Hi parents! First of all, I'm really impressed by the practicing that the kids are doing! Thank you for taking the time to practice with them. (Check out the "Making Musicians" section below for some ideas on playfully practicing.) Please keep up the good work, especially helping the kids get their left hand red-blue chord transition solidified before we add the yellow chord next week. We should be getting to the point where we can play this transition with our eyes closed and even hands together! 

Playing chords with hands together is extra tricky because the fingering is different for the RH than the LH. Only try it hands together when the muscle memory is solid in each hand separately. Today we slowly went through playing their intervals with both hands together. Again, the fingering is different for the RH and the LH so if they are really struggling putting them together, please solidify practicing them hands separate.

Registration and enrollment for the 3rd year of LPM will open THIS week on SATURDAY February 1st. I will send everyone an email and text at 7am with a link to register on my studio website. Class times will both be on Thursday 4:30-5:30 or Friday 4:30-5:30 afternoon  and classes will start August 21st or 22nd. 3rd year classes are 60 min. long. After you have registered and paid the $25 registration fee, you will receive a confirmation email with instructions on enrolling/purchasing class materials on the official LPM website. Only after you have completed both steps will your spot be secure. Signing up will be on a first come/first serve basis so if you really care what class time your child is in, please plan accordingly. Please let me know if you have any questions.

I'll see your kids next week! :)

Caterpillar Song

WOW! Our caterpillars are getting smoother and steadier with this 5 finger pattern! As your child progresses playing this song, watch for these 4 things: 

1. Bubble Hand- at beginning and end of playing, but eventually throughout. Visualize fingers stuck in bubble hand position with honey, caramel, glue, Velcro, etc. to keep them from flying away! 

2. Strong Independent Fingers- strike the key and make sure that finger comes up when you strike another note. Sing finger numbers with hands together.

3. Smooth Sound- indicates finger strength and coordination. Remember SLOW is the way to GO!

4. Steady Rhythm- fingers 1, 2, 3 are stronger and they like to go a little faster. Singing and emphasizing finger numbers 5-4-3-2-1-2-3-4-5, Ca-Ter-Pill-Ar, and the lyrics out loud will help keep a steady caterpillar.

Turtle Shells

This week we focused playing the “Turtle Shell” intervals with the left hand. Everyone agrees that it’s harder than the right hand! Using fingers 4 & 5 is tougher than using 1 & 2. Before playing, warm up with “Where is 4? Where is 5?” then have your child play the interval (a 2nd) with fingers 4 & 5. Repeat for the 3rd, 4th, and 5th. If he masters the intervals with the left hand, play hands together. Enjoy a little twist on the classic game Twister to reinforce and strengthen those finger numbers.

Love Somebody

We LOVE when our parents play along with us! Share more love with your child by playing and singing the melody an octave higher or accompanying together with the chords using the CD. Ask your child to teach your family the ‘LOVELY’ game that accompanies this song! 

I Am Robin Hood

"I am Robin Hood" is used to introduce quarter rests and the dotted quarter - eighth note pattern. The philosophy that feeling a "pulling" feeling will promote correct performance of that particular rhythm pattern, is brought to life in a playful way through the "pulling" of arrows. The open 5th in the left hand is a particularly satisfying sound to young children, resembles the sound of drums and is easy to play!

A few ideas to bring playfulness to practice time:

• Play the Freeze and Thaw game. Parent will say, "Start." Child will play until parent randomly says, "Freeze." Child will freeze until parent says "Thaw." Play the entire song following the "freeze and thaw" commands. Trade places.

• Play your chords with a small washcloth or towel over your hands. Use your ears to tell you if you are playing the right notes. Make sure you always use the right fingers for each chord.

• Play Name that Tune with songs from the piano book

• Be sure to mark a tally if you went over a song - even if it was in a playful way!

I value open and honest communication so please feel free to contact me if you have any questions, concerns, or comments.

Thank you!