Tempo Tuesday

Posted on January 8, 2013 by miriamtroxler

Largo

Define the musical tempo. Submit your answer by email or on paper at your next lesson. (2 points)

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How to Practice

Posted on January 7, 2013 by miriamtroxler

How to Practice – Begin

The Chinese philosopher said, “Even the longest journey must begin where you stand.”

1. Open the case or sit down at the piano. Progress begins when you are at your instrument. Often beginning is the hardest part.

2. Play scales or warmups to settle your mind and fingers.

3. Continue etudes and other assigned music.

4. Review something you know well.

5. End with a piece you really love to play.

Bonus idea: if space permits, leave your music out and ready so it is easier to begin the next time.

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Mystery Composer 2013

Posted on January 6, 2013 by miriamtroxler

Listen to the audio clip of this year’s Mystery Composer. Submit the name of the composer and the work by email or on paper at your lesson. (25 points)

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Symbol Saturday

Posted on January 5, 2013 by miriamtroxler

symbol 1Do you know what this musical symbol is? Draw it and write your answer in your notebook and bring it to your next lesson. (1 point)

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Five Facts

Posted on January 4, 2013 by miriamtroxler

Today’s Point Contest challenge is find five facts about a musical instrument. Submit your five facts in the comments. (5 points)

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Write a Song

Posted on January 3, 2013 by miriamtroxler

1. Print the staff paper.
2. Draw your clef at the beginning of the first staff.
3. Draw your time signature. For today’s project, make it 4/4 time.
4. Pick 5 notes. Using quarter notes, half notes, and whole notes, fill 8 measures with your notes. Remember to put a barline after every 4 counts. Remember to put your clef at the beginning of each staff you use. Put a double barline at the end of your song.
5. Add a title.

Be ready to play it and bring it to your lesson. (25 points) Double points for violists who write in treble clef and cellists who write in tenor clef.

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Seeing Intervals

Posted on January 2, 2013 by miriamtroxler

Part of reading music quickly is the ability to see intervals. The most basic part of this skill is being able to tell if the note is a line note or a space note. For a line note, a line runs through the center of the note head. With a space note, the note is between lines on the staff.

Print the Line or Space worksheet. Write L under the line notes and S below the space notes. Bring it to your next lesson or submit by email. (2 points)

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Tempo Tuesday

Posted on January 1, 2013 by miriamtroxler

Presto

Define the musical tempo. Submit your answer by email or on paper at your next lesson. (2 points)

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Listening

Posted on December 31, 2012 by miriamtroxler

One way to improve your musicianship is to listen to great performances. During point contest, classical music listening is worth 1 point per hour.  Remember to record it on your listening chart.

It is easy to incorporate more music into your daily routine. Eating dinner as a family, add a CD playing to the meal. Commuting? Add some music to your route.  Do you have to clean your room before school starts again? Try the classical music station on the radio (89.3 in the Pittsburgh area).  Tomorrow you could broaden your horizons and watch the Great Performances broadcast on PBS of the New Year’s Concert in Vienna.

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Point Contest 2013

Posted on December 30, 2012 by miriamtroxler

Point contest begins January 1, 2013. For six weeks musical points are awarded at lessons. Each category has a first, second, and third place trophy winner.

Point Contest Rules

Follow the blog for tips and hints to get the most out of point contest.

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