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

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

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.

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.

[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!