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Patriotic Teaching Resources

6/27/2017

Since next week marks the Fourth of July holiday here in the U.S., I thought it might be a good time to compile a list of all of the patriotic-themed teaching resources I have available for free here on my website!

Whether you are planning a summer group class, or just looking for fun activities for this laid-back time of the year, hopefully you can find some ideas that you can use with your students!

Patriotic Group Class Lesson Plan : I do some variation on this lesson plan with my students each summer, and it is always lots of fun! We learn about an American composer, listen to a famous patriotic piece for orchestra, and play an ensemble piece.

Patriotic Name That Tune : Great for group classes or as a private lesson activity! This packet contains 3 levels of patriotic song excerpts for sight-reading and ear training fun.

Patriotic Ear Training Challenge : This worksheet walks students through the process of playing "My Country 'Tis of Thee" by ear.

The Star-Spangled Banner : An elementary piano solo version of the American national anthem, including lyrics!

You can find all of my free teaching resources HERE. Wishing all of my American colleagues a safe and happy Fourth of July holiday!

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New Video Game Inspired Songbook!

6/23/2017

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I am excited to announce my newest release at the Composers Community at Piano Pronto--"Let's Quest! Volume 2!" This is my second video game inspired songbook, and includes 8 solos and 2 duets at the early intermediate level.

This collection is perfect for students who are fans of gaming, fantasy, or sci-fi. Click HERE to see and hear the music from this exciting new collection!

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A Patriotic Ear Training Challenge!

6/19/2017

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The newest addition to my "Free Stuff" section is a patriotic ear training challenge! This worksheet walks students through the process of playing the first section of "My Country 'Tis of Thee" by ear.

This is a great tune for ear training: it is familiar, uses mostly step-wise motion, and contains no accidentals outside of the key signature. As a bonus, it can be harmonized using only the primary chords of I, IV, and V (or V7), which are familiar to most students.

Click HERE for this free worksheet!

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Encouraging Creativity

6/12/2017

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"I made up something cool when I was practicing this week! Can I show you?"

Does this statement sound familiar? Don't get me wrong--I am always happy when my students take the initiative to be creative, but sometimes it can be hard to be both creative and productive in the same lesson! There is so much to learn, and so little time.

However, over the years I have learned that when my students show these little sparks of creativity, it is well worth the time spent in our lesson to encourage them. By creating their own music, students are truly applying all of the skills they have learned at the piano.

Taking it a step further, I think it is possible (and worth it!) to carve out a little time to help students be creative at every single lesson. Encouraging creativity doesn't have to be time consuming or complicated. In fact, you can start by using your students' existing repertoire as a launching point. Here are a few simple activities to encourage creativity in just a few minutes at each lesson:

Think like a composer. Encourage students to delve deeper into their music by asking them questions such as:

What do you think the title of this piece means?
Why do you think the composer made those notes staccato (or legato)?
Why do you think the composer chose those dynamics?
Does this piece tell a story? How did the composer use the music to communicate his or her ideas?
What would you have done differently if this were your composition?

Play the "what if" game. Once your students are thinking like a composer, ask them a few "what if?" questions. For example:

What if the title of a piece were changed? Instead of "Little Frog," what if the piece were titled "Big Bear" or "Sneaky Snake?" How would you play it differently?
What if the piece were played an octave higher, or an octave lower--how would that change the sound and the mood of the piece?
What if the piece were changed from major to minor (or vice versa)? How would this change the sound? Would the title still be appropriate, or would it need a new name?

Create a special intro or coda for an existing piece of music. Look for short patterns or important notes (like the tonic and dominant) in the piece that can be used to create new intro or coda sections. For extra practice, ask students to notate these short sections on the staff.

Turn technique time into creative time, too! Even warm-ups can be creative if you ask students to play their C major scale like a bunny, or to make their primary chords sound like a thunderstorm.

What do you think? Do you do any special activities with your students to encourage creativity? Please share in the comments!

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Patriotic Teaching Resources

New Video Game Inspired Songbook!

A Patriotic Ear Training Challenge!

Encouraging Creativity

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