Since I'm teaching 2 of my own girls this year, I'm getting a parents perspective of LPM (in a twisted sort of way!) One thing I'm finding...practicing is harder than I expected, and we're only on year 1! Not that the actual practice is hard, but finding the time to do it is a challenge.
So with the new year, I'm recommitting myself to be better at sitting down with my girls at practicing! This week we've done pretty well.
I had an lightbulb moment! In the past, I'm usually multi-tasking while practicing with them. I'm making dinner, or helping the older kids with homework AND trying to help with practicing. This week, I managed to carve out time just for LPM and what a difference it made!
Here is what the week looked like for practicing: Friday, sat down with younger one and did the bells. Once we did the "assigned" bell work, I just tossed out the three patterns randomly (MRD, SSD, SLTD) and she played them on the bells. Then I had her close her eyes and listen while I played the different patterns and she had to tell me what pattern it was by doing hand signs back to me. This lasted for maybe 20 minutes...but only because she was asking for more. If she was done in 5 minutes we would have called it good, because when it stops being fun for either of us...it looses it's effectiveness. It is Let's PLAY Music, after all!
Then we moved to the written assignment. The hardest part of that was finding the right crayon colors needed! Then we flipped to the back of the book and practiced making the three patterns with beans. She would make them and then I would make them and we would quiz each other back and forth. We also practicing identifying and making baby steps and skips with the beans.
Through out the week we've turned on the CD (she is really loving the new puppet show) and listened as we've made lunch or cleaned up.
Practice for my older one looked similar, but the bells and written work happened at a different time. I like practicing separately so we minimize comparison and they each can demonstrate what they truly know, and not what the other one just did.
AND it gives me another opportunity to spend one on one time with them...a huge benefit to LPM!
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Ms. Alicia
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About Me
Ms. Alicia has been teaching Let’s Play Music for the past three years. She has always loved music, and has been involved with it in one way or another most of her life. After years as a piano student, she went on to get a degree in piano performance from BYU-Hawaii. She has also been a member of several choirs, directed a few choirs, and taught private piano lessons for several years before discovering Let’s Play Music. As a piano teacher she often wished for students with a greater musical foundation. Let's Play Music has brought that wish into reality as her students leave the program with sound musical knowledge and skills that enable them to excel in their musical experiences.
When she isn’t busy teaching music to her amazingly smart students, she can be found loving on her own five kids and handsome husband. When she finds a free moment, she can be found eating something sweet, organizing a drawer or closet, exercising, or watching a movie.