Working on Jingle Bells!/Google Day

Yesterday, Jessica and I planned out out today's lesson plan. It wasn't as complicated as last times because we already knew what we wanted to do with our kids and have already started to work more independently with our own kids lately. So today we corrected their homework that we gave them last time before the Thanksgiving break and gave them another little quiz on note names! (Which they did wonderfully on!)

I was surprised to hear than both my clarinet students had practiced A LOT over the break and had improved on their tone quality without me even nagging them to! (WAY LESS SQUEAKING!!!) So after teaching a few more notes (A, G, and F) we started working on the first few measures of the Jingle Bells in the Red Book. They were both very excited to start a song that they knew and worked very diligently for the whole lesson. Then I assigned them homework to know the very first line of the song well for next time! At the rate we are going, we should get the song down in no time!

-Sammy

Lesson Day 4/Google Day 5~

Hello! Long time no talk! Today, Sammy and I gave our 4th lesson! Who knew a month could pass by so quickly? Yesterday, during the Google Day, Sammy and I planned what we were going to do for our lesson today. We made a quiz for the kids to make sure they didn't forget the notes that they learned last class: FACE and EGBDF. When we presented them with the quiz, we were thrilled that they did not forget and that they could comprehend everything. Yesterday during the Google Day, we also finalized the piece that we are going to play: Jingle Bells! The kids were so excited when we told them! In the beginning of the lesson, we briefly reviewed rhythms and got straight to playing, as there was lots to do! Sammy and I started out by clapping the rhythm with the kids and then breaking off into our respective groups to learn the notes. I successfully taught the flutes the first 3 notes out of the 5 total notes in the song. Next class, we will learn the last two notes and will be able to play the whole piece! We are so excited!

-Jessica Lee

Second Lesson/Google Day

Wednesday we had our second lesson with the kids. So far, we have been using the standardized "Red Book" with the kids and I have taught my kids three notes already. Then I assigned the very first page as homework.

For our Google day I ordered a music theory book for myself but I brought it to class thinking there was a lot of good material we could teach the kids from the very beginning of the book. So we made a lesson plan and put "FACE" and "Every Good Boy Deserve Fudge" with a fun quiz at the end of the class (fun because we were thinking of getting them little prizes if they answer) Jessica and I have been finding that it is more difficult keeping the lessons educational, but not boring them at the same time. But using our Google day as a planning session, I think we have next week's lesson perfected!

-Samantha Wong

Lesson Day 2/Google Day 4!

Hi everyone! This past Wednesday (11/7/12), Sammy and I had our second lesson! We explained the treble clef, measure, time signature, whole notes, whole rests, and even taught them how to play a couple of notes! We wrote all of the definitions on the white board and went through each of them. We started by teaching them about the treble clef and measures. We then moved on to whole notes. We explained that in 4/4 time, one whole note consisted of 4 beats per measure. To help the kids better understand it, Sammy helped them clap the rhythms while I said "1, 2, 3, 4" out loud. For the last 15 minutes or so, we got out our instruments and divided up the flutes and clarinets. I taught the flutes how to play B flat. We gave them a small homework assignment and are excited to meet them again next week!

Today (11/9/12) was our 4th Google Day! Sammy and I realized how difficult planning lessons were, so we decided to use this time to create a schedule! We put together our whole lesson plan for the next lesson and made sure to go into detail so that we would not be overwhelmed during the actual lesson. We also found them some homework assignments and wrote out our own in-class practice assignments!

-Jessica Lee

Lessons Day 1

Hello! Sammy and I gave our very first lesson today to the kids at Buckman Elementary School! We had five students total: 2 for me and 3 for Sammy. Because today was an introductory day, we started by teaching them the basics. I taught my 2 students how to put together the parts of the flute, including aligning the headjoint with the keys on the body, etc. Then, I told them to remove the headjoint from the rest of the flute, and taught them how to get noise out of just the headjoint. I was so ecstatic when both of the girls made sound! We then put the flute back together and I showed them where their fingers should be on the flute and how to sit with proper posture. After we were done playing, I taught them how to properly clean the flute and how to put it away safely. Towards the last five minutes of class, Sammy and I reunited and showed the five students metronomes, tuners, etc. Overall, it was a very successful class and we are so excited to keep working with them! With a little bit of practice, all of the students will be able to make beautiful music in no time!

-Jessica Lee

WE ARE OFFICIAL

We had our very first music lesson today!!! 5 kids showed up, 3 of them at first wanting to play the clarinet and 2 of them the flute. After one of the boys couldn't get sound out of the clarinet, he switched to flute and liked it a whole lot better. So in the end, 2 clarinets and 3 flutes!

It was a very good day today. It was mostly just introduction, but we taught them how to set up their instruments, instrument care, and how to make noise on the head piece. All the kids look promising!!

Still one concern is rentals. We have 2 flute players who are now currently renting, but everyone one Jessica and I just emailed asking if it was something the parents were able/willing to do.

-Sammy

Day 3

Tried the high school's instruments! Surprisingly, a majority of them we could use! I also got a few more emails from parents expressing interest in playing the clarinet! So far, all the kids want to play clarinet so we are hoping we can get a few to switch over to flute for Jessica!

-Sammy