Teaching Tempo Marks: Snow Ball "Fight"

 Happy Holidays everyone!  I hope that you are having a wonderful time with family and friends.   I received some pretty awesome gifts for Christmas this year including a few items that I'll be incorporating into my future lessons so stay tuned for some wacky ideas, games, and activities in the new year!  Are a few of your students having a little difficulty remembering the meanings of different tempo marks such as Adagio, Allegro, and Andante?  Throwing "snowballs" at varying tempos really helps my students remember which is which.  It's especially easy to get the "A" words mixed up when first learning them so I thought up this idea of  us throwing "snowballs" at each other based on which tempo mark I call out.  It's a great way to help teach and reinforce the different tempo marks. This is the perfect time of year to have an indoor "snowball fight' with your students using small styrofoam balls (about 2-21/2" in diameter) and a shield (the lid of a plastic storage container).  You can find styrofoam balls at any craft store and they are fairly inexpensive.  You may even get lucky and find them at your local dollar store.  It doesn't matter what age they are, all of my students LOVE doing this activity.   We each get a shield  and 6-8 styrofoam balls. I situate my fort a few feet away from my student's and we hunker down behind our sheids with our "snowballs".  During the first few rounds I velcro a piece of laminated card stock with the tempo mark we are working on to
 the outside of my shield so that my students are associating the action with the word.  Then I remove the words from my shield and simply call out the different marks.  When I say "Allegro" we throw the balls at each other fast.  When I call "Adagio" we throw the balls slow. You get the idea.  In between the different speeds I'll say "freeze" so that we can gather up our snowballs for the next round.  When our "fight" is done we go over the tempo marks and their meanings one last time.  It only takes a few minutes of your lesson to do this activity and it is super effective.  We also use a play on words such as "Andante went walking" or we say Adagio extremely slow like A----da-----gi-----o--------- to signify it's speed and for the word Allegro we say that if we grew extra legs (Allegro-grow legs) we'd be able to run faster.  Moderato is the easiet of the four to remember since the italian and english words are similar.  Well, that's it for now.  I'll see you in the new year!  Piano blogger signing off........

Note ID game: "Note Rollers"

 Wow!  My students rocked the house last Friday night at their winter recital.  They did such a wonderful job.  I couldn't be more proud of them!  Now, on to more note ID games......I created this game "Note Rollers" close to 5 years ago.  It's a great game to reinforce quick note identification.  I bought a table top rubber piano from Toys R Us ® a few Christmas's ago and it has been such an asset to my piano program.  My students get a kick out of this flat rubber piano.  They think it's the coolest thing ever.  I use it for quite a few activities.  If you are interested in purchasing one of these, I'd suggest looking for sales now around the holidays.  I bought mine for half off the original price (about $13.00).  I wouldn't roll it up as they suggest since it actually damages the keys.  Keep it flat at all times.  I bought a few foam dice from a local teacher store (although I've seen them in craft stores as well) and adhered staff notes on each face of the dice using packing tape.  The great thing about this game is that it too grows with your students.  They could start out by simply locating letter names A-G on the piano and progress to simple staff notes all the way to ledger line notes as well as sharped and flatted notes.  What they're supposed to do is roll the dice (either 2 or 3 of them) and play what they've rolled on the rubber piano.  I have them read the dice from left to right so that I can keep track of the notes played.  Then they roll again and again until time is called.  They need to correctly locate at least 20 staff notes within 2 minutes and 10 letter name notes in one minute in order to win the game.  This is also a great way to assess what notes your kiddos are having difficulty with.  It is quite possible that while the students are rolling the dice they come up with the same note a couple of times during the game and that's fine with me.  I still count it as a point.  Until next time, piano blogger signing off.......

Note Identification: "Note Slammers" game

I love thinking up ways to help my students quickly identify and locate piano notes. I came up with this game about 3 years ago and have been using it ever since. The beauty of a game like this is that it grows with your students.

All you need for this game is card stock, magic markers, colored sticker dots, and a ball.  I'd suggest laminating anything you make. There's this store near to where I live that allows you to laminate your own stuff for only $.25 a foot!  I go in there at least once a week.  Great place!

I lay down six to seven note cards on the floor.  Each with a  circle sticker adhered to a particular note. Then I hand my students the ball.  I hold up either a letter name or staff note (depending on their level of understanding) and they have to find the card on the floor that matches the card in my hand.  When they find it, I tell them to slam the ball down onto the card as hard as they'd like. 

This game is also good at helping my students visualize the piano keys in their minds.  Keyboard visualization is such an important skill to have when playing piano especially when the students begin jumping all around the keyboard.  They have to have a good idea and memory of where their fingers are without constantly looking down to make sure.


Games like this really help to build visualization skills in my students. This game takes no more than 2 minutes to play. Remember to count your blessing this week! Happy Thanksgiving. This is piano blogger signing off.........

Matching Pumpkins to Scarecrows

WOW! It's been a while since I've blogged.  I just had to share this game I'm having my students play this week. 

I like getting the kiddos outdoors every once in a while to take teaching beyond the four walls of my studio.  Since we're in the middle of our fall season I wanted to create an outdoor matching game where my students would match pumpkins to scarecrows.  I feel the best way to keep musical terms and note identification fresh in my
students' minds is to constantly quiz them with  games.

I got this idea as I was wandering the aisles of a local fabric store and spotted these amazing scarecrows.....DING!  The idea had been planted.  I then thought, "wouldn't it be cool if I could buy 10 ornamental (fake) pumpkins and have the kiddos run around my front yard matching pumpkins to scarecrows?"

I kept visiting the fabric store until the scarecrows were discounted as far as they were going to go  (70% off......woohoooo!).  Finding inexpensive pumpkins proved to be a bit of a challenge but I finally found some.

I put velcro dots on the sleeves of the scarecrows and on every pumpkin and used velcroed game pieces from another one of my games to set it up. 

On either sleeve of each scarecrow is a picture of some musical term such as "mf" and on each pumpkin is a definition that matches the pictures on the scarecrows' sleeves.  My students have up to 5 minutes to lay the pumpkins down next to the matching scarecrows.  The smile on their faces has made all the preparation worth it!

Developing Rhythm Sense: Blowing Bubbles

Since the weather has warmed up, my students have been blowing bubbles to the metronome beat outside. I bought a bubble pack with all sorts of different bubble wands. Even my older students enjoy this activity. They blow eighth, quarter, half, dotted half, and whole note bubbles. When blowing eighth note bubbles equip your students with one wand in each hand so they can alternate blows. I had one student dunk 5 wands in the bottle and held all five in one hand like a set of cards. This activity takes no more than two minutes of their lesson time but it adds that fun spontaneous element to the lesson. I like to use "Miracle Bubbles" brand bubbles since it coats the wands well and produces good bubbles but you can certainly make your own solution or buy these items at your local dollar store.

Developing Rhythm Sense: Metronome Rhythm sheets

Phew!  What a whirlwind this past week was with my son being home sick.  He is well on his way to recovering so life can go back to normal now.  I've written out over 30 metronome rhythm sheets at this point from very simple patterns of quarter, half, and whole notes to more complex dotted quarter, eighth note, eighth rest patterns, to each hand playing different rhythm patterns at the same time. 

This activity takes no more than 2 minutes of your students' instructional time and it is a great way to help your kiddos understand and develop rhythm sense.  You could have your students simply clap out the sheets while the metronome's clicking in the background but to make it even more fun you could hand them an instrument such as a tambourine, a pair of maracas, or a bongo drum to play while reading the rhythm sheets.  Have your students first read the sheet to a slow metronome beat then increase the speed and have them play the same pattern at a faster speed. 

At first you may notice a few of your students clapping or playing the notes with an instrument to their own speed and not necessarily listening to the metronome.  It may take a few lessons for your students to get the hang of this skill.  Over time and repetition they will be able to follow rhythm patterns with different metronome speeds. 

To help your more rhythmically challenged students you could play the rhythm with them, bring out a hand or sock puppet and have the puppet gently bounce down on their head according to the pattern on the sheet, or gently take their hand in yours and help them tap out the rhythm on the piano lid by guiding their hand.  All you need is card stock and magic markers.  Remember to laminate everything you create so that you can use them for years to come!

Developing Rhythm Sense: Butterfly net catches

"Splash Bombs"

Here's a little metronome activity I thought of while visiting a local dollar store and hobby store.  I purchased a butterfly net and a set of throwing balls that you'd use at the swimming pool. This is the perfect time of year to visit a dollar and hobby store for summer items but if you can't find the net and balls there, places like Walmart ®, Toys R Us ®, and Target ® carry these items as well. 

Give your student a set of three or four of the swimming pool balls depending on how many they can hold in their hand, put the metronome beat on a moderate speed, and have the student throw the balls in according to what note value you call.  The smaller the note value the closer you want to be to the student.  The bigger the note value, the farther away you want to be.  For instance, I hold the butterfly net pretty close to the student when I call out eighth or quarter note throws but as I call out half, dotted half, whole note, or tied notes I step farther and farther away.   The balls store neatly in the net when they're not being used.  Not only do my younger students enjoy this but my older ones as well!

Developing rhythm sense: Note card variations

Very often as pianists our hands are required to play two separate musical thoughts whether it be with the notes, dynamic signs, and/or rhythm patterns.  For example while our left hand fingers are playing eighth notes our right hand fingers could be playing a combination of dotted quarter, quarter, and eighth notes.  In addition to playing different note values we could also be required to play one hand softer or louder than the other hand.  Do you remember someone asking you to tap your head and rub your belly at the same time when you were young? How long did it take you to get it? It took me a few tries. My elementary school friends and I thought it was the coolest thing in the world at the time. We'd giggle and laugh with each other at our feeble attempts at mastering this exercise but when we finally got it....boy, did it feel as though we had just moved a mountain!  No wonder studies have shown that children who play instruments get really good grades in school, are more focused and attentive, and have strong higher level thinking skills!  Playing an instrument constantly challenges our brain in wonderful and unique ways.

A few weeks back in my January 8th entry, I talked about laying note cards on the floor and having my students walk through whatever rhythm pattern I made up to a metronome beat. I normally start out with a slow speed then gradually increase the tempo. This week I'm giving my students a more challenging rhythm sequence. I've been laying two sets of cards down; one pattern for their feet to walk and another for their hands to clap at the same time. It's proving to be quite challenging for the kiddos! Even my rhythm "experts" find this exercise challenging. After a few goes at it they do eventually get used to doing two separate actions at the same time.  You could lay down quarter notes and half notes for your beginner students and eighth notes and dotted quarter note sequences for your more advanced students.

 To make it even more challenging you could add a dynamic sign to each side; have their feet stomp "forte" while their hands clap "piano".  You could accent one or two of the notes as well!  Remember to have your students walk in the middle of the two sets of cards but not on the cards since they can prove to be quite slippery.  Until next time, Daphne Vasquez (piano blogger) signing off.......

Developing rhythm sense: Note Swatters

Wow! What an exciting Superbowl game between the Patriots and the Giants.  I am not a big sports buff but even I got drawn into the excitement of the game.  Well, this week my students in addition to playing a Valentine's Day game (in anticipation of next Tuesday) will be swatting notes to help further develop their sense of rhythm.  All you need is poster board, magic markers, and a fly swatter.  It's so easy and fast to create.  Laminate it, store it, and bring it out every once in a while for total fun!  Purchase a few extra sheets of poster board and create new patterns.  I wrote out patterns on the front and  back of the poster board as you see on the left hand side of this entry to fit different stages of rhythmic development.  My more advanced students will be swatting dotted quarter and eighth note patterns while my newer students will be swatting quarter, half, and whole note patterns.  I taped the board onto my front door.  Hand your student a fly swatter, turn the metronome on, and let them swat through the pattern you choose for them.  I tell them to swat as hard as they can and they love it!  You can have them swat a few different note patterns that you create and speed up or slow down the metronome beat.  Until next time.........

Mistakes, Empathy, and Patience!

In my opinion.......mistakes are WONDERFUL!  How else can we get better at something if we don't make mistakes? If we're not allowed to make mistakes?  Observing a baby learn to walk is the best example I know of learning from our mistakes.  I have learned so many precious lessons by simply observing my son, Matthew.  I thank God for giving me such an amazing child!  When he was first learning to walk, he'd pick himself off the floor from a nearby table, wobble, let go of the table, and fall back down.  Do you think that stopped him?  Of course not!  He'd get up and try again and again until eventually he was able to stand on his own and take his first steps forward just like most every baby before him and most every child after him.  And my husband and I (as every parent) were encouraging.  We'd praise him for making the simplest attempt at getting up.  We'd clap our hands and smile at him and when he'd finally mastered the skill of standing on his own we'd woo him to come to us with our arms wide open ready to hug him (and if he fell we'd hug him anyway).  What do you think would happen if we yelled at our babies every time they fell from attempting to walk?  We'd be a society of belly crawlers. :)

Why should it be any different when learning to play an instrument?  We as teachers need to create an environment in which it's OK to "mess up".  If we see mistakes as a golden opportunity to improve then so will our students.  Mistakes are made for a number of reasons during lessons from needing more time to master a certain skill to students not practicing enough.  I can almost promise you that if a child is constantly made to feel ashamed for their mistakes they will eventually stop trying altogether.  Whatever the reason for our students "messing up", we need to create a safe nurturing enviroment that allows them the opportunity learn from their mistakes.

If you can empathize with your students then you will naturally become more patient with them.  Think about how it was for you at their age.  How confusing things were at times.  How it was hard to sit still and focus for long periods of time.  How scary it was for you when all of those tall people in your life towered over you and told you what to do.  And were we really paying attention to them?  Sometimes but not really.  I mean there was so much mental "noise" going on in our heads. 

OMG and don't get me started on middle school age students with all their physical, emotional, and hormonal changes going on!   So although I hold my students to very high standards I am also extremely understanding of where they are in their lives.  It's important for us to let our students know that we genuinely care for them and want what's best for them.  I believe it was John C. Maxwell who said "People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care".  Isn't that the truth?  So if you're feeling frustrated with a student who hasn't been practicing during the week and/or makes numerous mistakes throughout their pieces, take a deep breath, think back to when you were their age, and address the problem in a way that will help them improve.

This is what I've shared with a few of my students who have clearly not practiced during the week and come to their lesson unprepared:

Me:  Sooooooooo how much did you practice this week?
Student: (long silence feeling scared) Ummmmm........I practiced.
Me: (with a smile) I believe that you practiced but how much did you practice?
Student: (long silence and feeling uncomfortable) Ummmmm......I don't know.
Me: (calm demeanor and said without an angry tone) Well, I think you practiced a little but not as much as you could have.  What's your weekly schedule like?  Walk through each day with me so that we can work together to find time where you can practice.
(The student then shares their weekly activities with me and we always find at least 15-25 minutes a day where they could practice)
Me: Okay, so now we have a schedule that you can follow and your parents can help you follow, right?
Student: (feeling a bit more relieved) Yes!  I can do this.
Me: Of course you can, I know you can!  So I will talk with your parents and let them know that we've worked out a schedule to help you stay on top of your practicing so that they can help you follow it.  But remember that even when you don't feel like practicing you have to do it anyway because I promise you that you will feel so excited about coming to your next lesson knowing that you've practiced all week long.  You'll walk in happy and confident and ready to show me what you've worked on and I'll be so excited to hear your progress.  OK?
Student: (more relaxed and receptive to learning the next thing in piano) OK!
Me: You are awesome!

If you take anything away from this entry take this............kids rarely feel good about themselves.  They are constantly comparing themselves to others around them feeling like they'll never measure up.  They are their worst critics and often feed themselves with negative inner dialogue.  Be one of the few people in their lives to lift them up and encourage them to be the best they can be.  Kids know when you're being sincere and when you're being fake.  Whatever encouraging words you say make sure that you genuinely believe what you're telling them.  Until next time, Daphne V. (piano blogger) signing off........

Developing rhythm sense: Football passes



POOF ® football

Most of my students participate in some sort of organized sport such as football, soccer, basketball, etc.. so what I do is incorporate whatever sport is in season at the time into my metronome exercises.  Since were are now in the throws of football season my students and I will occasionally pass a football to varying metronome speeds.  We also pass the ball to different note values.  Most everyone has a football laying around somewhere.  We own two real footballs but I chose to purchase a soft POOF ® football www.poof-slinky.com to prevent surrounding equipment from breaking just in case the ball was thrown too hard. Even though I remind my kiddos to gently throw the ball they sometimes get caught up in the moment and imagine they are throwing the ball down the field to a team player who'll score a touchdown.  Gotta love children's imaginations!  I am no good at throwing a football so I have my football playing students teach me how to pass one.  They thoroughly enjoy being the teacher for a few minutes during our lesson!

What's going on this week in piano: Bow and Arrow Shots!

Sometimes I do tend to think way outside the box.  I've found that the more outrageous the activity the more engaged and excited my students get.  Well, I get pretty darn excited as well.

I had some pretty odd items on my Christmas wish list this year.  One of the things I asked "Santa" to give me was a bow and arrow set for my piano lessons.  "A bow and arrow set?", you ask . "What would she need with a bow and arrow set and how on earth would she be able to tie this into a piano lesson?"  Oh, but you can and the kiddos have been eating this activity up for the past two weeks.  I tend to showcase activities like this one for a "limited time" and bring them out once or twice a year to keep their interest up.  After this week, it's getting packed away.  This set was purchased from "toys to grow on" ® and it's called "My First Archery Set" www.toystogrowon.com

What I am doing with this "exercise" is putting the metronome beat to a very very slow speed and having  my students shoot arrows at the target every tied whole note (every 8 beats).  Actually I did that last week, this week they are shooting every tied dotted half note since they've gotten the hang of setting the arrows up and aiming.  At first, it seems painfully slow to them but they soon realize why I've chosen that speed.  It's so they have time to set up the next arrow in between shots. 

"My First Archery Set" from www.toystogrowon.com

Some of the younger students will need your help with setting the arrows up and shooting them.  They tend to want to help the bow along rather than just snap it and let the bow carry the arrow through the air.  The older kids LOVE this activity and they are quite good at it actually.  I am so impressed with how they can keep a count of the metronome beats in their head while setting their arrows up for the next shot!  It also has given me insight into their fine and gross motor skills.  Any bit of information I can gather about my students helps me be a better teacher.

Have I mentioned how much I LOVE what I do.  I never thought that I'd say that and I used to envy people who enjoyed what they did for a living.  This week a grandparent shared this with me after her grandson's lesson....."It's like my grandson just had a musical playdate with you.  This was so much fun, thank you".

I can't express enough gratitude to God for giving me this opportunity.  Until next time, Daphne Vasquez signing off......

Developing rhythm sense: Metronome "exercises" Part III

Be-Bopping to note cards:  All you'll need for this activity is card stock, and a black marker.  I use different colors but you don't need to.  Draw a few quarter, half, dotted half, whole, and eighth notes on  card stock.  Make a few of each note so that your rhythm combinations are endless.  Laminate your cards.  Lay down a rhythm pattern vertically on the floor based on what your students have learned so far.



 Turn on the metronome to a slow speed and have your children walk next to (not on) the cards to the metronome beat.  Have them go through the pattern a few times to a faster speed each time.  Some kiddos will be able to step next to the cards and go through the rhythm sequence with very little help while others will need a few lessons to "get it". I have students who have been with me for over four years who still ask for this activity!

Developing rhythm sense: Metronome "exercises" Part II

I include metronome "exercises" in every lesson.  The kiddos look forward to this and these exercises alone have helped keep children in my program for much longer than if they were in a traditional program where they'd be expected to sit at the piano for the entire lesson.  The younger the child, the more wiggly they are.  So I say, "Let them wiggle" but in a way that still teaches them what they need to know as pianists.  Even my older students love the movement portion of the lessons.  Maybe it's just me but the most memorable classes I participated in were the ones that challenged me on many different levels. The activities take no more than 4 minutes tops and the benefits my students are reaping from these exercises have been huge.  They are developing such a phenomenal sense of rhythm that quite a few of my middle schoolers have been personally asked by their school band directors to join the percussion team!

It's amazing what happens once you begin thinking "outside the box"!   I have a friend who is teaching her niece and nephew piano and after reading a few of my ideas she has begun to think outside the traditional piano teaching box and has come up with her own ideas.  Bekah purchased a peg board and hammer from a local toy store and now has her kiddos hitting the pegs to the metronome beat. She says that they LOVE doing this. Way to go, Bekah!

I find myself  looking around my house, in thrift stores, visiting yard sales, walking down aisles of craft and hobby stores thinking up tons of activities for the metronome.   When you think about it there are so many activities your students can do. The sky is the limit. They can jump rope, jump up and down, touch their nose, move their hips from side to side, clap, bend, and blink to name just a few. You can also play "Patty Cake" with your younger students and clap each other's hands on every beat. You could have your students blow bubbles to whole note beats (every 4 beats). Place a towel on the floor where they are blowing since the liquid drips. 

Super fun activity: Purchase a few styrofoam balls from a hobby store, tie yarn to the end of a paper clip, push one clip into each ball, tie the other end of the yarn to a push pin, and hang a few balls from an archway or entryway.  Get a cheap plastic baseball bat (Dollar Stores sell these) and have your students hit the hanging balls to varying metronome beats with the bat.  My students can't get enough of this "exercise". 

Parachute activity (very effective for rhythmically challenged students): You can purchase a small two person parachute from a toy or teacher supply store  (I purchased mine from "Lakeshore Learning Center")  or just use an old cloth sheet or plastic table cover to do this activity.  Grip each corner  while your student holds onto the other two corners on their side and lift the parachute up on the beat and drop it down on the next beat (repeat).  Since you're holding onto one side of it, you can control the up/down motion which is a fantastic way of having your students focus on the beats.  At first, some of my students would attempt to lift the parachute before the beat but I'd keep my side down until it was time to lift it.  After a few lifts and drops they got the hang of it.



Other inexpensive instruments: Purchase a few inexpensive instruments such as a maracas, jingle bells, a drum, tambourine, etc. You can find these items at Dollar or teacher supply stores, yard sales, thrift shops, and party stores. Have your students play the instrument to varying metronome speeds.


Hand puppets: My younger students really like it when the puppets come out to visit.  Actually I was surprised at how many of my older students still enjoyed getting visits from puppets. I utilize my puppets in many ways, one being metronome.   While the metronome is clicking away I'll have a puppet play an instrument with the student or I'll have the puppet gently jump up and down on the student's head on every beat.  This is a great way to build rhythm accuracy in your students.

Bringing music from home:  Sometimes I ask my students to bring a song they like to listen to to their  lesson.  While their music's playing we throw or bounce a ball back and forth to the beat.  I change it up by calling out different note values: quarter, half, whole, eighth notes, tied notes, etc..  They enjoy hearing their music during lesson and it helps them listen in on the recurring beat.  I had one student stop in the middle of this activity to ask if she was in a piano lesson.  She couldn't believe how much fun she was having!

I'm not sure who has more fun during lessons, me or my students! Until next time, Piano Blogger signing off..........