-
Caterpillar song with LH Harmonics
I decided to be very brave and write a song with LH harmonics. My students absolutely love playing pieces that don’t quite fit into the ‘normal’ style of playing/composing. Ones with harmonics, freedom of expression, cluster chords, playing with your fist etc seem to create a lot of enthusiasm, and you can guarantee those pieces…
-
Studio Friends
I have a few friends hanging around my studio. Three, in fact. I thought I’d give them a bit of a plug, as they’re really quite popular. They usually watch to make sure students are playing with correct technique. If Gulp sees flat fingers on the piano, he usually reaches over making munching sounds and…
-
Chorister or Music Director?
I am a Mormon (nickname for member of ‘The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints), have been a Ward Music Chairman for 8 years, a music teacher for over 15 years, started piano when I was 4, violin when I was 8 and been trained professionally as a chorister (singing in a choir from…
-
Laughter Leavens Life…
and makes for an interesting choir or orchestra practice 😉 Ahhhh I have the fondest memories of trying to get through a choir rehearsal with a friend whispering jokes in my ear, of the violinist in the chair next to me whispering viola jokes, and perhaps some not so fond memories of receiving a few…
-
Getting your Ward Choir up and running
How do you get your Ward Choir up and running? Here are a few ideas:- 1. Instant choir. Call members as choristers (an official calling from the Bishopric), choose really easy hymns and let the choristers know when and what they’ll be singing. Have a quick rehearsal beforehand, then off you go. You need relatively…
-
Kinder Beat – teaching 18 month to 3 year olds
Posted 12 February 2010 on my music blog:- A few years ago I was introduced to Kinder Beat. A music course aimed specifically at 3 to 4 year olds. I was curious as I was teaching piano to a couple of littlies and was having a few little problems with them, mainly at how to…
-
L8 AMEB Clarence Street Exam Rooms
I’m not sure if I have touched on this already, but I’m moving information across from my music blog to here. I think this post had a little more infomation than what I had put on this website. Apologies if it is similar. This entry was dated 7 March 2010:- I attended an information session…
-
Ward Music Chairman
I had an interesting experience in March last year involving a few Bishopric members. It really was an eye opening experience for me. I had to deal with a lot of frustration, and still feel like I hadn’t gotten very far with one particular member, yet progressed a great deal with our newly appointed Second Counsellor who had…
-
Making the most out of your Ward Choir and the Hymnbook
Ever had that sinking feeling when you have been assigned a hymn to prepare for an upcoming event, and you know your choir isn’t brilliant but they’re willing enough, and you have very little time to get it all together? I have no idea why Stake Presidencies choose the musical numbers for Ward Conference these…
-
Ways to vary Ward Choir
So we know there are a gazillion things you can do with your Ward Choir, but what else can we do to vary the musical items in our wards? Team up a couple of families each month, and have each ‘team’ of families present a different musical item each month (ie two families present their…
Gallery
