Chrissy Ricker
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Guest post on teaching composition for the Colourful Keys blog!

9/18/2023

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We all know that teaching improvisation and composition is a great way for our piano students to unlock their creativity and get comfortable making music away from the written page. 

​But did you know these activities can also be powerful tools for helping our students learn and memorize scales, chord progressions, accompaniment patterns and much more?

Check out my guest post for the Colourful Keys blog to learn more about easy ways to harness the power of composition in your studio!

Many thanks to the Colourful Keys team for inviting me to contribute to their website! Click HERE to read the whole article.



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Summer Fun Series! Lesson Plan #5

8/6/2023

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Summer is a great time to think outside of the box as you lesson plan! Flexibility with your lesson plans in the summer is also key, since students are often taking more sporadic lessons due to summer vacations, camps, sports, and other activities.

Over the past few weeks, I have been sharing a series of fun lesson plans that are perfect for busy students (and teachers) this summer! Each lesson plan includes links to FREE worksheets and activities that can be completed in the space of a 30 minute lesson.

This week, I am wrapping up the series with a lesson plan that just might be my favorite out of the whole bunch! Lesson Plan #5 is designed to get your students' creative juices flowing with a focus on improvisation! 

​Keep reading to learn more....


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Summer Fun Series! Lesson Plan #2

6/21/2023

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Summer is a great time to think outside of the box as you lesson plan! Flexibility with your lesson plans in the summer is also key, since students are often taking more sporadic lessons due to summer vacations, camps, sports, and other activities.

So, over the next several weeks, I will be sharing a series of fun lesson plans that will be perfect for busy students (and teachers) this summer! Each lesson plan focuses on one skill and includes links to FREE worksheets and activities that can be completed in the space of a 30 minute lesson.
​
Lesson Plan #2 is a focus on composing! Keep reading to see the summer fun....


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Musicianship Monthly #25: Improving Improv Skills

3/31/2023

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April is almost here, and that means it is time for a new "Musicianship Monthly" activity!

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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 all month long! Want to see past skills we have covered? Click HERE!

This month, we are celebrating all things improv! I am rounding up a whole host of free improv activities that you can use with students at every level.

Keep reading to see them all....


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Easy Improv Activities Using Backing Tracks from YouTube!

3/20/2023

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Do you enjoy improvising with your students? Have you wanted to incorporate more improv into your lessons but just aren't sure how to go about it? Either way...today's post is for you!

Did you know that there are tons of backing tracks--in every key and every style imaginable--available on YouTube? In today's post, we will be exploring some of these awesome (and free!)  backing tracks and how you can use them right now with students at every level!

​Keep reading to learn more....


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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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