My New Autoharp

Not too long ago I got the idea in my head that an autoharp would be perfect to get my students enthused about reading lead sheets and learning chords. When I was about 10 years old our classroom teacher would sometimes let a few of us stay after school and play on an old autoharp. That is where I think I learned about primary chords and a lot of music theory that I didn’t learn in piano lessons. It made learning the guitar and playing lead sheets a lot easier for me.

I started checking on eBay to see if I could afford a used one. I know something about autoharps because I used them when I taught elementary music education.  Every time I started at a new school I would get out the dusty autoharp and tune it up.

For several weeks my husband and I checked eBay often. I didn’t want to spend much, $35.00 tops. I wanted a name brand autoharp in case I needed to buy some parts, one  with all the strings, and a hard case. I figured I could tell by the descriptions if they were playable, but we knew we were taking a chance.

I bought a 20-year-old Oscar Schmidt because you can still get parts for this brand. It was out of tune and a few of the strings are pitchy. But it sounds fine, at least for a $35.00 autoharp. For comparison, on Amazon you can see the cost of a new Oscar Schmidt 15 chord autoharp, so I saved a lot of money buying an old one. It did not come with a tuning wrench, but I picked up one at my local music store for about $6.00. You can also order one from Amazon. I have to tune it more than I want to because it has been so long since it was tuned. Every time I tune it, it stays in tune longer, so I have hope for it. Right now I don’t want to invest in a new set of strings, which will cost more than the autoharp! If you think you might want to buy a used one, be sure you are comfortable with how to tune it, and don’t pay too much! If you can tune a guitar, you can tune an autoharp. It just takes longer.

I made some song charts for my students with easy chords and used it with all ages at my last set of group lessons. The songs had one, two, or three chords, depending on the age of the group. One of my goals with older students was to bridge the gap between playing I IV V7  and C F G7. The students and I had a lot of fun, and I think they learned a lot. What was amazing to me is that my students had never seen one before. I guess they aren’t used in school music programs any more! 

Now I wonder if I can arrange some music for autoharp and piano! Would that sound weird?

A New Piece on Sheet Music Plus

If you didn’t see my notice on Facebook last week, I have a new piece up on Sheet Music Plus. You can listen to Rain Rhythms here. It is a $3.99 digital download at the intermediate level.

Notey Noteheads – Cards for Beginning Readers

Notey Noteheads

I  decided to make a new set of notehead cards, a set that both teachers and parents can use. With that in mind, I made them the size of playing cards with only 3 pages to cut out. There is one page each for steps, skips, and repeats. I also included a very detailed parent/new teacher instruction guide that took me a lot of time to write, so I really hope it helps. Trust me, if you only show these cards to parents, they make no sense. Once parents see how they work, they are delighted to know they do not need to know how to read music to help their child! I loan these cards to parents, but you can also email parents the link for them to print. Remind them they are free!

Parents Guide Included in Notey Noteheads

There are 5 pages included in this printable. The first 3 pages are the cards. The 4th page is the colorful back to the cards, which seems really important to my students, because it makes it more fun. Children are very visual and are attracted to colorful images. The 5th page is the guide for parents. For those of you who have no idea how to print on the back of cards, or how to print only the first 3 pages,  I posted a tutorial on my FAQ page. Scroll down to read it. When cutting out the cards with printed backs, use the colorful side as your cutting guide.

There are notehead flash cards like these on my website, but they are larger, and I don’t think as user-friendly for parents or as enjoyable for students. Daily use of these cards when students are learning notes that move up, down, and repeat can make a big difference in their music reading abilities.

They can help both the precocious child, and the child who needs lots of extra help.

One more thing. Start with the stepping cards. If students have not been introduced to skipping notes, save them for later. Be sure to tell your parents which cards to use.

Pat the Cat’s Patting Song

Pat the Cat’s Patting Song

This is such an odd little printable that I hesitate to post it. However, I have a little pre-school student who loves it, so I thought I would share. My little student is so excited to be reading “notes on the staff”. I am using a lot of supplementary music to help him remember each guide note before we move on.

If you have a young child to use this with, just have fun with it. Don’t worry about keeping a steady beat, because my student can not do the motions and keep the beat. The purpose is just to distinguish between C and G in a fun way. If you like to teach pre-school children, you will probably figure out ways to use this that will make your little one laugh and have fun!  But because I can’t help it, (I’m a born teacher) here are a few ideas: 

• It can be used with a small group around the piano, letting students take turns playing. 
• The student can play the notes on a xylophone, while others do the motions.
• The student can “help” you make up words to the notes.
• The student can play and the teacher can do the motions, then reverse the process. 
• Ask the student to teach the motions to his Mom or Dad. 

By the way, cat in Spanish starts with G (gato), so maybe you can do something with that!

Roses in the Springtime – a Primer Level Solo

Roses in the Springtime

I’ve had a few teachers ask me if I would re-post Roses in the Springtime, a primer level solo with the philosophy that money can’t buy everything. One of my students took my poem very literally, and was upset that I would give all my money away! She didn’t quite understand poetic license!

Anyway, there are some skips in this melody, and I put the right hand in middle D position. If that bothers you, change the fingering. This song is very pretty with an improvised broken chord teacher duet. It is pentatonic, with no half steps, so Kodaly teachers can sing it with hand signs.

I would like to thank everyone for your heartwarming response to my newly published books on Sheet Music Plus. I had no idea I would sell so many books so quickly! Please let me know if your students enjoy them.

More Sunny Solos-the Sequel

Well, I have to admit publishing my books on Sheet Music Plus has been quite an adventure. After I found out my first book, Sunny Solos, was printing all squished up, I stayed up all night reformatting it in portrait orientation. Like most primer level books, my original Sunny Solos was made in landscape orientation, but that did not work with Sheet Music Plus’ software, and no one noticed it until I started getting email from my readers.

Fortunately, the sequel to the first book, which my students happily and quite originally named More Sunny Solos, was already in portrait orientation, and as of today, it is available at Sheet Music Plus. [This time I actually bought my OWN book and printed it, just to make sure it was printing correctly. I used a PC, running Windows 7 and Google Chrome.]

Here is a little information about More Sunny Solos. It takes up where the first Sunny Solos leaves off. It has original color art drawn exclusively for this book. There are 19 eight-measure pieces with teacher duets, as well as a certificate, table of contents, and cover page. The focus of this book is to practice, in a fun way, the concepts students will need to be successful in their next method book. Here is the first piece in the book.

The piece, Where is My Soccer Ball, reviews a tie over a bar line. 

Do you ever have a student who finishes their primer method book, but you just don’t think they are ready to move on to the level? This is a good book for them to have fun and grow a little before they go into their next book. I also use it to evaluate transfer students, as a supplementary book, and as a sight-reading book.

Here is a link where you can see both books. Thank you SO very much for your heartwarming support and encouragement! If you have a printing problem, please use the contact number on the Sheet Music Plus website and I’m sure they will help you resolve it. If you previously bought Sunny Solos, be on the lookout for an email from them with a coupon code to buy the new version.

Sunny Solos Is Now Listed on Sheet Music Plus

[New Update, April 11: I am happy to report that the new version of Sunny Solos is now available. I did an extreme make-over on the book! It is now in portrait orientation! This will make it a lot easier to put in your student's binder. I was able to keep the staff and notes the same large size as before, and the duets are still on the page, as well as the color art. If you have purchased a copy of the first version, Sheet Music Plus will be sending you an email with how you can download a copy of the new book! I would like to thank everyone for their patience with this matter!]

[Update, Friday, April 5 PM: I am very sorry to announce that Sheet Music Plus was not able to post my book in landscape orientation. The program they use put it in a very squished portrait format. I am working with them to get it resolved with a new version of Sunny Solos that will work with their software. It should be up after Wednesday, when they update their website. If you have already purchased Sunny Solos, they will be sending you a coupon for another copy. Sheet Music Plus asked me to relay how sorry they are about not being able to offer my book in landscape. They are going to do everything to make it right for all the teachers who ordered it.  When you try something new, there are bumps along the way. We will get it fixed as soon as possible!]

I am so excited that my piano book Sunny Solos is now available for immediate purchase on Sheet Music Plus as a digital download! This book covers the first half of most primer level method books and contains 21 eight-measure pieces with lyrics and teacher duets. These are pieces for students who are just learning to read on the staff.

I use this book with all of my young beginner students, and I think it fills a void for the younger student who needs some beginning, on the staff, supplementary music. I also use it for transfer students who have finished their primer level method book, but are not quite ready to go on, and really need a review of the first half of the primer level.  For example, Car Pool uses only two notes, and students are so excited they can play it right away.

If you have a transfer student who can only play in C-position and you want to move them into one of the newer level one method books, Sunny Solos helps with that transition. Many of the pieces gently introduce them to music with their thumbs in other positions, in an easy-to-play way. For example, in the following example, their right thumb is on D, and students hardly even notice. 

I purposely left off a lot of finger numbers, and when I need them, we write them in. I find I never need to write in too many, but a few finger numbers helps the insecure student. I do not want any student to get frustrated while using this book!

If you purchase Sunny Solos, be sure to print it in landscape orientation.

More Sunny Solos is coming soon!

The Incredible Whole Rest – Another NoteBoy Poster

The Incredible Whole Rest

Do your students think that a whole rest always gets 4 beats? If so, they probably get confused when they are asked to add a rest for the entire measure in 3/4 time and not use dotted rests! According to the Oxford Concise Dictionary of Music, “The whole-note rest is used as a whole measure rest, irrespective of the actual time-value of the measure.”

I print out my NoteBoy posters on cardstock and laminate them. Then I place them on the sofa table in my studio for students to read and chuckle before their lesson. Humor has a way of sticking to your memory!

Teachers always ask me who is the note with the red cape and mask who always has a little comment to make. He is Mighty Dot, the super hero who wears black and flies to notes to make them longer. He’s a powerful guy. In my mind he has an accent kind of like Zorro, and he is an expert in rhythm and all things theory related!

If you are not familiar with my NoteBoy posters, check them out. There are NoteBoy posters on all kinds of music theory, such as lead sheet, ledger lines, and chord inversions, and they are all my gift to your music students.  My students love them! Let me know if yours do, too!

Essential Elements Piano Theory by Mona Rejino

Essential Elements Piano Theory by Mona Rejino

I have attended many presentations by Mona Rejino over the years. Mona is a piano teacher as well as a composer with the music publisher Hal Leonard. Recently at the MTNA conference Mona gave me a tour of her new theory course, Essential Elements Piano Theory, and discussed her motivation in writing this series.

Mona said that when she was a student she did not understand how completing theory pages would make her a better musician. With that in mind, she set about writing a theory course with a bridge between theoretical and practical.

Each paperback book in this course is the size of a method book with about 40 pages. Level One starts at the very beginning, learning the alphabet letters on the keyboard.

My first impression is that this series is written by a piano teacher who understands what students need in beginning theory. Concepts are presented sequentially, moving right along with no busy work. The layout is clean and uncluttered. Since there are no age specific graphics on the page, it can be used with older beginners who often need to learn a lot of theory quickly. While the series is not directed at the preschool age group, music students vary widely in their abilities and the font in level one is large enough for first graders. There is even an online Teacher’s Answer Key on the Hal Leonard website.

There are 8 units in each book. Each level contains three Musical Mastery sections where students work on ear training, answer questions, as well as analyze a short piano piece that they can also play. For example, after unit eight, students study Yankee Doodle and analyze theory concepts they have learned. As a bonus, they can play Yankee Doodle. In this way, theory becomes more meaningful.

As the series progresses, the analysis in the Musical Mastery section is more detailed. In addition, students learn, in a gradual way, improvisation, transposition, chord progressions, and reading lead lines.

Here are some ideas on ways to use this course:

• In theory classes
• Summer music camps
• Preparation for the Texas State Theory Test
• Other theory examination programs
• Teaching improvisation and reading lead lines
• A supplement to any method book
• Home school music classes

Essential Elements Piano Theory is published by Hal Leonard. At the present time there are 4 levels and I hope there are more to come!

Disclosure: I received a teacher reference copy at the MTNA convention. The opinions are completely my own.

I Can Count Rests

I Can Count Rests

As a teacher or parent, you already know that children vary greatly in the ages they learn cognitive skills. I tried today’s I Can Count Rests  and its companion,  I Can Count Rhythm, with preschool children and they had no trouble writing the number of beats the notes/rests received, but had trouble drawing the notes. They also drew a blank when it came to the last section, counting the notes. So I am not recommending these rhythm worksheets for children who cannot add and subtract. The part where they have to cross out the extra rest is too complex, and it is a lot harder than the math they are doing in school.

On the other hand, a 7-year-old loved the last section the best and thought it was so much fun she asked me to make her some more examples just like it.

[I have a silly poster that helps them learn the difference between whole and half rests. If your students get mixed up, try using this printable. It really helps.]

In my last post, I listed some easy rhythm games. To keep you from having to go back,  here are the links again for simple  games to review rests and notes: Quarter Note Hunt, Fish Rhythm Matching Cards,  Rhythm Round About, Counting Up the Mountain, and the black ink Rhythm Memory Game.

I hope you find just the right age for these worksheets. They are large enough to use on an iPad or some tablet of that size. Click on the title link under the picture to print them, and be sure you are using the latest version of Adobe Reader.

Some teachers in places I would love to visit have asked about a version using the UK names for notes and rests. I don’t have time to post it, but for a limited time if you will send me your email address,  I will be happy to email it to you.

I Can Count Rhythm – a Beginning Worksheet

I Can Count Rhythm

Today I am posting the second worksheet in my “I Can” series for young beginners. My last post was I Can Write the Music Alphabet. The one I am posting today reviews rhythm. I think that it is also big enough to use on the iPad.

As with all of my worksheets, this is free for personal use. In order to print, click on the picture or the link below the picture. That will take you to another page, where you will select “download”.

I am working on a worksheet like this for rests, so hold on and I’ll post it this week. Meanwhile, don’t forget these fun rhythm games for the younger set: Quarter Note Hunt, Fish Rhythm Matching Cards,  Rhythm Round About, and Counting Up the Mountain. Average age beginners will learn rhythm values quickly with the black ink Rhythm Memory Game.

If you use all of these games with your beginning students, they will probably learn rhythm note values very easily!

I Can Write the Music Alphabet Worksheet

I Can Write the Music Alphabet

I love to make theory worksheets for my students! Just a little bit of color makes them so much more fun for students.

This worksheet is for beginning students who are learning the music alphabet. I made it with large, easy to read print for younger children. The larger print also makes it possible to use this on your iPad with older beginners who can write smaller. You will have to experiment because pre-children vary a lot in their ability to write on the iPad.

All my printables are free for personal use. In order to print, click on the picture or the link below the picture. That will take you to another page, where you will select “download”.

I am making a series of these larger worksheets for my younger students. I will post more as I have time. I hope you enjoy them!

St. Patrick’s Day Material

Here are some St. Patrick’s Day printables for elementary age students that I’ve made over the years. There is nothing new here, but I’m posting it for new readers.  To download, click on the link below the picture, not the picture itself.

St. Patrick’s Day Card for your students

I used these last year and my student’s loved them! The are little shamrock cards that fold up. I add a gold foil covered chocolate coin inside! If you don’t have green paper, use some stickers or decorate with green markers.

Shamrock composing activity

Let’s Go Marching is a pre-reading activity that even beginners can do. Use either finger numbers or note names.

Let’s All Go Marching, a composing activity on-the-staff

This is the same composing activity as above, but designed for students who have learned a five-finger hand-position and can draw notes.

Shamrock Keyboard Game

This is one of the best games for learning piano keys. it is even good for older students. I’ve made this game with designs for all the seasons, and this one works well for St. Patrick’s Day.

Shamrock Notes for St. Patrick’s Day

This is good way for beginning students to practice writing all the notes on the grand staff. I’ve learned that if students discover that notes on the staff just move up the alphabet, they are less fearful about learning them.

Shamrock Rhythms Game

Last year I re-made the graphic of this game because my original used a ton of ink. But you only have to print out one copy.  Students draw cards to find missing rhythm values in a measure. There are some circle shaped cards to cut out. It is game for older elementary students who are comfortable with note values. It also can be used as a theory class game or file folder game. Print on cardstock and laminate for durability.

Clover Full of Notes Rhythm Worksheet

This is a worksheet, so you can print one copy of this and either laminate it or place it inside a sheet protector and use dry erase pens. I made this as a review for students who have already learned rhythm values. This also looks fine printed in black in with no color. Does anyone want an outline only copy they can color in group lessons or music class?  Let me know and I’ll try to make one.

Mini Ledger Line Flash Cards

Mini Ledger Line Flash Cards

Now that Valentine’s Day is over, I’ll have to change the background on my blog. I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but I made different green backgrounds for each holiday. I started doing it because I seem to forget that holidays are coming up. Then I don’t get to use all the holiday material I’ve made! So down go the hearts, and up go the shamrocks.

Today I am posting the ledger line version of the mini flash cards I posted the other day. I like to tell my students that even though I won a ledger line contest when I took piano, I didn’t remember them. Every time I would get to a ledger line note in my music, I would have to stop and think, and count up or down. Finally I got sick of not knowing them quickly, and made myself a set of flash cards (yes, even way back then I was making flash cards…) and practiced, until I finally had them really set in my memory.

Those of you who are visual learners have no idea how hard it is for some of us to learn to read notes quickly on the staff. In my case, notes tend to jump around on the page, first looking like a B and then a D. I used to get so confused and I still do sometimes! To make matters worse, my eyes turn anything with lines and patterns into 3D, which is not good for note reading.

I think not knowing ledger lines notes quickly is one reason intermediate students break down when they sight read. I hope these cards will help.

Mini Flash Cards

Mini Flash Cards

Years and years of flipping flash cards for the One Minute Club has left its toll on my old set of mini flash cards. I needed a new set, and while I was at it, I made a few changes. I moved up the placement of the staves so that my thumb has a place to hold the card without covering the bass notes. Then it popped into my head that some of my students with learning problems might do better if the bass and treble clefs are different colors. So far it’s really helped. Let me know if you think it’s a good idea, too. Of course, you can always print them on the same color card stock. I do not recommend laminating these cards if you plan to use them for speed.

The nice thing about mini flash cards is that they can sit on your piano all the time and not get in the way.

There are only two pages to this printable, one page for the treble clef and on for the bass. I know some of you are wondering, where are the ledger line mini-cards? Well, they are coming. Check back in a few days!

If you are looking for larger flash cards and a file with answers to print on the back, click here for the flash cards and here for the reverse side with the answers. This is a good set for parents to print out for their children.

Colorful Flower Themed Practice Sheet

Flower Practice Chart

Last week I posted a robot themed practice chart. But some students, especially my young girls, prefer a more colorful version. So today I am sharing with you a practice chart full of pink and blue, and if you look real carefully, some tiny ponies at the bottom.

If your students like this, they may also like Over the Rainbow One Two Three and Stuck in the Tar Pits. I pull out these practice aids to teach students how to spot practice. The links will give you more information about how to use them.  If the cost of ink is too much for your studio’s budget, here are some suggestions.

• Consider a yearly printing fee on top of your monthly tuition.
• The robot and flower practice charts are for home use, so send the link and ask parents to print  it.
• Make one copy of the Tar Pit and Over the Rainbow practice aids for your studio. Then either laminate them, cover with clear book vinyl book cover material, or insert in sheet protectors. Now you can use them at your lessons for years.
• Print on “fast” or “economy” mode.
• It is more economical to buy a printer with separate cartridges for each color of ink. These printers cost more initially, but save money in the long run.
• Some parents might own or work at a business that will print things for your studio.
• Keep good records and deduct the cost of ink on your income tax.

Robot Practice Chart

Robot Practice Chart

One of my piano parents asked if I had a practice chart for her son. Actually I did, since I seem to have all kinds of things sitting in my files from years past but it wasn’t very appealing.  So I drew some robots, a favorite with boys, and added a piano border. I’m sharing with you today.

If you want a chart for young girls who are just not into robots, hold on. In the next few days I will post a very “girly” practice chart with lots of pink and purple!

Some Valentine Games, Music, and Activities

Here are some Valentine’s Day music and activities that I’ve posted over the years. First I list 7 elementary piano solos, and then some worksheets and games. Click on the link below the picture to download this Valentine’s Day Material.

Roses Are Red- for the first few weeks of lessons

Chocolate Valentines pre-reading

Chocolate Valentines on-the-staff

Love Somebody Pre-reading

Love Somebody Primer (on-the-staff)

Love Somebody Level 2 (8th notes and some hands together)

There’s a Little Wheel a-Turning in my Heart (late elementary)

Write a Valentine’s Song (a composing activity)

Valentine Notes (a worksheet to write notes on a grand staff)

Valentine Note  worksheet  (draw lines to connect notes to the staff)

Rhythm Heart Beats (for dictation) You can put this one on your IPad and save paper!

More Rhythm Heart Beats

Valentine Note Hunt – a student favorite!

Hearts and Clubs – Notes

Hearts and Clubs – Intervals

Hearts and Clubs – Keyboard Flash Cards (use these instead of note flash cards with the Hearts and Clubs Notes board game.

Steal a Heart – a board game for group lessons. This is good for reviewing ledger lines with your older students. My middle school students love this game in group lessons.

Cards for Steal a Heart – the PDF contains many ledger line cards.

If you want to keep up with other Valentine’s Day material I may post, you can subscribe to this Word Press blog at the top. It is completely private and you can unsubscribe any time.

2013 One Minute Club Cards

One Minute Club Cards

Here are the updated One Minute Club cards for this year. I made mine using pre-perforated 2″ x 3.5″ business cards, 10 to a page, which you can find at any business supply store.  However, for those of you who want to use plain card stock, I also added cutting lines. I let the yellow background bleed a little past the cutting lines in case your paper shifts as you print.

If you are a new reader or maybe a parent who wants to help, here are some answers to questions you may have.

What is the One Minute Challenge?

This is a way for students to learn to say and play notes on the grand staff. If they can do it in 60 seconds or less, then they get this membership card. Once a student is the fastest in my studio, they win a gift card (my students like iTunes or restaurant cards) and “retire.”  I don’t run contests as motivation, but this is something that has really worked in my studio. I got the idea of a One Minute Club years ago from an article by Jane Bastien, the noted piano composer and teacher. I thought up the idea of a different card each year when I noticed my elementary students liked to collect cards or put things in scrapbooks. You can watch a video here.

How many flash cards do you use?

I use 21 cards, the entire grand staff from bass G to treble F.

What do they do with the cards?

I give my elementary age students a plastic badge holder with a ball chain and attach it to their music bag. I ask middle and high school students if they want one.

With what age group do you use these cards?

I made the cards for elementary age children about age 8 to 11, but all my older students participate in the contest, unless they were the overall fastest in a previous year.  In my studio, it usually takes several years of lessons before a student can do this in less than one minute. Only a few students in grades 2-3  can do it, and I usually don’t even try it with younger students. They do not have the coordination. Older students are more interested in the gift card I give to the overall fastest student and don’t really want the “membership card.” Use your judgement as a teacher.

Why do they have to play the note as well as say the note name? Isn’t it enough to know the name of the note? 

Piano students need to know where to quickly move their hands when they see a note that is not in a five-finger position. The faster they can do this, the better they are at sight-reading. You will see sight-reading improve as well as the student’s self-confidence when they can find notes quickly. However, while it will help, it is not the cure to sight-reading problems if the student has difficulty tracking the notes on the staff. Good sight readers do  not think of individual notes as they play, but in patterns of intervals. This is just one part of the difficult skill of sight-reading.

How much time do you spend on this at a lesson?

I run the challenge for about 2 months. I don’t think a lot of time should be spent on this. Just a couple of minutes each week can reap great rewards if the student is prepared in the first place. If students take over 2 minutes, I usually need to prepare them better before I start timing. Often the problem is simply developmental. Students need to learn gradually and in a child-centered manner. That takes time and patience on the teacher’s part. Before you start flash cards, use a lot of activities and games to learn the note names. There are many on my website and other sites in the links on this blog. Don’t let this turn into drudgery!

I gave up on this because my students don’t like flash cards.  Do you have any suggestions?

Well, make sure they are old enough, know all their notes, and have the potential to be successful. Everyone in your studio does not have to participate. Sometimes I tell reluctant but capable, older students that they don’t have to win or even be able to do it in a minute. But parents are paying a lot for lessons and the least they expect is for students to learn notes and where they are located on the piano.  I have noticed that the ones who need it the most are the most reluctant. That’s natural, because kids like to do things they are good at. Once they start getting faster it becomes so much more fun. If your student has a learning disability, tread very carefully.

These cards are not  centered correctly when I print them out on my blank business cards. 

When you print the PDF file, under “size options” select “actual size.” You have to have the latest update to Adobe Reader for it to print correctly. This is a free download you can get at the Adobe Reader website.

What is the time of your fastest student?

Usually the fastest student in any given year is about 21 seconds. My fastest student did it in 17 seconds several years ago. The order of the cards when you flip them for students will determine how fast they can perform, so I try very hard to keep the cards in the same order for the entire contest period. Also, the teacher flipping the cards has to be fast, too!

Chart to Record One Minute Club Times

Chart for One Minute Club

Every year I challenge my students to say and play flash cards on the piano in one minute or less. Over the years I’ve posted how I do this, so if you’re curious, read some of my old blog posts. Click here to watch a very short video of my students saying and playing flash cards and you will get the idea.

Today I am posting a chart to get you started. Notice that this chart uses the “varsity” theme that matches the calendar I posted back in the fall.

Remember, you cannot expect younger children to have the fine motor skills to do this under a minute, but it is a goal. By 5th grade, most students can do this, unless they have special problems.

To be honest, I don’t think this helps sight-reading all that much, because music reading uses a different skill set. But it does give students confidence and helps when they have to move quickly from one position to another. I’ve found that if I have a fun, light-hearted approach, students will, too. With little ones I start with just a few notes at a time and over the years work up to the entire grand staff.

I will post the membership cards and a new certificate for 2013 soon!

A Snail’s Gotta Do What a Snail’s Gotta Do

Snail, Snail

Recently I sang this with a preschool student to help him find his singing voice. After numerous questions that only a 4-year-old can ask, such as, “Why did the snail want to go around the water pail?” and “What is a water pail?” he started giggling and told me he “liked this song.” Trying hard not to get distracted, I told him that was just what snails like to do. Then he asked me to teach him how to play it on the piano.

So, always ready to please my students (preschool children are so more easier to please than high school students!), I wrote it out for the piano. I have to admit I get a little thrilled when a student asks to play something. This time his questions were about my drawings. (“Why is the snail smiling? Why is he green and orange? Why is the water blue? What does a snail eat? What if he falls in the water pail?”). I hope you have a sense of humor because you need it with children.

Getting back to piano, notice that Snail, Snail is played with the third finger of each hand. This is my sneaky way to help little students learn to brace their third finger and drop into the keys. If you have a beginner who is having trouble developing a rounded hand shape, maybe this piece will help. If you are a parent helping your child, be sure to drop into the keys, not lift individual fingers. Try to help them keep all their fingers rounded and not poking out this way and that. Suggest that their hand is holding a cute green snail and we don’t want to crush it!

You can learn about the braced finger from Nancy and Randall Faber’s Piano Adventures and My First Piano Adventures. If you’re not sure how to teach the concept, check out their videos. [On their homepage click Teacher Guides, > My First PA Tour and Videos, > Video Lesson Guide, and watch Hangin' on a Fence Post.]