Ahhhh…..Thanksgiving is over and Christmas is near,
Black Friday shopping makes everyone cheer!
Trimmed trees can be seen in the windows at night,
While lights are strung gaily, giving radiance bright.
Silver Bells toll from the towers above,
Warmth for the season feel our hearts with love!
That is my best attempt at a Christmas poem. Contemplating what to write in the blog this week got me thinking of Christmases past and family and then, of course, how I came to love music. Remembering my childhood, we had Christmas trees in our living room with lights and ornaments and beautifully wrapped gifts underneath. I tried to carry on family traditions with my own children and hopefully they’re doing the same in their own family’s now. Life passes quickly. One of my favorite sayings is, “Life is not measured in minutes, but moments.” Christmas memories seem to be the ones that really stick. We just took a picture of one of our dogs laying on the sofa. Our grandson put a red cushion under her head and my husband covered her in a red fluffy blanket. It looked like a Christmas card photo. That’s how memories are made.
Since I began teaching piano years ago, one of the traditions I’ve continued is a yearly Christmas recital. I have the students wear their “Sunday Best” attire and perform two pieces. One is classical or popular or whatever they like and the other is Christmas. This year is no different. Fourteen of my students will be performing so that means all their family and extended family will be in attendance. They’ve been practicing for two months and are ready to shine! At the end of the recital I give them each an ornament and some kind of Christmas candy. On the ornament I write their name, the year and my name, hopefully creating another tradition for them. I’ll take a picture of all of them and post it soon.
Years ago I found a great website that helped me find easier recital pieces that made my students feel successful and confident. I still use them now and then and wanted to share the site with you. Below are three Christmas piano solos, 2 are beginner level and the 3rd is intermediate. There is also a link to theory worksheets that are fun for students and help them memorize the notes and some basic music theory.
https://makingmusicfun.net/pdf/sheet_music/the-first-noel-piano.pdf
https://makingmusicfun.net/pdf/sheet_music/jolly-old-saint-nicholas-piano-solo.pdf
https://makingmusicfun.net/pdf/sheet_music/waltz-of-the-flowers-piano-solo.pdf
https://makingmusicfun.net/htm/music_worksheet_index.php
Teaching Corner: Last week we discussed the Major Sharp Key signatures. This week we’ll cover the Major Flat Key signatures. On the circle of 5ths, the flats go counter clockwise from Middle C. So, rather than count up 5 for the next key signature in the sharps, you count down 5 for the flats. Then to remember the Order of the Flats you name the next to the last flat in the key signature and you have it. The letter name of this flat is the name of the Major Key, with the exception of F Major, which has only one flat (Bb). So, if you have Bb, Eb and Ab in the key signature, you look at the next to the last flat (Eb) and that is the key. Let’s try 4 flats. Bb, Eb, Ab and Db. Look at the next to the last flat (Ab) and that is the key.
Next week we will discuss how to find the Relative Minor key to any Major key.
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