Welcome back everyone! Be excited for our 3rd and final year of Let's Play Music! This semester will be so magical and I'm excited to see your children continue to grow and learn.

Your child is capable of practicing the piano for a little bit longer at the beginning of this year. Shoot for about 10-15 minutes, 5 days a week. Use the play plan in the front of your songbook to talk about the practicing time that works best for your family. Remember to keep practicing positive and fun! Sit with them for the first day or so, but be close by for the other days so you're available for help or assistance as needed. And it's okay if you practice with them every day. PLEASE contact me if you need help or have any questions about the practice. I'm happy to help explain any concept you need help with so you can be sure to help your child play it the correct way.

I encourage you to practice white key naming review if you see your child is a little rusty. Just a daily 10 second review can help this skill come back. Use the key group sheet (in the back of the yellow arrows book) as a helper if needed. Click HERE for ideas of fun white key naming games to play.

Reward system - If their entire homework page spread is completed (album listening done and signed off, flashcards practiced 5 times, each "Play Piano" song done 5 times, and theory page complete) they will get 2 Music Money. If it's not completely done, but they did at least something, they will get 1 Music Money. And, finally, if they practiced MORE than 5 times, they will get 3 Music Money. (Even just one extra tally on one song counts towards doing extra. I feel like this particular part of my incentive system pushes some kids to really work towards getting those 5 tallies.)

Tuition - An invoice will be sent to you in a few days on August 15th. An automated receipt will be sent to you. 

Play at Home Videos - The button below is a shortcut to the Purple Magic Play at Home Videos. You are not required to watch these, but they can be helpful if you want or need a demonstration of the activity described in the homework booklet.

Treble, Bass, Line and Space

Time to learn all the note names on the staff! This song also teaches countermelody ( a secondary melody played against a primary melody) and helps your student sing in 4 part harmony.

Bounce and Roll

Complete musicianship is more than knowing WHICH notes to play. We are now ready to add another dimension of HOW to play the notes. This song allows us to 'physically' know and understand the articulations of staccato and legato. Articulation refers to the musical performance technique that affects the transition or continuity on a single note, or between multiple notes or sounds. 

As you start out this year, check out this practice tip from our Let's Play Music Blog. Also, Let's Play Music has a podcast and has a wonderful episode about helping your child practice the piano! Here's a little 'practice humor' for you, and just for fun, click HERE to access the Royal Problem coloring pages. Just print them off and color as you listen to our new "Royal Problem" puppet show! Can you hear the characters that you are coloring? 

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

Thank you!