There are some real treasures on the internet for cool graphics and design elements. Some of them I just came across recently and wish I knew about years ago! istockphoto.com – This is one I became familiar with when I was working with my designer for the cover of my book. The quality of the […]
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Monday Mailbag – Age Appropriate Practice Incentives
I love your incentive ideas! Just wondering if you use them with your entire studio, or only up to a certain age. I have always felt uncertain about students perhaps outgrowing incentives, and have generally phased them out by high school. Yes, I use my practice incentive themes with the whole studio. It’s definitely a […]
Checking Your Pulse
One of the areas that I am constantly aware of need for improvement in my studio is playing with a sense of pulse. We’ve spent an entire month highlighting just this aspect of playing, but I realize that it needs to be a part of every lesson. Instrumental students definitely have an advantage in learning […]
Music Memory Online Game
When I was putting together some links for on-line listening games for my students this year, I came across this fun Music Memory game! It’s a different way of approaching melodic dictation, but I think it’s fun (and addicting!). There’s also a great Pattern Memory game that seems good for building visual pattern recognition.
Rethinking Competitions
I’ve never been a competition teacher. Whether it’s because I never participated in competitions growing up or because of some of the negative aspects I’ve observed in those who compete, I just haven’t seen them as having much value. But thanks, in part, to a workshop I attended this past summer at our state conference, […]
New Suzuki Violin Recordings and Giveaway!
Early on in my teaching, I began hearing about the Suzuki method. I did some preliminary research and was fascinated by the concept and approach. So, I decided to go a step further and went to a Suzuki Institute. What an incredible experience! Even though I ultimately decided to adopt a more traditional approach for […]