Author: TempoDriveMusic

I’m here for Music For Young Children’s International Conference, and we’re having a great time! So many new things happening, so much to learn. Today is the final day and already I’ve learned more than I could have imagined would be packed into three days. 

Here are just some of my highlights:

• An inspirational speech and performance by Terry Kelly
• Joining my colleagues in playing and singing hits in a fake book– well past midnight!
• Learning even more about integrating technology into the classroom
• Having the Royal Conservatory of Music come and tell us that OUR students are the best going through the exam process today (Wow! What high praise!) 
• A great workshop by Frances Balodis on the parent-student-teacher relationship
• And… Stay tuned for exciting news from Roland! 

Can’t wait to get back, kiss the kids and hubby and put what I’ve learned into action!

Mairéad  

Hi everyone! It’s that time of year again- time to show off your skills.

But really, it’s another learning experience (of course!). Musicians need to learn performance skills no matter what their age and stage. Fortunately, our recital will feature children of the same age, plus a few of my senior students as well, all of whom are MYC grads.

When: Sunday, May 24, 2015. 2pm
Where: My studio, 16 Westerra Way. A very familiar place!

I will be turning my basement into a mini-concert hall, so please don’t hesitate to invite as many family and friends as you wish! It’s going to be a great time!

Please let me know if you have any questions. I look forward to sharing all that we have learned with an audience!

-Mairéad

The best thing about MYC classes is that it combines all aspects of of a strong music foundation- and one of those things is singing. You can sing anywhere, anytime. With singing, you always have your “instrument” with you.

I have been singing for as long as I can remember. In church, with friends, and when no one is looking 🙂 I trained in sight-singing and solfege in university, but to this day I have not had a formal, one-on-one lesson. Perhaps some day I will get into it more seriously!

But there is no denying that there is something powerful about the human voice- especially in a group- that says something fundamental about the human condition. We want to create. Communicate. And experience togetherness.

Last week I listed to DNTO (Definitely Not the Opera) on CBC Radio, with host,  Sook-Yin Lee. There were many great stories and information, and I’d love to share it with you. You can access the show here. If you don’t have much time, go here and listen to Choir! Choir! Choir! ‘s rendition of Sloan’s Coax Me. It’s kind of chilling- in a good way!

Enjoy!

♪ Mairéad

It has been ages since I wrote. I feel like a bad pen pal! My son will be a whole ONE year old in a few days, and my daughter is learning and growing in JK at Holy Cross. Myself and the rest of the family are settling into Kemptville nicely, and are really able to call it “home” now. I just love the people around here! Here’s what’s new in the studio:

• Registrations for the Fall are being taken. Check the Schedule now.
• Sunrise continues in it’s 3rd instalment
• I am considering hosting classes for babies… stay tuned!
• You’re going to start seeing Music for Young Children more around Kemptville!
• Check our digital TV ad year-round at the Municipal Centre
• Look for our booth at the Dandelion Festival!

If you or anyone you know is interested in group music lessons for young children, private piano lessons or guitar or ukulele lessons for all ages, please contact me today!

Musically,

Mairéad

The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2013 annual report for this blog.

Here’s an excerpt:

A San Francisco cable car holds 60 people. This blog was viewed about 3,300 times in 2013. If it were a cable car, it would take about 55 trips to carry that many people.

Click here to see the complete report.

If you a considering music lessons for your child, you may wonder what group lessons have to offer in comparison private lessons. Here are the top 5 reasons to take group music lessons:

1. PEER INTERACTION – Learning together with your peers is not only more fun, but the lesson can be tailored to a specific age group. MYC classes are structured according to age and experience. And music is a social thing- we play it together, dance to it at parties, and sing together in worship. Learning the piano does not have to be a solitary activity!

2. ENSEMBLE PLAYING- When you learn to play piano in a private setting, it is not too easy to get to play with another fellow musician. The skill of playing together and performing in front of others is crucial to any developing musician. Starting in a group from the beginning means that your child will be a more confident performer and group member (a duo, trio or a band) in the future.

3. FRIENDLY COMPETITION- I never have to openly compare students or pit them against one another, but certainly many of them “step up their game” when they are required to play in front of each other each week! The competition is subtle, and it can be an excellent motivation for many young students. And that can mean less “persuasion” from parents.

4. STRUCTURE- When teaching a group, classes need to move forward and goals need to be met. Having a clear system in place ensures that key concepts are not missed or glazed over. Students will benefit from the routines within music class, and will learn to maintain good practice habits at home, which in turn builds better musicians.

5. IT IS WAY MORE FUN TO LEARN IN A GROUP! Children of a young age cannot be expected to sit a piano bench for  a half hour- it’s counterintuitive. In my classes, we spend an action packed hour moving, singing, tapping, dancing, listening, playing, building, pretending, thinking and learning music in a way that children can enjoy and absorb easily.