Note from Natalie: Anyone who’s been around here a while knows that I love children’s books and I have a whole section of the Music Matters Blog website devoted to Music Books for Kids. So I was especially thrilled when author Heather Donovan contacted me about her new adorable children’s book about Gustav and his […]
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Rhythm Practice Games for Music Lessons – A Guest Post by Spin the Wheel
Note from Natalie: As a student who struggled with internalizing a sense of musical pulse, I especially appreciate the way that Spin the Wheel incorporates different movements into their rhythm activities to help students not only understand rhythmic notation cognitively, but feel it musically as well! Rhythm Practice Games for Music Lessons: Create a Music […]
New Free Music Listening Worksheets!
Sixteen years ago I shared a listening worksheet that I used with my piano students at the request of another teacher. It has to be one of the most boring worksheets I’ve ever created! I’ve had it on my to-do list for a while now to create a new one that I’m not embarrassed to […]
New Practice Incentive Theme is Here! Save 20%!
If you are looking for a way to motivate and guide your piano students to become excellent sightreaders, Cracking the Crystal Code may be just what you’re looking for! We have just wrapped up this year-long practice incentive theme in our piano studio and it is one of the favorites we have ever done. It has […]
3 Problems with the Landmark Notes Method – A Guest Post by Rowina Seidler
A note from Natalie: UK educator Rowina Seidler has done some fascinating firsthand research into helping students become more proficient with note identification. With our practice incentive theme this year entirely focused on developing sightreading fluency (Cracking the Crystal Code), this is of particular interest to me! I hope you enjoy reading about her research […]
A Guide to Affordable High Quality Guitars from Martin Guitar – A Guest Post
Note from Natalie: Just last week I saw one of my piano students from over a decade ago and we enjoyed chatting and catching up a bit. He confessed that he rarely plays the piano anymore, but his face lit up when he told me he has started playing the guitar. I know he’s not […]
