Chrissy Ricker
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Musicianship Monthly #15: The Contemporary Period

3/30/2022

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The start of another month means it is time for a new Musicianship Monthly post!

What is "Musicianship Monthly?" Each month, I share links to free resources you can use to focus on a specific musicianship skill with your students. (Want to see past skills we have covered? Click HERE!)

This month, we will be continuing our exploration of music history with resources that highlight the Contemporary period! Keep reading for fun, accessible resources you can use to introduce your students to this interesting and varied period in music history.... 


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The Fundamentals of Phrasing

3/25/2022

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Do you struggle with teaching phrasing? If so, you are not alone!

​Unlike wind players and vocalists, pianists don’t have to coordinate their breathing with the musical phrases they are playing. This makes teaching the concept (and importance) of phrasing to our students a bit more difficult.


In today’s post, I will be sharing tips for teaching phrasing, starting with fundamental skills that can be taught from the very first lesson. 

Keep reading for more about teaching the fundamentals of phrasing!


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5 Cool Arrangements Your Beginners Can Play Right Now!

3/18/2022

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Do your beginners want to play their favorite pop and movie themes? Of course they do! However, it can be tough to find satisfying arrangements that are accessible to students in their first year of lessons.
​

Today I am sharing some of my favorite arrangements for beginning students! These elementary arrangements are perfect for students in the primer or level 1 of most method books.

​Want to be the coolest piano teacher in town? Keep reading for a list of arrangements your elementary students will be excited to play right now!


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Free Composing Activity for St. Patrick's Day!

3/4/2022

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Are you looking for St. Patrick's Day-themed activities to incorporate into your lessons this month? Today I am sharing a fun improv/composing activity that is perfect for St. Patrick's Day, but can be used any time of the year!

This activity helps students create their own piece in the style of an Irish jig. It is a great activity for introducing the concepts of: 1) drone bass, 2) composing in triple meter, and 3) using the mixolydian scale (in this case, the G major scale with an F natural).

Click HERE to download your free Irish jig composing worksheet! (And check out my St. Patrick's Day freebies from past years HERE.)

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    Author

    Chrissy Ricker is a pianist, teacher, and composer from North Carolina. These are her thoughts on teaching, composing, and all things music.


    Looking for teaching ideas related to a specific topic? Use the "search" feature or scroll down to see blog posts organized by category!

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