computer read the words out for you. In both cases, you have become dependent on that machine / instrument to be able to hear the words or music. By having focused on training our fingers to operate an external instrument instead of training our own musical instruments (our ear and voice), we’ve effectively outsourced the most crucial part of musicality, with dire consequences.
And similarly with writing. Knowing solfege is like being able to write out the words that you speak or hear. When listening to music, you know what notes are being played (at least relatively), so you’re able to write them out. Without solfege, the chances are, you’d be quite lost. It’s a bit like listening to someone talk but not being able to take dictation because you have not mastered the alphabet.
I am, therefore, thoroughly convinced as to the benefits of solfege towards developing musicality and a good ear. That’s why I consider any musical training (for any instrument) that does not include the teaching of solfege to be severely lacking.
Easy and NaturalCompare singing “C, D, E, F, G” (See, Dee, Ee, Eff, Gee) with singing “Do Re Mi Fa So” and it should be obvious which system is more practical for singing.
Teaching children to sing solfege is so easy and natural – which little child has reservations about singing out loud, even if it may not be in tune? If using the voice is encouraged and fostered from a young age, children grow up to being less self-conscious about singing.
I don't know anyone who doesn't enjoy listening to music, but not everyone is able to experience the joy of participating in the creation of music. Singing and playing music has been a profound source of happiness in my life. I love that I am able help children develop their musical abilities and foster true musicianship.
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Sneak Peak into 2nd year classroom
Let's Play Music on TV!
Take a sneak peak into a second year classroom while the creator of the program explains the philosophy and magic of Let's Play Music.
Take a sneak peak into a second year classroom while the creator of the program explains the philosophy and magic of Let's Play Music.
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Fox Hunt Puppet Show
I love listening to our "Fox Hunt" song and doing the puppet show, but there's nothing quite like seeing the actual orchestra performing the piece. Imagine the thrill of seeing it live! Totally awesome!
I love the intensity of this piece. It's the finale of the William Tell Overture.
Here's a few fun tidbits about the composer, Gioachino Antonio Rossini:
I love the intensity of this piece. It's the finale of the William Tell Overture.
Here's a few fun tidbits about the composer, Gioachino Antonio Rossini:
- He was born on Leap Day, 1792!
- Born in Italy to a family of musicians.
- At six years old he joined his father's band and played the triangle.
- At ten years old he started composing music and was often asked to play the piano and sing at church.
Friday, March 2, 2012
Registration for 2012!
Registration for the 2012 fall semester is NOW OPEN!
Why register now?
Guarantee your child's spot in a class!
Get first pick at your choice of class time!
AND get $5 off the deposit if you register by March 31!
Classes start August 14, 2012.Guarantee your child's spot in a class!
Get first pick at your choice of class time!
AND get $5 off the deposit if you register by March 31!
Let's Play Music, 1st year classes
Thursdays, 1:00 PM
Thursdays, 4:00 PM
Thursdays, 5:00 PM
Classes start August 16, 2012.
Let's Play Music, 2nd year classes (must complete 1st year first)
Tuesdays, 6:15 PM
Wednesdays, 4:00 PM
Wednesdays, 4:00 PM
Thursdays, 1:00 PM
Thursdays, 4:00 PM
Thursdays, 5:00 PM
Classes start August 16, 2012.
Let's Play Music, 2nd year classes (must complete 1st year first)
Tuesdays, 6:15 PM
Wednesdays, 4:00 PM
Wednesdays, 4:00 PM
How do I register?
I'm excited to announce that online registration is now available!
Or e-mail Kristi at kristiison@aim.com for a form.
Come to a class for free! See the Registration Info tab for details.
I'm excited to announce that online registration is now available!
Or e-mail Kristi at kristiison@aim.com for a form.
Come to a class for free! See the Registration Info tab for details.
Monday, February 27, 2012
I've Been to Harlem
The Bell Practice for "I've Been to Harlem" in Lesson 6 and 7 says to play the bells while you play each verse! In this video, Miss Kendra (another Let's Play Music teacher) and her son, Carson, play and sing the Major verse, then switch the bells and do the Minor verse.
If you don't have three mallets at home, you can use another object, like an unsharpened pencil or a wooden spoon handle to play all three bells at the same time. Fun, isn't it?
If you don't have three mallets at home, you can use another object, like an unsharpened pencil or a wooden spoon handle to play all three bells at the same time. Fun, isn't it?
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Bells are ringing!
Each Let's Play Music student gets his or her own set of tone bells. They love playing, singing, and learning with them!
Isn't it cool how the bells can be moved around?
They also have the Solfeggio scale (Do, Re, Mi...) engraved on them.
"Children quite naturally listen, sing, dance, play, and express themselves musically, with little or no previous training. When learning experiecnes are tailored to develop their musical abilities, then the complete musicians inside them begin to emerge." (from Music in Childhood by Patricia Shehan Campbell and Carol Scott-Kassner)
During the first year of Let's Play Music, students practice their bells at least once a week at home (or more!). Then in the second year the skills they learned on the bells transfer easily to the keyboard.
During class this week the children each got a turn to play the "red" chord in pieces on the bells: DO-MI-SOL. The rest of the class sang, "Goodbye, Old Paint." It's kind of a sad song about a cowboy saying goodbye to his horse.
The students are learning to keep a steady beat.
They are also learning about chords and harmony.
It's so exciting to me to see how much the children learn when we're having fun!
"The most successful lessons spring from the selection of a concept, embedded in a song or musical piece, which is then reinforced and expanded on through a variety of instructional strategies." (from Music in Childhood by Patricia Shehan Campbell and Carol Scott-Kassner)
That's exactly what we do!
Keep playing those bells! You're doing great!
Isn't it cool how the bells can be moved around?
They also have the Solfeggio scale (Do, Re, Mi...) engraved on them.
"Children quite naturally listen, sing, dance, play, and express themselves musically, with little or no previous training. When learning experiecnes are tailored to develop their musical abilities, then the complete musicians inside them begin to emerge." (from Music in Childhood by Patricia Shehan Campbell and Carol Scott-Kassner)
During the first year of Let's Play Music, students practice their bells at least once a week at home (or more!). Then in the second year the skills they learned on the bells transfer easily to the keyboard.
During class this week the children each got a turn to play the "red" chord in pieces on the bells: DO-MI-SOL. The rest of the class sang, "Goodbye, Old Paint." It's kind of a sad song about a cowboy saying goodbye to his horse.
The students are learning to keep a steady beat.
They are also learning about chords and harmony.
It's so exciting to me to see how much the children learn when we're having fun!
"The most successful lessons spring from the selection of a concept, embedded in a song or musical piece, which is then reinforced and expanded on through a variety of instructional strategies." (from Music in Childhood by Patricia Shehan Campbell and Carol Scott-Kassner)
That's exactly what we do!
Keep playing those bells! You're doing great!
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