Chrissy Ricker
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Happy Birthday, Mozart!

1/27/2021

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Did you know that Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born on this day in 1756 in Salzburg, Austria?

Sadly, Mozart only lived 35 short years. However, his contributions to the world of classical music will live on forever!

Today I am sharing a few free resources in honor of Mozart's special day. 




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An elementary practice packet to help students learn about Mozart, including an arrangement of "A Little Night Music."
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A composing activity inspired by Mozart's love of puzzles and dice!
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Create your own variations on "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star"--just like Mozart did--with this transposing worksheet.
Want to wish Mozart a happy birthday? Check out my free lead sheet version of the birthday song HERE.

​Many happy returns, Mozart!
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Musicianship Monthly for January

12/30/2020

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Want to learn more about "Musicianship Monthly" and see past topics? Click HERE!

This month's musicianship skill is a perfect way to kick off the new year. Invite your students to participate in a "new year, new key" challenge by learning how to transpose!

Click "read more" for your free resources on teaching transposition!


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Saint Patrick's Day Freebie: a traditional Irish jig!

2/25/2020

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Saint Patrick's Day is just around the corner! So, today I am sharing a free arrangement of the traditional Irish jig, "The Irish Washerwoman."

In addition to being a fun introduction to Irish folk music, this elementary arrangement also reinforces counting in 3/4 time and holding tied notes, as well as stretching the right hand thumb away from the other fingers.

Since this piece uses only the first six notes of the major scale, this arrangement also makes a great transposing challenge piece for your late elementary and intermediate students.
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Click HERE or on the picture above to download your free PDF of this piece! 

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Updated Transposing Challenge Worksheets!

6/12/2019

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One of my goals for the upcoming year is to help my students become more comfortable playing in a wide variety of keys. Studying scales is great--but I have found that scales make the most sense when students have a practical application for the scales they are learning.

To that end, I have updated the "transposing challenge" section of my Free Stuff page to include 8 revised transposing challenge worksheets! These worksheets will help students progress from transposing simple five-note melodies played by one hand, all the way up to playing melodies using the entire one octave scale harmonized by primary chords.

These worksheets are a great way to give your students more practice with pentascales, one octave scales, and primary chords in all 12 major keys. They also build reading skills by encouraging students to look for interval patterns and blocked and broken chords.

Click on the links below to download any of these free worksheets:


  • Challenge #1: Jingle Bells (5 note melody, RH only)
  • Challenge#2: Ode to Joy (5 note melody, LH only)
  • Challenge #3: Row, Row, Row, Your Boat (5 note melody with simple LH harmony)
  • Challenge #4: Deck the Halls (stretching to a sixth in each hand)
  • Challenge #5: Alouette (5 note melody using I and V7 chords in LH)
  • Challenge #6: For He's a Jolly Good Fellow (extended melody using I, IV, and V7 chords in LH)
  • Challenge #7: Country Gardens (using the entire major scale with I, IV, and V7 chords in LH)
  • Challenge #8: Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star (extended melody with I, IV, V7 chords in each hand)​
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Free Christmas Resources

12/14/2016

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​Holiday recitals are over, contest pieces are picked for next year, and only one lesson left before Christmas!

What's a teacher to do?



Check out my free Christmas themed worksheets! These are a great way to get a little extra theory and ear training practice in before Christmas break. 
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  • Christmas transposing worksheets: Jingle Bells and Deck the Halls
  • Christmas ear training worksheet: HERE
  • Christmas sight reading: HERE
  • Christmas ensemble piece: HERE

I will definitely be using these with my students as we wrap things up for the year. Will you be doing anything special with your students as 2016 comes to a close?



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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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