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Here are some of the latest from Chrissyโ€™s Studio!  For more frequent updates, visit our Facebook Page.

To learn more about our classes, follow the links for pianoukuleleviolin/viola, and voice!  For theory and composition, please contact Chrissy!

Why You Should Have Your Child Learn an Instrument!

Thursday, July 15, 2021 by Chrissy Misso | making music

Listening to music from a young age has so many benefits, but when you add learning an instrument, those EXPLODE ๐Ÿ’ฅ!

I have a list of 10 ways your child (preschool, elementary, middle school, high school ... all ages) will benefit, but it could go on -- I witness these developments in my students week-to-week and year-to-year!

Here are my top reasons you should sign your kid up (we start teaching piano at 3!) with a little on how we achieve some of these things in class!

  • Music lessons develop the skills that provide a firm foundation for learning.
    • read on... ๐Ÿ˜‰ 
  • ๐Ÿ“š Improve reading skills, increase vocabulary and language ability.
    • Music is built on an alphabet, uses expressive words from other languages, and requires students to display an understanding of the directions.
  • ๐Ÿ‘‚ Develop aural awareness, listening, abstract thinking and imagination.
    • We practice listening and interpretation by listening to recorded music and each other.
      • What does that piece make you think of? Did you expect those sounds based on the title?
    • We need to follow the beat and figure out where silences and long notes fit together!
    • Students also work on recognising specific types of motion and harmonies.
  • ๐Ÿง  โฐ Increase memory skills, builds concentration and attention span.
    • Learning and practicing take time, when you help your child build the habit of practicing at home, they learn priorities and how to make the most of their time.
      • Even kids with ADHD can benefit!
  • ๐Ÿ‘ง๐Ÿป๐Ÿ‘ฆ๐Ÿฝ Build social skills, self-discipline, patience and improve behaviour.
    • We learn music history and introduce music from other cultures -- this helps kids find ways to connect with pupils of different backgrounds.
    • Students are also able to play songs together, which helps them develop communication with their partners and improve on their side of a "malfunction"
  • ๐Ÿง ๐Ÿ”ฃ Stimulate and strengthen the same part of the brain needed for maths and reasoning.
    • Music is math! Really! Students learn how notes relate to each other when they are held for different lengths.
      • Remember those aural skills we mentioned above?
    • As students progress, music theory deepens the number relations with intervals and chords.
  • โœ‹ ๐Ÿคš Develop fine motor skills needed for writing and other delicate tasks.
    • We get all those fingers involved in the music! Students will learn how to get fingers operating independently to play different notes and sequences.
    • We are working on coordination -- each note on the page needs to become a sound in a specific way!
  • ๐Ÿ˜‰โ˜บ๏ธ Music performance teaches kids to deal with nerves and stressful presentation situations like interviews.
    • Music boosts confidence!  As students share their progress with family, friends, each other, and their teacher they get more comfortable being the focus!
    • Preparing for mishaps and training to push through mistakes helps reassure kids and enables them to think on their feet.
  • ๐Ÿ“ˆ๐Ÿง Children who have music lessons score higher in their SATs writing, maths & science and higher grades in general.
    • Playing an instrument utilises both sides of the brain -- you are being creative yet following math and science!
  • ๐Ÿ˜„๐Ÿ™ƒ Build confidence and emotional growth and make a happier child.
    • Children who play an instrument have an outlet for creativity and their emotions -- this is especially important when they haven't yet figured out how to verbalise their emotions or, as the get older, are afraid to talk about some of them!

Now, get your child into a music class ASAP! ๐Ÿ˜‰ 

Just looking at the little kids' options, we have: ๐Ÿ“š ๐ŸŽถ Music & Stories for toddlers and preschoolers, ๐ŸŽน piano for ages 3 and up, ๐ŸŽธ ukulele for ages 4 and up!

Older students can start ๐ŸŽป violin, viola, or ๐ŸŽ™ voice as well!


Need more research?  Check out these links from other teachers and experts:

12 Benefits of Music Education from Children’s Music Workshop

https://kidsguitar.info/benefits-of-music-education/

Music and Movement – Instrumental in Language Development from Early Childhood News

https://www.classicfm.com/discover-music/reasons-to-play-a-musical-instrument/

The Benefits of Music Education from The Royal Conservatory

https://moderntonestudios.com/blog/10-reasons-every-child-should-play-musical-instrument/

Summer Practice Tips & Tricks

Wednesday, June 16, 2021 by Chrissy Misso | Summer

Summer can be tough for our musical practice endeavours, but if we don't keep those muscles going, we have a LOT of ground to make up for later!

Some of the summer tricks are similar to the rest of the year:

  1. Make it a habit -- pick a time that works almost every day for your student to practice. Set an alarm, tie it to another activity ... get it done!
  2. Make it accessible -- put your piano in a popular room in the house, keep the music stand out in the open!
  3. Make it fun . . . do something silly!! (Talk to Chrissy about getting a list of silly yet helpful things!)
  4. If there's room, take it with you -- some instruments are portable, so bring them along!  Make sure you talk to your teacher on travel tips or, if it's too big, ask about printables or "subs" to take with you!

Did you know you can "practice" without your instrument?  Here are some ideas to keep them going at camp or non-instrument vacation:

  1. Download a note naming app to keep your reading sharp! (haha! see what I did there?)
  2. Listen to your pieces and air play along!
  3. Sing your music -- it's easier to play when you can sing it anyway!
  4. Learn about a composer you've seen in your books
  5. Write a song without trying it out on your instrument -- use your theory knowledge!

So know you know how to keep your music muscles strong over the summer!  Keep playing! 

Summer Music Fun!!

Wednesday, May 19, 2021 by Chrissy Misso | Summer

The music keeps going!!  We have lessons and "camps" to enjoy this summer and keep your fingers playing!

 Did you know that for each day you don't play it takes 2 consecutive days to get it back?  That means if you miss ONE week, you need to practice for TWO weeks to get it back ... now you're almost a month behind in your progress! *scream*  We need to keep the muscle memory, flexibility, and endurance up to play and sing well!

 To help you keep up over the busy summer, we still have a weekly schedule but also have FLEX PACKAGES (8 and 10 lesson options) that you can schedule throughout the summer when they work for you!

 For camps, we are exploring how science can meet music and introducing preschoolers to music!  If you would like to sign up for a camp, please visit this page for more details!

Happy Earth Day

Thursday, April 22, 2021 by Chrissy Misso | STEAM

We love celebrating things . . . today we get to celebrate EARTH!!

We have a couple book and song ideas for you! . . . some of these might make an appearance at Preschool Story Time on Saturday *wink*!

  • One Earth by Eileen Spinelli
    • Count some of the amazing things on our planet one to ten and back down again!  Add in songs or discussions about each thing!
  • We've Got the Whole World in OUR Hands
    • This is a great song to get EVERYONE singing since many of us grew up singing it!  Use this traditional to teach kids how to care for the planet!
  • I See A Song by Eric Carle
    • Yes, the author of The Very Hungry Caterpillar has a colourful book about a musician and his violin.  Read it and then head outside to hear what music is happening in nature!
  • If Youโ€™re a Kid (Earth Day Remix) by Harry Kindergarten
    • Kids can help too, and this song gives them ideas on how to get started!!
  • All Around Us by Xelena Gonzalez
    • With a girl and her grandfather, explore the cycle of nature in a colourful story!
  • Mother Earth from Children Love to Sing
    • This is an action song, so get your jazzercise moves out!!
    • Find it here
  • What a Wonderful World - a book and song!
    • check out this special Earth Day read from KidsTimeStoryTime on Youtube! this special

Our piano classes are also playing a special race game for the occasion: Planet Earth Grand Prix (from PianoGameClub)!



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