1 – Podcast
An Eggheads Guide to the Superbowl. Yep, this is is for people like me.
2 – Piano Props
Sports-themed Iwako Erasers. You name it, they make it in a Japanese Eraser. Thank you, Iwako for helping piano teachers make lessons fun.
Category - Friday Finds
1 – MLT Explanations
Curious about what Music Learning Theory (MLT) really is? Did you know that “MLT” differs from “music learning theory?” My friend Joy Morin has just posted an eloquently-written article over at ColorInMyPiano.com explaining just that.
2 – Sad News
Did you hear about this in the news this past week? Simply horrifying! A couple was arrested after their children were found shackled. Here’s the kicker. They had 13 children even as old as in their late 20’s. So, so, so, sad.
3 – Music Lesson Notes
How to Make Effective and Efficient Lesson Notes in Google Docs. | 88 Piano Keys.
1 – For White Chocolate Lovers
If you’re a white chocolate lover like me, Cadbury is releasing 371 white chocolate Cadbury eggs this season. The mean part? They’re “hidden” in shipments for “surprises”, you can’t outright buy them buy them unless you buy a case. I’ll pass.
2 – Review of Award-Winning Book
A great review of Paul Sheftel’s “Modules” book which was awarded the 2017 Francis Clark Keyboard Pedagogy Award.
3 – Extra Hot and Extra Cold
We’ve experience sub-zero temperatures recently. Meanwhile, in Australia, the roads are melting…
Welcome to the first Friday Finds for 2018! This is the 79th Friday Finds since Piano Pantry kicked off in 2016. Yowsuh – that’s a lot of finds! Here’s the very first one if you’re curious.
I’m using the first one as part of the 12 Days of Inspiration series you may have seen going around the piano blogosphere world.
This is day 11 of the series and thus you’ll find 11 great finds for the new year. Links to days 1 – 10 of the series can be found at the end of the post.
1 – Security
It’s important now more than ever to have strong passwords on the internet. A reader recently shared with me a website she uses and really likes for generating passwords by VPN Mentor. Check out this password generator. You can also use a program such as LastPass like I do to generate strong passwords.
2 – Games First
Tracy Selle has a really good idea that I’m going to try for awhile – starting lessons with an activity/game rather than ending with one. This would certainly be a good way to shake things up as you start back to lessons.
3 – MLT book made FREE
GIA Publications has made available a PDF download of Dr. Edwin E. Gordon’s booklet Quick and Easy Introductions. This is the best book out there for getting your feet wet with Music Learning Theory.
As we enter the beginning of December, it’s time to start gathering ideas for holiday activities for group classes and, if you haven’t already, Christmas or Hanukkah music for students.
For some of my favorite holiday books, see Trusty Christmas Favorites: Repertoire I Return to Year After Year.
There’s a heck of a lot of Christmas activities floating around in piano teacher world – believe me, I’ve tried them all!
To help you weed through the noise, finds this week include activities I’ve included in lesson plans in the past and seem to return to plus a few more goodies.
1
Christmas rhythm dictation sheets | Pianimation. (They’re harder for students than you may think! Because of that, I don’t do these with my very youngest students. The same goes for the next one.)
2
Christmas carol rhythm matchups | Pianimation. My older students usually do well with this one.
3
My eyes are on the beautiful Farm Fresh Christmas Trees sign from HarperGrayceSigns.com for our new house (and studio)!
The Kris Kringle Bed and Breakfast sign from signsofhopear.comis also on my radar!
Continue reading
Thanksgiving is a cook’s dream, wouldn’t you say? Choosing an array of food to eat at my family’s table is actually fun for me! Some of my favorite meals and music for the holiday season can be found on Amy’s Holiday Favorites.
Since many of us will be planning our lessons and group classes next week around the Thanksgiving theme, I thought I would focus this weeks finds on this American holiday.
Happy Thanksgiving!
1
The most popular Thanksgiving recipes by state. Indiana? Pumpkin pie.
2
Chasing the Turkey board game from Susan Paradis.
3
When we lived in Australia, one of my favorite chefs to watch on TV was the Canadian show French Food at Home hosted by Laura Calder. As we’re coming into a season of having our homes full of family, food, and friends, I cannot wait to read and relish in her new book The Inviting Life: An Inspirational Guide to Homemaking, Hosting and Opening the Door to Happiness.
1
Yep, I’m a part of this so-named “micro-generation.”
2
I really liked this teacher’s idea of giving students a piano book for fun if they’re unable to make a lesson. Something they could sit down and just have fun playing through would be an ideal choice. I’m going to start doing this!
3
We are all about to embark upon the season of giving. Throw this fun book into your Amazon shopping cart for the kiddos or your nieces and nephews. It’s customizable to the state in which you live. The customization doesn’t just affect the title, but the contents of the book and what town Santa visits! Continue reading
1
London-based piano teacher and blogger Graham Fitch is hosting a “Piano Holiday in France!” It’s not just about piano but is also about enjoying the local cuisine and wine! Nice!
2
With only 25 calories per drink, I’m adding a box or two of this Swiss Miss Light to my cupboard for the winter.
3
Teachers are so creative. Ohio-based teacher Clinton Pratt has really put his brain to work in creating a scale sheet that highlights the 1-2-3, 1-2-3-4 patterns in all scales. In this thread on Facebook, he was still playing with it and asking for feedback. In this thread, he shares the final PDF download with several versions teachers.
Continue reading
1
Anytime I tell someone I have a Masters of Music in Piano Pedagogy and Performance everyone always looks at me with their head slightly cocked, and their eyes conveying their puzzlement. “Peda-what?” They say.
Do you ever get this? My husband and I always get a good chuckle. Awhile back he messaged me while he was at a conference excited that someone in the session he was attending had just clarified perfectly the term and he thought I might like to share with you:
“Andragogy” refers to methods and principles used in adult education. The word comes from the Greek ἀνδρ- andr-, meaning “man”, and ἀγωγός agogos, meaning “leader of”; it literally means “leader of man”, whereas “pedagogy” literally means “leading children”.
Interesting!
2
Super stinking cool. Check out this 19-foot piano.
1
We love hummus but unfortunately, our closest grocery (Walmart) does not carry tahini, a key ingredient. I finally decided instead of waiting until I make it to another grocery and have to “suffer” for weeks without hummus, I would just start buying it on Amazon. My favorite recipe from Milk Street Magazine recommends Kevala as their favorite brand so that’s what I’ve been using and it’s really good!
2
Natalie has found an awesome folding standup desk for teaching piano!
