This post is part of a series called Your Questions Answered that highlights questions from readers just like you. If you have a question you would like to submit, you can do so here.
This question was posed in reaction to another Your Questions Answered post regarding Summers Lesson and Curriculum.
Love-love-love your posts they are so helpful.
Like you, I’m getting ready for Summer Lessons. I try to change things up for the Summer and this year I’m introducing more about composing. I started introducing this the last semester of this year but I want to do a lot more over the Summer.
What ideas do you have to teach composing on a light level but keeping it fun?
What other kinds of things do you do over the Summer?
Also, I have two 4 -year old girls starting this Summer any really fun ideas for them?
Sorry I know that’s a lot of questions but you always have great ideas.
Thanks Again,
Frances
Hi, Frances!
A few resources I’ve used in the past include:
- The Curious Case of Muttzart and Ratmaninoff from Trevor and Andrea Dow (here’s a review from Jennifer Foxx)
- Composition & Improvisation Prompts from Joy Morin
- Themed Composing Projects (such as Animal Menagerie and Spring) from Nicola Cantan
- Composition sheets from Susan Paradis
As far as your second question goes regarding fun ideas for 4-year-old beginners, the first thing that comes to mind is to spend a lot of time off-bench singing and moving and doing activities such as drawing a picture that “sounds like this little song we’re going to learn”.
My favorite tool for preschool students is Music Moves for Piano’s Keyboard Games Book A. The pieces are very short – only 4 measures and focus on students simply playing to a beat and learning patterns – not reading notes. However, you will likely want to purchase the teacher book if it’s your first time trying the series.
I’ve also used with success in the past resources from both Trevor and Andrea Dow’s Wunderkeys and Faber’s My First Piano Adventures however, Music Moves remains my favorite because it encourages the most “musicing.” That is, singing and movement, not just reading notes.
I hope this gives you a little bit of a springboard for some more ideas! Congrats on the new students and good luck!
~Amy
