Terrific Thursday Link #6

Take the survey! Find out what musical period you belong to by taking What's Your Musical Era? Quiz. Apparently, I belong to the Renaissance period. Yay! That's one of my favourites.

(c) 2006 by Musespeak(tm), Calgary, AB, Canada. All rights reserved.

Wacky Wednesday Fun Link #5

This week's fun link is Name that Instrument. Listen to the audio clip and identify the instrument that made the sound...if you can. Enjoy!

(c) 2006 by Musespeak(tm), Calgary, AB, Canada. All rights reserved.

Friday Fun Links #30 - 31

Lately, I've been on an ethnic music kick. For those interested in exploring world music, here are some sites that I frequent (although, I haven't lately since I'm trying to cut down on my spending):

• CD Japan: an excellent site for JPop, anime, game and traditional Japanese music

• Amazon.ca: You'd be amazed at the wide selection on Amazon

(c) 2006 by Musespeak(tm), Calgary, AB, Canada. All rights reserved.

Wacky Wednesday Fun Link #3

Here's a fun one for kids young and old - a site on how to make Homemade Instruments. Enjoy!

(c) 2006 by Musespeak(tm), Calgary, AB, Canada. All rights reserved.

Music Fun & Games for the Summer

Just two more sleeps before the end of the school year. I, like my students, can't wait. However, I do have seven summer students for July, which works out to eight more teaching evenings. With the exception of one student who is preparing for a theory exam, the rest get to enjoy a more leisurely musical exploration next month. I promised them that we will do plenty of pop songs, improvising and composing (with some finger warm-ups thrown in).

All students will have summer assignments, which consist of playing pop, movie, country, praise & worship and jazz songs, composing and improvising to their hearts content. I paid dearly for not touching the piano in the summer when I was their age. I gradually caught on that this was not a good thing (starting from scratch each year is a painful experience for everyone involved). Now, I stress the importance of keeping their skills up, but also encourage them to have as much fun as they want at their instrument. And yes, we teachers expect the students to have a more relaxed practice routine. Relaxed, but still consistent.

The exam students do have to start on their technical requirements and exam repertoire. If they work hard at it over the summer, then they don't have to work as hard during the school year.

Here are two music games for the students to goof off with over the summer:

• Music Online Games

• Funbrain.com

Enjoy!

(c) 2006 by Musespeak(tm), Calgary, AB, Canada. All rights reserved.