Patience + FUN = Success

Patience and fun is the key to success in music.  As a teacher I spend a lot of out of class time thinking of ways to help my students learn to play. Each student is different, what they want out of music and how they learn music.

But one thing I have found is that if parents do not pressure their kids to practice the child will learn. If a parent wants to be involved, I highly recommend making a game of it -- this is why I make up games for students to take home to practice their instrument.

Eventually when the child knows how to read and play their instrument the music itself will be rewarding -- For instance, playing Vivaldi is very rewarding in an of itself !! Music is magical, but getting to the place where we can play music takes time and PATIENCE.

Patience + FUN = Success

GAMES GAMES GAMES! Music Flash Cards for Kids (1)

Learning a new instrument can be difficult and discouraging for kids.
The notes are hard to find and the instrument can sound funny.

Here is the first installment of flash cards for games for kids to pick from to do their lesson practise.

These are very simple games that will give the child the basic motor skills needed to play an
instrument.  While these cards are specifically for violin, they can be easily adapted to any
instrument (for piano pick up and play might be a bit hard lol! just stand up and run around the piano stool then!)

pdf link here 

FLASH CARDS ONE 

Jump and Jam

Play any  10 notes
then Jump once

Play any 9 notes
Then jump twice

Play any 8 notes
Jump three times

Play any 7 notes
jump 4 times

Play any 6 notes
Jump 5 times

Play any 5 notes
Jump 6 times

Play any 4 notes
Jump 7 times

Play any 3 notes
Jump 8 times

Play any 2 notes
Jump 9  times

Play any 1 note
Jump 10 times


Month of MARCH Board GAME!

PDF MARCH  link  March music board game

Play music games part 2 - Three for SPEED!

 THREE FOR SPEED !!

This game is about playing with speed on your instrument.

-Play the first three notes of Mary had a Little Lamb, that would be MA RY HAD or CBA.

-Play it with short bows10 times as fast as you can.

-Start the game with one two three, GO on go start to play the sequence.

-Have a friend or parent call out each time you play one sequence.  If you make a mistake you start from the beginning again.

*Remember to laugh at this game because it should sound funny at first!  

trouble shooting: Slow down your tempo if you find you started too fast and then gradually pick up your speed.

Advancing: Now try playing it with one bow for each three notes in a slur of three notes 10 times as fast you can!  example: UP bow   cba, DOWNbow  cba, UP bow cba, DOWN bow cba.

Make it trickier!: Try this game on different strings and with different bow patterns.

You can race your other musician friends too, by timing it !