Dear students and parents,

I hope everyone got to have some fun in the sun today! Note that I will always send home the week’s work and notes on a piece of paper with the student, so they can keep it handy by the piano for reference, and of course parents are welcome and encouraged to read it as well.

Summary of practice for the week:

 

Madison

Madison, I believe in you that you can make some truly staccato sounds on the piano! Take just five minutes most days in the C position (or anywhere else!) and play (always on the tips of your fingers with a well lifted, “claw” shaped hand) a few notes detached and then as staccato as you can, making sure you can easily hear the difference between the detached and staccato playing. The Get Away song will benefit so much! Good work!

NEW SONG! Alouette – Practice at your leisure and style for next week and we’ll tackle it together. :)

Melody

Melody thanks for your enthusiasm and genuine effort every week! Keep practicing not lifting so quickly off of the first note of two repeated notes — you definitely want to detach them but have sticky fingers and keep them as close together as possible. 10 min/day

Draw a STAFF with a TREBLE CLEF and FIVE LINES and draw the notes C,D,E,F,G. Look at these notes throughout the week in different songs in your book and get to know what they look like ON THE STAFF so that when you are learning a new song and anytime you simply are wondering what the next note might be, you will have a clearer and easier time! :D Good work!

NEW SONG! Old Uncle Bill – start your learning of this piece only after completing all your other practice for the week!

Juliette

Great work this week Juliette, you are a great listener and fast learner. Coordinating what to separate/detach and what to play smoothly in Lavender’s Blue and in When You Grow Up is a little tricky but you are getting it really well! Practice those trouble spots we talked about/I noted on your paper. Both are almost performance ready!

NEW SONG! Kumbayah – Learning this song will be great practice in helping you recognize note names from the notes on the page in order to improve your reading. Before you start playing, take 2 – 5 minutes to look over the notes in the piece and know what they are called. Use the strategy we went over of using the previous note to help you understand the next one (eg, is it one step higher or lower, is it a step or jump? Did you see the note anywhere else in the piece? FACE/All Cows Eat Grass, etc.)

Wonderful work, keep it up. :)