New 2014-2015 Schedule & PRE-registration is available!

My schedule for next year's 2014-2015 session is now available!  Click here to view the days and times of each class.  Pre-registration is NOW OPEN.  By filling out an online PRE-registration form you will be placed on the waiting list for the specific class you would like.  I will notify you when OFFICIAL registration opens up so that you may submit your registration fee ($25) and secure your class spot.  I will hold your pre-registered requested spot for you for 3 days into registration to give you more time to submit your registration fee and secure your requested spot. I highly recommend pre-registering for a class.  This will give you an advantage in getting the specific class-time you would like. (Regular registration spots are secured in the order the registration fee was submitted).  Each year my Let's Play Music classes have all filled up completely with additional families wanting to participate.  To register, I will need your $25 registration fee along with the online form telling me which class time you would like.  After registration opens, I will follow up with an email confirming you were able to secure your 1st choice class time.

**If you are a transfer student, please contact me and also talk with your current teacher so we can verify the need for the studio transfer. I can then place you on my waiting list.  Once my existing students have been given a chance to secure their class times, I will open registration up to everyone else.  Thank you!

REGISTRATION TIMELINE:

Monday, Feb. 10th - I will send an email to current students and those who have pre-registered for a class.  Those who have pre-registered will have their requested class time held through Wednesday, Feb. 12th to allow for time to submit the $25 registration fee.  Siblings and friends/family will also have until Wed. to secure their spot in 1st year classes that have been pre-registered for.

Thursday, Feb. 13th - Pre-registered spots that I have not received the registration fee for will open up and become available again.

Friday, Feb. 14th - I will open registration to transfer students and everyone else for ALL classes. Transfer students on my waiting list will receive an email with available spots listed and the registration link.

Please contact me with any questions that you may have.  Click here to email me.  Thank you!

**Please talk with me about referrals.  If you refer a friend and they sign up for 1st year classes, you will receive a $15 tuition credit!  Thank you so much for sharing Let's Play Music!

Welcome back to class!

It was so good to see everyone again after our long holiday break.  We had so much fun together this week!

In our Sound Beginnings-Gold Stars class we traveled to Jupiter together!  We also learned about telling time, up and down, the DO Pentachordal scale, and the 8 planets that go around the sun!

In 1st Year-Blue Bugs we learned all about our fun new bug friends and how to clap each one!  We added a new melodic pattern (Sol La Ti Do), learned about Winston's tired old horse, Old Paint, and learned a new puppet show, Triumphant March!

In 2nd Year-Yellow Arrows we went on a stealthy hunting trip with with our bows and arrows as we learned how to feel the beat of our new tricky rhythm pattern.  We also learned all about bass clef and treble clef as we introduced playing our chords and intervals with our left hand.  See if you can find that treasure with the pirates in our new Pirate Ship puppet show!

In 3rd Year-Orange Roots class we're bringing it all together as we learn awesome theory concepts, bring piano playing to a new level, and begin our composing process.  We learned how to label triads and their pieces.  We also learned how to recognize root position and find the root. We labeled all of our purple pyramid notes and rests so far, and we're taking the students' melodic dictation skills to a new level.  Whew!  These 3rd years are doing amazing and we had fun with the overlapping themes in our new "Monsters" puppet show.

I had so much fun with everyone this week!  Happy practicing to you as you get back into a good consistent practicing routine.  Remember, it's so worth it.  Take advantage of all the learning opportunities you can while you're in this fantastic program, you can do it!

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Have a wonderful holiday break!  Don't forget to check out the extra practice assignments or fun activities that I sent to you in your last parent email.  Your child can bring those completed assignments to our next class and receive a small prize/treat!  I'll see you back in class on January 7th.

Gold Stars Semester Registration is OPEN!

Registration for the Gold Stars semester of Sound Beginnings class is now open!  This class is for 2-4 year olds and their younger siblings.  The Gold Stars semester begins on January 7, 2014.  Sign up now to reserve your spot!

Sound Beginnings class taught at my home studio will be held on:

• Tuesdays at 10:00 - 10:30 am - GOLD STARS registration open NOW
• Tuesdays at 9:15 - 9:45 am - GOLD STARS registration open NOW
• $30 per month
• Click here to fill out your Sound Beginnings Registration Form online.

Sound Beginnings class taught at Best In Music (444 W 800 N, Orem):

• Wednesdays at 10:00 - 10:30 am - GOLD STARS registration open NOW
• $35 per month
• Click here to fill out your Sound Beginnings Registration Form online.

Sound Beginnings is a fun new curriculum specifically designed for children ages 2-4 and their parents (younger siblings are welcome to add on.) By providing a solid music and preschool foundation, Sound Beginnings prepares students for success in Let's Play Music and Kindergarten! The curriculum is organized into four non-sequential semesters, each lasting four months, providing experience with important music concepts and skills through different songs and games. Classes include singing, movement, games, stories, and activities focusing on different concepts each semester. Classes are 30 minutes long. A parent attends class every week with their child in Sound Beginnings.

Please note:

You must submit your registration form AND pay your deposit to hold your child's spot in the class.

I LOVED the great ideas in this post!

In this post you'll find different ways you can help your child based on their specific personality style.  I also think it's effective to change tactics just based on what mood your child's in!  This will give you some great ideas on how to make learning music together overall a positive and nurturing experience.

This post came from the official Let's Play Music blog at http://www.makingmusicianslpm.blogspot.com/

-Ms. Lily

What Type of Musician is Your Child?

Would you like to have more ease, peace, and fun during piano practice time?  Would you like music time to go more smoothly- with less yelling, arguing or bribing?  Read on to explore how understanding your child's experience and perspective can give you one tool for welcoming the joy you seek.

At the 2013 Let's Play Music symposium, teachers attended a workshop featuring the book The Child Whisperer by Carol Tuttle.  Tuttle's goal is to help parents and teachers have ease with children, through honoring the true nature of each child. 

The 4 Types

Tuttle identifies 4 Types to be profiled (not personalities, but inherent natures). All children have all types within them, but lead with a dominant one.   To get a better pinpoint on which type matches your child, read more in The Child Whisperer or get a glimpse with this brief summary:

• Type 1 children are fun-loving, social, and spontaneous.  
• Type 2 children are thoughtful, emotional, and in-touch with feelings. 
• Type 3 children are physical, active, energetic, and love challenges.
• Type 4 children are intellectual, efficient, exact, and analytical.

Type 1: Practice Must be Fun

The fun-loving child wants practice to be FUN.  She'll love to pretend she has laser-beam eyes firing at her book, to put fancy stickers on her daily practice chart, to give high-fives at the end of every single song, and to play imaginative games you invent to make practice go by.  "At the end of this song, let's do jumping jacks!"  Because everything is more fun with a friend, she'll love playing duets with a parent or sibling and performing regularly to any cheering crowd.  Although having a daily practice time is always a good idea, this spontaneous child loves to pop in and play a song or two of her choice in short bursts whenever it suits her.  She won't mind if you propose a short impromptu play time at the piano randomly during the day, and she'll have more fun with you by her side.   When composing time comes, she'll have lots of short ideas and needs to have all of them appreciated and validated before cutting it down to the themes that will become the piece.  If you feel your relationship with your Type 1 is strained, it may be a sign you need more laughing, hugging, and cheering. She feels loved by having fun with you and she'll have a long relationship with music if she identifies it as one of her playful outlets.

Type 2: I Know Exactly What to Do

Your Type-2 child is a planner.  He can see details and how they add up.  At practice time, he'll want to discuss with you exactly how many reps he'll need to do of each drill each day to meet the weekly goal, and he'll care a lot about knowing exactly what the weekly goals are. He'll want to plan out what order he'll do the songs  before starting each practice, and have a vision of exactly how long it's going to take him at his own pace.  Encourage him and let him know that he will be able to achieve the weekly goals, even when they seem large.  He cares about making life flow easily, and will want to be in on the discussion about when the practice time will be happening each day.  This sensitive child will like to hear you tell him about your feelings and emotions.  "I am happy to see you trying so hard, even though I can tell it is not always easy."  "Thank you for singing and snuggling with me in class- I sure do enjoy spending time with you."  He will enjoy singing with you or playing duets with you because it gives a sense of connection and bonding.  When composing time comes, he will feel most confident if given as many details as possible about what is expected and how the process is going to play out.  "Please come next week with four bars of melody and some block chords to harmonize."  If your Type 2 child is unhappy in class, he likely wants to talk about his feelings and be understood, without being rushed.  Reflect back to him to show that you understood. "Are you feeling nervous because you think it might sound bad the first time?" The great news is that this type of child has the patience to practice and make steady progress.

Type 3: I Can Do This!

Your determined Type-3 child is adventurous and self-motivated once she decides she wants to do this.  She loves creating results, and will appreciate if you film her each time she masters a song and put stickers on the pages so you can look back frequently and celebrate her achievements.  For the same reason, she'll love to put on mini-recitals with photo documentation.  This child will enjoy manageable challenges like striving for a perfect practice record every week, and she'll enjoy sticker charts to show her progress.  If she has a hard time getting to practice at the agreed-upon time, it's possibly because she's excited about another pursuit she's equally passionate about in the moment.  Show respect for all of her passions, and remind her of what she's accomplished.

 When she feels downhearted, reflect with her. "Remember when you could not tie your shoes, but you kept trying, and now you can do it so easily? I think if you stick with this scale, you will be able to do it very soon."  Help your child be very aware of the weekly goals.  If she is enthusiastic and puts in two hours straight to complete the goals on the first day, it may be fine to let her take a few days off to pursue other passions (but a refresher just before returning to class is a good idea.)  This is also the child most likely to request advanced options from the teacher and have the drive to achieve them.  Provide her with recordings of various piano music. She may hear a song she loves and let you know, "I MUST learn to play this song!"  Get her the sheet music and she will! 

Type 4: This is Serious Business

Your analytical child wants respect from you, and enjoys being taken as seriously as another adult.  Include him in the discussion of when and how to practice and let him know that his ideas are taken seriously.  You may be surprised at his problem-solving.  "I think the best way for me to practice without being interrupted by the little kids is if you let me stay up to practice after they are in bed."  This Type enjoys perfecting and polishing his songs, so if he is ever frustrated when the group class puts a song away, assure him that he can keep working on it at home.  For the same reason, he may get frustrated when his progress is not quick and perfect.  Assure him, "It seems you are frustrated that it's taking a long time to learn this part.  I think your progress is right on track, and it was expected that this part would be tricky.  It's okay to feel frustrated, and it doesn't mean you're not a good pianist." Because he longs for respect, ask before offering too much advice on his work.  "I heard a few mistakes in that last song; would you like me to help you notice them, or do you want to keep working on it alone for a bit longer?"  Your thoughtful child may easily fall in love with the beautiful mathematics and theory of music as well the satisfaction of playing polished pieces and mastering technique.   He is the most likely Type to appreciate knowing the many ways music lessons can affect and improve his brain and school success.  He also is the Type who will enjoy knowing the purpose of each activity in class- what theory it is teaching and what skills it helps him practice. If your Type 4 child is not enjoying class, he may feel like he's not being included in designing how to go about learning and practicing.  The great news is he'll be able to handle a mature and respectful problem-solving conversation; if you take him seriously he'll love to find the solution for making things work.

Let's Play Music!

Now as you head to class and practice time, keep your child's experience, needs, and perspectives in mind.  Many parents are aware that each of their children go about music learning in a slightly different way, often different from how the parents themselves would work through it.  Respect your child's nature while guiding him through this wonderful and sensitive period.  Let's plant the seeds of love for music and offer a platform for bonding between parent and child.

For more ideas, grab your own copy of The Child Whisperer, by Carol Tuttle.

-Gina Weibel, M.S.
Let's Play Music Teacher

Parent Orientation Coming Up Aug. 20th - 24th!

Classes begin on August 27th & 28th!
Mandatory Parent Orientations are scheduled the week before as follows:

Sound Beginnings:

Tues. 9:15 & 10:00 am classes - Orientation is Saturday from 10:30 - 11:00 am at Ms. Lily's Home
Wed. 10:00 am class - Orientation is Saturday at 9:30 - 10:00 am at Best In Music

1st Year Classes:

Tues. 10:45 am & 1:00 pm classes - Orientation is Tuesday from 7:00 - 7:45 pm at Ms. Lily's Home
Wed. 10:45 am & 5:15 pm classes - Orientation is Wednesday from 7:00 - 7:45 pm at Best In Music

2nd Year Classes:

Tues. 2:40 pm & 4:10 pm classes - Orientation is Tuesday from 6:00 - 6:45 pm at Ms. Lily's Home
Wed. 4:10 pm class - Orientation is Wednesday from 6:00 - 6:45 pm at Best In Music

3rd Year Class:

Tues. 5:10 pm class - Orientation is Saturday from 11:00 am - noon at Ms. Lily's Home

**These orientation meetings are on either August 20th (Tues), 21st (Wed), or 24th (Sat)**


I'm looking forward to another year of music and fun!
  

Let's Play Music Convention 2013

I had such a great time at Let's Play Music's official teacher convention this month!  Let's Play Music teachers gathered from all around the country to attend this valuable training experience.  We attended amazing workshops and we all got great ideas of ways to hone in our teaching skills and make great things happen as we gear up for another year of Let's Play Music classes!


 
Some of the composition winners for 2013 were able to be there and play their songs for us.  I was super impressed with this little boy's composition and his courage to play it in front of a big crowd of Let's Play Music teachers! This little guy is about 7 years old! WOW! What an amazing little musician.

If you're interested in having your 4 or 5 year old start this amazing 3-year program you can click here to go to the registration page. I have a few more spots available for classes that start in the fall.  Join us!  You and your child will LOVE this experience and the superior musical foundation they'll gain.