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.

An Adventure in Piano Lesson Plans

I'm in between temping assignments at the moment. Maestro and I did enjoy some time off but it's now time to start planning ahead for the 2006/07 year. If I can get everything done in the beginning of the month, then I can relax for the second half. At least, that's the plan. I am always looking for ways to improve how lessons are planned and run. I was at an educational store with a friend/fellow piano teacher the other day and got some ideas for games, lesson plans and materials.

I have also revised the practicing contract, inspired by a goal sheet posted online by another teacher and created a Practice Journal/Assignment sheet (new). I will ask all the parents to copy enough of these sheets to last the school year. The incentive program will be tied more closely to how much and how well they practiced. I did have something like it last year but things did get out of hand with students earning as much as two swanky prizes every lesson because they improvised six songs and memorized one. Progress wasn't as steady for some of them because of this. I guess I was too easy them.

Now, they will have to work a little harder for their prizes, which will be much easier on my wallet. If they complete 90 - 100% of their homework, they will get three stars. If they complete 80 - 89% of their homework, they will get two stars and if they complete 70 - 79% of their homework done, they will get one star. Stars will be given to students who practice more than the recommended guidelines and the parents must initial the homework sheets for kids to cash in on the goodies. My hope is that this will get them to practice more often and strive towards balanced practicing - not just doing what they like to do.

The two things that will elicit gasps from my returning students is that now, they will have to earn 15 stars to get a prize, instead of last year's five and that the prizes will regrettably, be smaller.

Here are some of the sites I scoured to look up teaching materials such as incentive programs and lesson plans:

• Music Lesson Plans and Resources

• Pedagonet.com

• The Music Education Madness Website

Now that the templates are done, it's onto the next step - planning out 40 individualized 10 -month curricula and creating some note value, note name and rhythm supplemental material.

(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.

Gig Music Selections

I just drafted up my playlist for the "rock music" wedding this upcoming long weekend. The book I am using for most of the ceremony is a lot better than I thought it would be. Pretty decent arrangements.Here are some of my favourite books that I like to use at gigs throughout the year:

look inside

Classic Rock - Creative Piano Solo By Various. Piano Solo Songbook. Classic Rock, Rock. Softcover. 96 pages. Published by Hal Leonard (HL.138517).

look inside

Lounge Music Composed by Various. Piano/Vocal/Guitar Songbook. Vocal Standards and Standards. Songbook (softcover). With vocal melody, piano accompaniment, lyrics, chord names and guitar chord diagrams. 208 pages. Published by Hal Leonard (HL.310193).

look inside

The Best Fake Book Ever - C Edition - 4th Edition C Edition. Composed by Various. Hal Leonard Fake Books. Country, Fake Books, Jazz, Pop, Standards. Fake book. With vocal melody, lyrics and chord names. 856 pages. Published by Hal Leonard (HL.290239).

I recently purchased a jazz fake book but the title escapes me. I'll add that onto the list at a later date, once I've had a chance to try it out.

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

Dancing to a Different Beat

Well, I'm nearly done my one week temping assignment. I will start the next one (same place, different department) tomorrow afternoon.

I have a love/hate relationship with temping. I miss my schedule of waking up later and staying up later. I miss Maestro "assisting" me with paperwork and forcing me to take a break. However, temping reminds me of my early career days, from the challenge of seeing how quickly you can "catch the beat" of a business to doing little things that I find basic, like scheduling meetings while using unfamiliar software, which people find impressive. I only had a two-hour training session but my early admin assistant experiences made it easy to slip back into "let's see if I can stay one step ahead of the boss" mode.

I used to come home from work, eat and practice. I've gone back to that routine. I feel...younger (must be the decreased responsibilities). Even though I'm working, I'm on a near-vacation from my business. I have just three more lesson days left for the month before I can call it a vacation. Believe me, I'm looking forward to it.

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