We had a great class today. We learned RH fingerings for the F major scale with a fun chant since we never use our 5 finger (pinky). The chant is:

1-2-3-4-1-2-3-4,

Different than I've played before,

4-3-2-1-4-3-2-1,

Right hand F scale's lots of fun!

We also learned how to play our red chord inversions! To help with learning these inversions you'll place the 6 red stickers taped in the songbook on your keyboard. The homework has a diagram of where to place these stickers. Check out the Play at Home Videos for a video explaining inversions and the stickers as well as other pointers/demos for playing at home this week.

Next week is parent day! I'm excited to see you there with your kiddo.

Inversions/Mixed Paint

We actually HAVE played our yellow and blue chords in inversions--we just didn't realize it. We are now ready to take a root position chord and 'invert' it. This just means re-arranging the pieces. The chord is still CEG, but C moves to the top, then the E moves to the top, then the G and you are in root position again. We will play Old Paint in a new 'Mixed' up way to help us hear that it's still a red chord no matter matter if it is in root position, 1st inversion or 2nd inversion. No matter what the shape or order is, it just has to retain the same 'pieces' (in this case C-E-G) for it to be a red (C) chord.

New World Symphony

Our Let's Play Music students have created harmony in many different ways in 1st and 2nd year. Now in 3rd year we have the unique opportunity to play as an ensemble in class to produce harmony and a much fuller sound than they can accomplish playing by themselves. By listening to the CD, the children are provided the opportunity to model and to audiate the music in their heads as they practice.

Our Bugs Are So Fun! (new verse)

A few of our songs from our purple CD have upgraded to our orange CD--with some new lyrics! The new verse in 'Our Bugs are So Fun!' will help us to learn to count those tricky 'beamed' rhythms that include eighth notes and sixteenths notes! If counting in this new way seems tricky, CLICK HERE for a parent help that dissects the lyrics to Our Bugs are So Fun! with visual examples and simple explanations to help.

Check out this young group of musicians experiencing the value of playing as an ensemble. Your student will recognize this piece as our very own Largo from New World Symphony by Antonin Dvorak.

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

Thank you!