Chrissy Ricker
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A Christmas Transposing Challenge!

11/7/2016

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With the Christmas season approaching, it is a perfect time to mix in some holiday themed musicianship activities with your students!

Transposing is a great activity to reinforce intervallic reading, get students playing in a variety of keys, and encourage careful listening. (Read my previous posts on why I teach transposition and how I introduce it to my students here and here.) Today's post will feature three holiday transposing worksheets, all of which can be found in the "Free Stuff" section of my website. Click HERE to see all my transposing challenge worksheets.

  1. Jingle Bells Challenge: this is a great first transposition project for students. This shortened version of the song uses only five notes, is RH only, and provides lots of finger numbers to help students new to transposing.
  2. Ode to Joy Challenge: this is a LH only transposition challenge featuring just five notes.
  3. Deck the Halls Challenge: this challenge is appropriate for older students, and uses both hands. 

What do you think? Will you encourage your students to transpose some of these familiar Christmas tunes this year?
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Thanksgiving Music (No, Really!)

11/4/2016

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Ah, Thanksgiving, the “black sheep” of musical holidays. Sandwiched as you are between Halloween and Christmas you never had a chance.

So, what is a teacher to do when students request a Thanksgiving song? Check out this handy list of Thanksgiving song suggestions! 

Gilbert DeBenedetti’s G Major Music Theory (Elementary to Early Intermediate Levels): This is a great website to find theory worksheets for your older students, as well as free sheet music for all levels. Click on the link to find free Thanksgiving songs for Primer to Level 3 students.

Susan Paradis (Elementary Level): Lots of great teaching resources for younger students including games, composition worksheets, sheet music and much more! Click on the link to see Susan's post of free Thanksgiving hymns.

“Candy Corn Jive” (Late Elementary Level): My own original piece, featuring a Jerry Lee Lewis-style teacher duet that will have your students rockin’ and rollin’! Click the link to see and hear this piece on Sheet Music Plus.

“Simple Canon” (Early Intermediate Level): My own medley of two favorite pieces: “Simple Gifts” and “Pachelbel Canon,” appropriate for both Thanksgiving and Christmas! Click the link to see and hear this piece, part of my "Medley Magic" songbook available from Piano Pronto.

Do you teach Thanksgiving songs? What are your favorites? Please share in the comment section below!
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    Chrissy Ricker is a pianist, teacher, and composer from North Carolina. These are her thoughts on teaching, composing, and all things music.


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