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! 

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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!

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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 You’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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Thursday, March 18, 2021 by Chrissy Misso | performing

We hope everyone had a fun St. Patrick's Day!

Our string students had some fiddling fun with some traditional Irish and Drinking Songs ... it's the perfect time to work on our quick bowing and furiously fast fingers.

Because fiddling tunes take a few different techniques than the classical repertoire that our students usually have in their rotation, we start working on these tunes at the beginning of February.  Learning gentle slides, triplet rhythm and beat balance, and double stop bowing . . . we just need them to jig and play simultaneously! (haha! anyone know someone who teaches Irish dancing?)

Check out Evan & Michelle's work on our Facebook page:

Irish Washerwoman: https://fb.watch/4SNL5h1XEg/

Drunken Sailor: https://fb.watch/4SNNzjWOaJ/

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