Chrissy Ricker
  • Home
  • Publications
    • Piano collections
    • Pop & rock arrangements
    • Video game arrangements
    • Vocal music
    • Instrumental music
  • Search
    • Search my catalog!
  • About
  • Blog
  • Free Stuff
  • Contact

The Jingle Bells Remix Challenge!

12/12/2022

0 Comments

 
Picture
The holiday season is in full swing, and your students probably have quite a few seasonal favorites under their fingers by now!

One of my favorite activities to do this month is to help students flex their creative muscles by "remixing" some of their favorite holiday tunes in different styles. 

So today I am sharing a fun "Jingle Bells Remix" worksheet as an example of how students can create their own unique variations of their favorite traditional Christmas tunes!

​Keep reading to see more...


Read More
0 Comments

Musicianship Monthly #19: Fall and Halloween Composing Activities

9/30/2022

2 Comments

 
Picture
October is the perfect time to get your students' creative juices flowing! From the spooky sounds of Halloween, to the changing colors of the trees, there is plenty of inspiration this time of year that you can help your students channel into composing and improvising their own original music.

In this month's edition of "Musicianship Monthly," I will be sharing composition worksheets and improvising templates that will have your students creating their own original music all month long! 

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!

Read on to check out the free resources! 


Read More
2 Comments

Free Composing Activity for St. Patrick's Day!

3/4/2022

0 Comments

 
Picture
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.)

0 Comments

Musicianship Monthly for October

9/29/2021

2 Comments

 
Picture
A new month means a new opportunity to incorporate a fun musicianship skill into your lessons! (Want to learn more about Musicianship Monthly and see past activities? Click HERE!)

This month we will be flexing our creative muscles with a few fun, Halloween-themed improv and composition activities! 

Want to join the fun? Read on to see the free activities!


Read More
2 Comments

Musicianship Monthly for April

3/29/2021

2 Comments

 
Picture
It's that time again! A new month means a new opportunity to explore a fun musicianship skill with your students! (Want to learn more about Musicianship Monthly and see past activities? Click HERE!)

For the month of April, we will be exploring 3 basic chord progressions and creating original music using the process of guided composition. Through this process, even your elementary students can compose and notate their own musically satisfying compositions!

Click "read more" to learn how it works, and to download your free guided composition worksheets!


Read More
2 Comments
<<Previous

    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!

    Archives

    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016

    Categories

    All
    2 Minute Teaching Tips
    Active Listening
    Composer Focus
    Composition
    Duets
    Ear Training
    Easter
    Fall/Halloween
    Free Stuff
    Friday Funny
    Games
    Group Classes
    Holiday Music
    Lesson Planning
    Living Composers
    Memorization
    Music For One Hand
    Music History
    Musicianship Monthly
    NFMC Selections
    Online Lessons
    Patriotic Music
    Performing
    Pop Arrangements
    Practicing
    Professional Development
    Repertoire
    Rhythm
    Rote Teaching
    Saint Patrick's Day
    Sight Reading
    Summer
    Technique
    Technology
    Thanksgiving
    Theory
    Tips For Teens
    Transposition
    Travel Teaching
    Valentine's Day
    Wedding Music
    Young Beginners

    RSS Feed

    Subscribe to my monthly newsletter to stay informed about my latest publications and free teacher resources. Once you subscribe below, a fresh newsletter will be delivered to your inbox on the first of each month!

    *Your email will never be shared or used for any other purpose besides this once-monthly newsletter, and you may unsubscribe at any time by clicking "unsubscribe" at the bottom of your newsletter email or contacting me HERE through my website. 

Subscribe
 © ​Copyright 2023 Chrissy Ricker. All Rights Reserved.