If you’ve ever wondered how to go about teaching rhythmic ear training, this is an easy and fun introduction. We start off with recognizing the rhythms first. Once we have done plenty of rhythm measure clapping, we move onto clap back and rhythm bingo. (view post)
Category Archives: Preschool
Piano Teacher Resources – Monthly Subscription
After (unsuccessfully) searching for a program just like this for a very long time, I decided to create my own. Yes, there are other websites you can get piano teacher resources from. Some are packed with so much information, it is hard to navigate. Some offer resources with too many embellishments to justify printing at home due to cost factor / ink wastage. And some do not give you full transparency of product choice / member options. (view post)
We Will Rock You! (and other Rhythm Cups Fun)
I recently read a Facebook post about how a fellow teacher used Wendy Stevens’ Rhythm Cup Explorations with her students, cupping along to the Ghostbusters theme song, and The Addams Family theme song. I thought I would give it a try. We have been clapping and rhythm-cupping for quite some time, but this brought it to a whole new level! (view post)
Hallowe’en, Music Class, and Micro Cars!
Preschoolers LOVE hallowe’en, music class and micro cars. When you put them all together, you get some fun off the bench learning opportunities. You can do this with whatever resources you might already have on hand, and just lay them out in a pattern on the floor. (view post)
G Clef and F Clef
G clef and F clef. How fun are these to teach to the wee ones? Within the first few lessons, my preschool kids know all about G clef and F clef, they can place the G note on the G line, and the F note on the F line. And of course, they can place middle C with ease. (view post)
Claps and holds and more holds
Young children (and preschoolers in particular) love clapping rhythms! We use rhythm blocks, rhythm cards, and even a metronome (just because they get such a big kick of it). We start by simply introducing what each value sounds like, with basic words. Once they can easily identify the symbols and clap a few bars, we focus our attention to feeling the beat getting into a groove. (view post)
Finger Puppets
I have many finger puppets in my studio for the wee ones. Having them practice getting the puppets on themselves builds coordination and finger dexterity, not to mention all the fun we have singing our silly songs. There are always “10 Little Monkeys” in our finger puppet box, ready to jump off the bed and all that stuff 🙂 (view post)