Chrissy Ricker

Saint Patrick's Day Freebie: a traditional Irish jig!

2/25/2020

Saint Patrick's Day is just around the corner! So, today I am sharing a free arrangement of the traditional Irish jig, "The Irish Washerwoman."

In addition to being a fun introduction to Irish folk music, this elementary arrangement also reinforces counting in 3/4 time and holding tied notes, as well as stretching the right hand thumb away from the other fingers.

Since this piece uses only the first six notes of the major scale, this arrangement also makes a great transposing challenge piece for your late elementary and intermediate students.

Click HERE or on the picture above to download your free PDF of this piece!

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Tips for Turning Your Students into Super Sight-Readers

2/20/2020

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Today I am sharing this article that I wrote for the blog at Tonara.com.

If you aren't familiar with Tonara, it is a unique app with a variety of features that enable teachers to manage their studio and motivate their students to practice. Visit Tonara's website HERE to learn more!

I have a confession to make. Sight-reading doesn’t come easily for me.

Growing up, I was always a diligent practicer. I worked hard to prepare for my lessons, and I learned how to use my time efficiently to break apart my music and practice it well. However, being able to play a new piece accurately, at first sight, was always difficult for me.

While I don’t think sight-reading will ever be my forte (pun intended!), my sight-reading has improved over the years--thanks especially to doing lots of accompanying. However, my struggles with sight-reading have made me determined to help my students better develop their own sight-reading skills.

Read on for five tips I have found helpful for improving sight-reading, for both me and my students!

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New Classical Arrangements with Practice Tips!

2/4/2020

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There are a few classical pieces that my students seem to request year after year. These are pieces that are so well-known that even students who don't like "classical music" request these pieces because they are so often heard in movies, video games, and on TV.

I love teaching arrangements of these student favorites because they serve as an introduction to the works of the great composers, and they give less advanced students a taste of what they can accomplish if they continue to stick with piano.

Can you guess what these pieces are? Read on to find out, and to see my new arrangements available at Sheet Music Plus!

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Think Like a Composer: Tips for Teaching Musical Interpretation

1/30/2020

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Today I am sharing this article that I wrote for the blog at Tonara.com.

If you aren't familiar with Tonara, it is a unique app with a variety of features that enable teachers to manage their studio and motivate their students to practice. Visit Tonara's website HERE to learn more!

If beauty is in the eye of the beholder, then I think it is safe to say that music is in the ear of the beholder. Have you ever noticed that three different people can listen to the same piece of music and experience it in three completely different ways?

One of my favorite things about music is that each performance is truly a three-way collaboration: a merging of the inspiration of the composer, the interpretation of the performer, and the experience of the listener. Each musical performance is different, and each time we listen to a piece of music it has the potential to make us hear it in a new and exciting way.

Many of our students begin piano lessons because they have experienced the emotional connection that listening to a beautiful piece of music can bring. A great musical performance is all about bringing the composer’s “story” to life. So, how can we help our students learn to interpret the stories behind their music and to perform more artistically? Let’s teach them how to think like a composer!

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A Free Valentine's Day Improv Activity!

1/27/2020

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Today I am sharing a fun improv activity for February that can be customized for students at every level! This activity encourages students to improvise in both major and minor keys and to create a melody in 3/4 time.

Click HERE or on the picture to download this activity, including a teacher instruction page for tips on how to introduce this improv to your students.

Happy improvising!

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Saint Patrick's Day Freebie: a traditional Irish jig!

Tips for Turning Your Students into Super Sight-Readers

New Classical Arrangements with Practice Tips!

Think Like a Composer: Tips for Teaching Musical Interpretation

A Free Valentine's Day Improv Activity!

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