One of my favorite group lesson activities was one I did over 10 years ago, composer time capsules. Time capsules are a fun way to not only learn about someone but they are a great way to remember interesting facts and stories. A couple years ago I started to make my...
Review: Carnival of the Animals Music Camp
After a disastrous concert tour in Germany, Saint-Saens withdrew to a small Austrian village and composed what would eventually become one of his best-known works, The Carnival of the Animals. I love teaching the music from Saint-Saens Carnival of the Animals to...
Discovering the Insides of the Piano
If your students are anything like mine, they are often curious as to how the piano works. When they come for lessons, many of them will stand up and look inside the grand as they play a note totally fascinated at what is going on inside. I use that as an...
Let’s All Make a Drum!
Back in 2011, I had the opportunity to participate in a 3-day Roots of Rhythm workshop given by Dr. Craig Woodson of Ethnomusic and Frank Thompson with AZ Rhythm Connection. In this workshop, we learned about percussion instruments from around the world within their...
10 Body Beat Activities to Engage Students Today!
I LOVE doing body beats with my students. There is nothing like full engagement when it comes to this rhythm activity! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l0XdDKwFe3k I thought I would kick off this post with a little Stomp. Love Stomp! One of these days I will actually...
Light Up The March From The Nutcracker
Last week was our first week of our Nutcracker Christmas camp. One of my favorite activities is using flashlights to help the kids learn about the musical form. Before we bring out the flashlights, I have them pick out the A, B and C sections. Before camp, I had...
Christmas Camp: The Most Wonderful Time of the Year!
I just love this time of year. Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas.... I LOVE Christmas music. It just has a way of lifting the spirits and I do not mind it one bit when I hear it in stores, restaurants or radio a little bit "early". Matter of fact, I was having...
Group Lessons Goes Tech!
Back in 2011, I bought a projector. It was probably one of the best investments I made for my studio because I use it ALL the time in group lessons and camps. It has opened up a lot of possibilities of different activities I can do with my students. You can hook a...
Let’s Go to the Movies!
Let's Go to the Movies is a music camp or workshop program with over 8 hours of lesson plans to use with your students. Students will experience what it is like to be a silent movie musician. (just use their music they have been working on this year). They will...
Running Your First Summer Camp
Running Your First Summer Camp Podcast I had the fabulous opportunity to be interviewed by Tim Topham for one of his podcast episodes. If you are not familiar with Tim and all that he has to offer, you must check him out. On his website you will find great podcasts,...