MJ's Music Teaching Tips

Good King Wenceslas

2009-12-14T10:52:00.007-07:00

Did Good King Wenceslas really exist? The song itself is a reminder to Christians to be kind to the poor and is actually based on the life of a real person - Duke Wenceslas, Prince of Bohemia.

The lyrics to "Good King Wenceslas" were written by John Mason Neal in 1853 and the music is a carol from the 13th Century. Duke Wenceslas, prince of Bohemia lived during the late 800's and early 900's and is the patron saint of the Czech Republic.

Wenceslas lived in Bohemia (now Czech Republic) and was known for his noble character and charity toward the poor, as described in the carol. Other members of his family, however, were not so noble. Wenceslas was murdered by his own brother, Boleslav, in 929 A.D. and their mother is believed to have been a witch. His legacy of charity lives on through his sainthood and through our tradition of giving at Christmastime - as we are reminded by this simple, yet descriptive account of his life through song.

Counting Down to Christmas: Only 11 days left!

The Twelve Days of Christmas

2009-12-13T20:24:00.005-07:00

Have you ever wondered who actually gave their true love “seven swans a-swimming” or “four calling birds”? “The Twelve Days of Christmas” is a song that dates back at least several hundred years and the title refers to the period of time between Christmas and Epiphany.

Sources disagree on the actual meaning of the song. The most intriguing theory is the claim that each verse has a hidden meaning and was intended to teach catechism to Catholic children during a time when they were not allowed to openly practice Catholicism. According to this theory, the verses can be interpreted as follows:

Partridge in a pear tree – Jesus
Two turtle doves – Old and New Testaments
Three French hens – Faith, hope, and love
Four calling birds – Four gospels
Five golden rings – Torah
Six geese a-laying – Six days of Creation
Seven swans a swimming – Seven gifts of the Holy Spirit
Eight maids a-milking – Eight beatitudes
Nine Ladies Dancing – Nine fruits of the Holy Spirit
Ten Lords A-Leaping – Ten Commandments
Eleven Pipers Piping – Eleven faithful disciples
Twelve Drummers Drumming – Twelve points of belief in the Apostles’ Creed

Next time, you hear this song, remember it's meaning and be thankful that we have the freedom to practice our religious beliefs openly.

Counting down to Christmas: Only twelve days left!

Order "The Twelve Days of Christmas" in print or download now!

Piano Adventures Partners With New Distributor!

2009-12-08T15:11:00.006-07:00

As of December 7, Piano Adventures, along with all other publications by Nancy and Randall Faber, are now distributed by Hal Leonard. The books were formerly published and distributed by FJH Music Company, who had been working to resolve multiple licensing issues during the past year.

The Music N More Store will continue to offer Piano Adventures and many other music books by both Hal Leonard and FJH.

Five Steps to Better Practicing, Part Five

2009-11-27T08:30:00.003-07:00

5. Schedule a Performance

In my opinion, the best motivators of all are recitals, concerts, and other performance opportunities. When all other practicing rituals are in place and working well, schedule a performance for your students to keep them practicing and let them feel the pride and rewards of a job well done.

These showcase events do not have to be limited to the end-of-year spring recital and concert season. Christmas is an excellent occasion for such festivities as well. For children, contact a nursing home to schedule a musicale or invite parents to a "Studio Day" in your teaching studio where children may perform for them. This will provide a low-key environment that can help to build up to the higher pressures of the Spring Recital.

Five Steps to Better Practicing, Part Four

2009-11-15T19:46:00.004-07:00

Previously, we've discussed:

1. Effective Communication

2. Practice Record

3. Incentives

This leads us to the next step:

4. Consistent Reminders

Whatever your plan for motivating your student, follow up with it consistently. Review the practcie record at every lesson. Be prepared to award the incentive you have chosen. Communicate with parents, especially if the student is not practicing enough. Work with them to encourage more practice.

Five Steps to Better Practicing, Part Three

2009-11-12T20:15:00.004-07:00

3. Incentives

Everyone likes rewards. Not only do we enjoy receiving whatever gift has been deemed appropriate, but we also like the recognition for a job well done. Rewards can be an incentive to do your best.

This concept works well with music students. Anticipating a reward at the next lesson will motivate students to practice more during the week. Practice time can be recorded and tracked in the lesson assignment book. Use a sticker to mark each week in which the student has practiced the required amount of time. Younger students will enjoy picking out the stickers themselves. For them, this is part of the treat!

What kind of rewards are appropriate for music students? After 6 stickers have accumulated, offer a selection of small gifts for the student to choose from, such as musical pencils or music note lollipops. It is a good idea to offer at least one non-food item and be cautious of food allergies and diet restrictions.

After 12 stickers have accumulated, offer a choice of slightly more expensive prizes, like music-themed magnets or whistle pops. Students could choose between one prize from "Group Two" or two prizes from the original prize group (Group One).

There could be up to six different prize levels - after 6 weeks, 12 weeks, 18 weeks, 24 weeks, 30 weeks, and 36 weeks - but, ultimately, the frequency of prizes is up to you. Other prizes to consider are composer statuettes, stationery, music-themed socks or hats, or even a music book.

Try using practice incentives today. You'll be amazed at the difference it makes in motivating your students to practice.

Five Steps to Better Practicing, Part Two

2009-10-18T13:19:00.003-06:00

2. Keep Track of Practicing with a Practice Record.

Once you have communicated the need for practice to your students and their parents, you will need to hold them accountable with a practice record. There are many different practice records from which to choose. The most basic component is a list of the days of the week with a blank or box next to each day where the student may record practice time. Most practice records also include room to write down assignments and some even include a few blank staves. The practice records serves as a journal that confirms the amount of practice. For children, I usually require a parent's signature to verify the times stated.

What incentive does a child have to use the practice record? More about that next week.

Five Steps to Better Practicing

2009-10-11T15:27:00.006-06:00

We are halfway through the Fall Semester and this year's practice habits have been formed. Do your students need improvement in this area? Perhaps you can find help with this tried and proven Five Steps to Better Practicing.

1. Communicate your expectations to the student and his/her parents from the beginning.

Many people, especially children, do not realize how much practice is required for learning to play an instrument. They watch professionals, or other well-trained musicians, who have the ability to learn new music with ease and think that playing an instrument looks easy. No one sees the hours and hours of practice that goes into a professional-sounding performance or the years of hard work that builds musical skill.

Tell your students at the first lesson how many minutes per week they will be expected to practice. In fact, tell them when you are scheduling the first lesson. Break it down into minutes per day. For example, 30 minutes per day for six days each week.

Effective Communication is the first key to building better practice routines.

Find a Music Teacher

2009-10-04T15:52:00.005-06:00

How do music teachers and music students find each other? One way is through "Find a Music Teacher" at The Music N More Store.

"Find a Music Teacher" is a nation-wide database that allows music teachers to register their contact information and profile for a small fee. Students search for teachers by location, instrument and other pertinent details. Students view teacher profiles and contact the teacher of their choice. Everyone wins! Try "Find a Music Teacher" today.

Camp Jam Rock Solid Series

2009-07-25T10:38:00.004-06:00

Imagine an instructional setting that actually teaches you how to play in a band! Private lessons are a great start, but learning to play in any ensemble is a valuable tool that can't be acquired through private lessons alone. Camp Jam, an innovative teaching collaboration for rock musicians, has found a niche in teaching guitar, bass, and keyboard players, as well as drummers tricks of the rock band trade.

And, for those who don't live near one of their sixteen different locations, Camp Jam comes to you with their Camp Jam Rock Solid series. Available for Bass, Guitar, Keyboard, and Drums, these books were designed by renowned musicians to prepare instrumentalists with varying levels of skill to play in band settings. Each book includes a CD and all are currently on sale at The Music N More Store (MJ Sheet Music's new online catalog). Order yours today!

Revised Edition of Adult Piano Adventures Book 1 Now Available!

2009-07-03T19:36:00.002-06:00

The revised edition of Adult Piano Adventures Book 1 has recently become available. As always, lessons, technique, solos, and theory are included in one book for convenience. Music used in Adult Piano Adventures was chosen specifically to appeal to adult beginners. New skills are learned through the "3-Minute Technique" pages, while "Music Theory" pages help the student gain an understanding of rhythm and harmony.

This new volume is available as a book only and is still offered at the same price of $15.95. For a limited time only, Book 1 may be purchase from MJ Sheet Music for only $14.36. A revised version of Book 2 will be coming soon. Meanwhile, the original Adult Piano Adventures Book 2 with CD is still available.

How to Become a Wedding Musician, Part 2

2009-07-01T16:51:00.005-06:00

How To Become a Wedding Musician

Part 2: Selecting the Music

Every wedding is different and, while there are some standards common to most weddings, each wedding will have its own unique variation of the order of service. Read more to learn about the main components found in most weddings and which classical pieces to play.

How to Become a Wedding Musician, Part 1

2009-04-06T21:09:00.005-06:00

How to Become a Wedding Musician
Part 1: Initial Meeting

Providing music for weddings can be an income supplement or a favor for friends. Weddings are, not only a lucrative business, but also the ultimate special occasion. Every bride wants perfection and a successful musician will prepare wisely.

As soon as you have been recruited or hired to play, schedule a meeting with the bride. The groom, bride’s mother, and wedding coordinator should also be invited if available. read more

© Photowitch Dreamstime.com

New Music Product: Sheet Music on-a-Stick

2009-03-26T20:24:00.000-06:00

Imagine sheet music to your favorite songs on your computer screen. Picture yourself changing the tempo, key signature, or instrument sound. Visualize playing along with muted tracks with the notes lighting up as they are to be played. All of this is available on a USB drive, aptly called "Sheet Music on-a-Stick" by FreeHand Systems.

To date, Sheet Music on-a-Stick offers collections for guitar/vocal, piano/vocal and piano solo. The piano music may be printed - up to two times per song. Each USB drive includes 25 or mores songs. Tracks may be muted to provide opportunities to play along with accompaniment. And each set of 25 songs is only $24.95.* It's like buying a music book that can be opened on your computer with the ability to make changes to the key, tempo, and sound.

Order yours today and watch for more interactive sheet music collections to become available soon.

*$39.95 for Beatles Vol. 1&2

Danny Boy

2009-02-28T12:39:00.000-07:00

One of the most popular traditional Irish songs is "Danny Boy", written by Fred Weatherly to the tune of "Londonderry Air". "Danny Boy" has a fascinating history! Several musicians and other individuals from two different continents played a part in developing the song into the piece we know today.

The music was first published under the title of "Londonderry Air" by George Petrie in The Ancient Music of Ireland in 1855. The melody had been given to Petrie by Jane Ross of Newton Limavady in Londonderry County. Miss Ross claimed to have heard the tune from a fiddler, presumably blind Jimmy McCurry, and believed it to be "very old". It may have been well over two hundred years old by that time.

"Danny Boy" is one of the more than one hundred different songs that were written to "Londonderry Air". Its lyrics were originally written in 1910 with a different melody by English lawyer/songwriter/radio entertainer Fred Weatherly. Weatherly's sister-in-law, who lived in Colorado, sent him a copy of "Londonderry Air". Irish immigrants had taken this tune with them as they moved to the United States. Weatherly set the lyrics of "Danny Boy", which had been unsuccessful in its first version, to the tune of "Londonderry Air" and the song as we know it emerged.

Resources:
http://www.standingstones.com/dannyboy.html

http://www.theoriginofdannyboy.com/

For more information about the origin of St. Patrick's Day: "The Life of St. Patrick"

Performance Anxiety

2009-02-21T18:24:00.000-07:00

As contest season approaches, how do your students prepare for the nervousness they will feel when it is their turn to perform?

This spring, many music students will perform solos and/or ensembles for judges in private auditions in order to receive critiques and ratings. The music teacher organizations that sponsor these events have been around for decades and are sincere in their desire to promote musicianship. Yet, for some students, playing a solo before a judge induces a level of anxiety they are not prepared for. Learning to alleviate this stress can leave a student with coping skills that will continue to help them throughout their lives. Follow these steps:

1. Encourage your students to prepare their pieces well. The well-prepared student can be confident in his or her ability to play. Lack of preparation will almost certainly create a greater sense of fear.

2. Talk to your students about performance anxiety. Remind them that being nervous about a performance is a good thing because it means that they care enough to do their best. Most people perform better when they are a little nervous.

3. Teach your students a technique for calming nerves. Taking slow, deep breaths will help them to relax. Help them develop positive, affirming statements to focus on, rather than dwelling on self-defeating thoughts.

4. Whatever the outcome, use it as a tool for improvement. Each time a student performs, he or she becomes conditioned toward reducing their level of anxiety. Each critique can be a useful learning experience, regardless of the rating.

For more information about solo/ensemble festivals, contact one of the following organizations:
American College of Musicians
National Federation of Music Clubs
Royal Conservatory of Music
Music Teachers National Association
National Association for Music Education

MJ Sheet Music has selections for NFMC Jr. Festival and Royal Conservatory of Music Exams.

Improve Your Piano Skills

2009-02-06T07:22:00.000-07:00

Have you ever asked yourself any of the following questions?

*How do I find time to practice?
*How can I get better at playing in different keys?
*How do I decide/recognize what the left hand chords are in a piece of music?
*How can I play and read sheet music faster?
*How do I decide on proper fingering?

The answer to these and many other piano playing questions can now be yours.
Step-By-Step Piano DVD Course Helps You Become A Better Piano Player
www.LearnPianoTips.com

Take Your Piano Playing To The Next Level with Complete Piano Courses For Piano Players Of All Levels!

Rex: An Autistic Musical Genius

2009-02-02T11:52:00.000-07:00

Rex by Cathleen Lewis is the true story of a child who was born blind and autistic. It is also the story of a single mom's quest for finding help for her son. Musicians and those who work with children who have special needs will be touched by the account of how Rex learned to play the piano in spite of multiple disabilities and how playing the piano transformed his life. Order "Rex" from Amazon.

Out-of-print books still in stock!

2009-01-22T08:58:00.000-07:00

Several books from FJH are temporarily out of print. These books will most likely be revised and printed again at some point in the future.

MJ Sheet Music is happy to announce that we currently have some of these books in stock. Check available titles.

O Holy Night: Traditional or Contemporary?

2008-12-17T11:06:00.000-07:00

Countdown to Christmas with Christmas Carol Trivia # 3: O Holy Night

One of the most beautiful Christmas songs of all time is "O Holy Night". It's lyrical melody with flowing accompaniment suggest a modern composition, yet carolers have been singing this tune for 150 years. Here are the facts:

• Originally written as a French poem, “Cantique de Noel” by Placide Cappeau
• Music was composed by Adolphe-Charles Adam in 1847
• English translation by John Sullivan Dwight in 1855
• Became the first Christmas carol to be played live on a radio Christmas program in 1906.
• Rich’s Great Tree in Atlanta, Georgia is lit on Thanksgiving Day every year when the highest note of “O Holy Night” is sung.

Read more . . .

Only 8 more days until Christmas!

Good King Wenceslas: Fact or Fiction?

2008-12-14T20:22:00.001-07:00

Countdown to Christmas with Christmas Carol Trivia: # 2 Good King Wenceslas

Did Good King Wenceslas really exist? The song itself is a reminder to Christians to be kind to the poor, but it is based on the life of a real person. More facts about the "good king":

The lyrics to "Good King Wenceslas" were written by John Mason Neal in 1853.

Music to "Good King Wenceslas" is a carol from the 13th Century.

Duke Wenceslas, prince of Bohemia lived during the late 800's and early 900's.

He is the patron saint of the Czech Republic.

He was known for his charity toward the poor.

Jingle Bells: The Story Behind the Song

2008-12-13T11:26:00.000-07:00

Countdown to Christmas with Christmas Carol Trivia: #1 Jingle Bells

Many of us grew up singing "Jingle Bells" every December. Where did the song come from? Do we know who wrote it or is it an anonymous "public domain" song? Here are a few little-known facts about this famous tune:

Written in the 1850’s by James Pierpont, who was the uncle of J. P. Morgan, the famous banker. J. P. Morgan's full name is James Pierpont Morgan.

Originally titled “One-Horse Open Sleigh”

Earliest known recording: 1898 by the Edison Male Quartette

Never mentions the word Christmas or anything, other than winter activities, that is related to Christmas.

The melody to the chorus as originally published sounded more classical than the commonly accepted melody today. It is not known when the melody was changed or who made the changes.

Creative Recital Ideas

2008-12-12T15:40:00.000-07:00

The holiday season is an excellent time to find new ways to showcase your students. Here are just a few examples of unique performance opportunities:

1. Assisted Living Facilities. The residents will appreciate the opportunity to encourage and interact with your students. Students benefit from performing for strangers in a low-key environment.

2. Shopping Malls. Malls often welcome entertainment during this time. One local music organization owns a piano that is housed in an area mall. Teachers belonging to the organization schedule recitals on this piano and collect donations for a fundraiser.

3. Christmas Parties. Ask a few selected parents if they would be willing to host a Christmas party for some or all of your students and their families. Students could provide the entertainment and their families can bring the food.

More ideas, anyone?

More Online Resources

2008-12-04T18:05:00.001-07:00

The internet is packed with useful information. Two more excellent resources for music teachers can be found at http://www.howtopractice.com/ and http://www.musicteachershelper.com/.

http://www.howtopractice.com/ is filled with teaching tips for music students. Teachers will benefit from finding new words of wisdom to pass on to their students. Or, students can access the site directly. Either way, everyone wins!

http://www.musicteachershelper.com/ offers valuable resources for music teachers, including teacher websites. Teaching tips and relevant articles are offered by a variety of authors.

Tribute to Jerry Swalley

2008-11-08T13:40:00.000-07:00

A great man recently left this life to be with his Heavenly Father. Jerry Swalley passed away last August, after retiring from the Swalley Music store in Boulder, Colorado, which he had owned and operated for 35 years. He was my employer for only three of those years, but during that time I was inspired by his warmth and amiable personality.

I loved working for Jerry. He was always pleasant, loved to tell stories, and usually found a way to laugh about everything, regardless of how unsettling the circumstances may have been. Although he knew he had Dementia, I often tried to convince him otherwise. His recollections of the store during better times were so enjoyable that I wished I could have been a part of it then. I learned from his wisdom and from his example.

Jerry Swalley was a great man. His family should be proud of the legacy he left behind in the hearts of many through his generosity and kindness.