Bouncing Around the Keys

Our first piano lesson at The Redwood had some initial technical difficulties, but the staff member overseeing the Zoom call was incredibly helpful getting all the kids set up and ensuring they were muted and unmuted at the right times. We got acquainted with the piano and found middle C, but also explored the octaves all over the keyboard. The kids did a great job of finding C, no matter what range of the keyboard they explored, and we did some initial interval jumps and scales from there. I’m sure the kids will fly by the early stages and we’ll be playing whole songs in no time!

Plucky Ducks

A couple of the kids taking ukulele lessons were siblings of the kids taking piano lessons, so it looks like we’re going to have some musical families at The Redwood! We got acquainted with the ukulele and learned how to hold it properly. Tuning took a bit longer than expected, but it’s better that they take the time to learn how to do it properly on their own so that things can sound great down the line. Once we got more or less in tune, we found our first chord and practiced strumming to a click track. Some of the kids were more keen to pluck the strings a bit aggressively, but that was a learning opportunity for proper strumming technique. I could see the kids’ eyes light up as soon as they got some nice full chord sounds out of the instrument. Hopefully that enthusiasm extends to tuning practice throughout the week!

Strumming and Reading Music

In the first session this week, we practiced our reading and strumming skills with some interactive exercises and songs. We also played one student's favourite game, Guess The Instrument. In the second session Zeca played another student's favourite song, Un Poco Loco. We learned the D7 chord in order to be able to learn the song in the next sessions.

In the Groove

I am so happy with how the music classes at Stonegate have developed. Logging on for classes is like visiting with friends! The classes feel relaxed and fun. Each musician is making progress in their own way and it is such a pleasure to watch them grow.

Time to Feel our Feelings

This week I had a second class with a new student at Ernestine's. It takes time to get to know new students and figure out what they like, and what kinds of activities they like to keep them engaged. I also had a lesson with an existing student that helped to remind me that even after you move past the get to know you period, there are still new things to learn about your students' likes and dislikes. What once interested them might not hold their attention today due to many different factors that are most likely out of your control. Sometimes it is just best to hold space for that student to feel their feelings and let them be known whether they are happy or sad. A reminder to always be equipped, with a joke to tell, a video to share, or a game to play. And sometimes it's best if these are not music related!

Full Body Rhythm!

As always, the kids were keen to do standing and dancing songs today, but rather than the regular jumping fare, we did songs like Ram Sam Sam, and 1 and 2 and 3 and 4, that had more distinct rhythmic elements that the older kids could focus and clap along to while the grownups bounced the little ones in time. The group is extremely attentive and participatory! When we did Walk, and Stop, the kids not only stopped on a dime, but they really got into hamming up the theatricality of the song, posing while they stopped. Can’t wait to continue singing along with them and their fantastic energy in our next session!

Choreography!

"Chaps who did taps aren't tapping any more, they're doing choreography" is a line from one of my favourite show tunes!! We are having the most fun creating dance moves as we learn the music to Hakuna Matata. First, I teach the vocal line. We all sing it together. Next, I ask a student what dance move we should do? The dance moves are inspired! I can't wait until we have learned a full song and created choreography!

Time to Travel

This week was all about vehicle songs: bikes, boats, buses, firetrucks, rocket ships, and of course, trains. Lots of participation all around, and grownups were quick to repeat signs and actions, like the train chugging motion or the rocket ship blastoff. During Train is A Coming, even though the Arise side of the Zoom call was muted, I could tell that everybody was repeating “Oh yeah” after me, which is something that I sometimes have a hard time getting people to do in person! That’s a testament to the genuine enthusiasm of this group, which seems to be growing more and more with each week. Even though we’re not all in the same room, I can feel the connection building over the course of our sessions.

Practice Makes...

Today at Arise two of my ukulele students blew me away! They started by telling me they had been practicing on their own (my jaw nearly dropped). This group hadn't spent any time solo with their instruments up until now. I asked them to play for me what they were working on. They knocked it out of the park! Their strumming was rhythmic and on the beat, and their chord changes were smooth. (I almost cried.) I was so filled with joy at what these two had accomplished on their own. I will never say "practice makes perfect" because perfection is impossible, but you can quote me when I say "practice leads to pride in yourself," which is exactly how my two young musicians were feeling. I promised them I would learn the words to their tune and sing along with them next week.

Turn Your Frown Upside Down!

I "walked" into my classes at Stonegate this week with a dark grey cloud hanging over my head. These past few weeks teaching solo from my home has started to feel monotonous and lonely. This Wednesday it was especially challenging to convince myself to turn on my computer and find the energy I need to teach a music class. However, the moment I "step into the room" that grey cloud starts to slowly fade into the background and is replaced with the rainbow that is the spirit of my students. One particular moment that filled my heart with joy was listening to my most monotone student work their way carefully up the scale, finding notes in their voice they had never sung before, saying "I can't...," but then continuing to try and succeed! When I am able to help students progress in moments like this it reminds me why I love to do what I do, even on days when I feel like I can't do it.