Intervals and Resonator Bars

We can teach musical intervals using resonator bars, and it's fun!

Where is finger number 1 in music?

It depends on whether you play the piano or whether you play the violin.
If you play the piano, your thumb is finger number one.
But if violin is your instrument, then your pointer finger is finger number one.
Talk about confusing if you play both!
Since I play the piano, I advocate the thumb as finger number one.  Most adults hold up their pointer fingers when I ask them for their first finger.  Interesting!

Is your child too old to learn to sing?

We have a window of opportunity to help children develop their musical abilities. They can learn to sing on pitch, to move gracefully, and to keep a steady beat. This window is from birth to about age 9. This is the time when the brain is receptive to learning a new language, and music is a second language. The earlier you start, the better. Begin with ear training and listening skills, and add movement and motions to your teaching.

Susan Fonger and student

 http://palmbeachmusicclasses.com

Singing range of a 3 year old

What can we expect the singing range of a three-year-old to be? About 3 notes, such as C, D, and E. As they mature, they will be able to sing an octave in range, or about 8 pitches or notes. The more we model singing for them as parents, the more they will want to sing.

Why does do, re, mi solfege help me read music?

In musical ear training, solfège is a technique for the teaching of sight-singing in which each note of the score is sung to a special syllable, called a solfège syllable. The seven syllables used for this practice in English-speaking countries are: do (or doh ), re, mi, fa, sol (so in tonic), la, and ti/si, which may be heard in "Do-Re-Mi" from Rodgers and Hammerstein's score for The Sound of Music.
Learning solfege in singing very naturally leads to recognizing musical intervals in music notation, in an easy and organic way. The beginning of “Here Comes the Bride” is a fourth, and is sung in solfege as do fa, fa, fa in your major 5-finger position on the piano. This method leads to lifelong musical literacy and learning when singing or playing a musical instrument. Thank you, Wikipedia, for the skeleton of this post.

Parent feedback about the Musikgarten Workshop

"We really really enjoyed listening to you and learning more about this super program. We feel so grateful to have found you and grateful that our daughter is learning such great music, values, notes, rhythm etc.. I've played the piano since I was 3 years old and it's only by sight. I've always struggled because it's not by ear... so if she can learn to hear something and play it on her instrument- that would be amazing. We have been singing "tap hello to (name), tap hello to (name) tap hello" all weekend long,. It's in my brain!!! ahhh can't stop signing my words! love it!!! ;)"

Make your own shakers

Make your own African shaker, a percussion instrument - here is the link for the how to

http://familyfun.go.com/crafts/crafts-by-type/music-instruments/musical-instruments/shekere-665646/

History of Treble and Bass Clef

Nice graphic representation of the evolution of the Treble Clef and the Bass Clef

http://www.cybermusicacademy.org/lesson5.htm

Teach musical finger numbers early

Ask a friend to hold up his/her first finger. Many adults will hold up their "pointer," or their second finger. In music, your thumb is finger number one, pinky is number five and so on. Make up a game or a song in the car and have your child sing it with you as they wiggle each finger. Remember, one through five for each hand, not one through ten. That would be another error for future musical success. The left hand mirrors the right hand so put your right hand up to a mirror and talk about that with your child as well. When your child traces his or her hand on a piece of paper, help them number the fingers one through five on the right and five through one on the left.

Link to a great site for teaching methods

Here is a fun site for parents and for music teachers. Learn a little more about solfege here and music and movement - go to
http://www.classicsforkids.com/teachers/training/handsigns.asp