We are in that sweet spot of seasons—spring becoming summer—and it’s time to get outside. With most kids out of school, there’s a perfect opportunity to embrace the outdoors. But stepping outside doesn’t mean your student’s music education has to stop. In fact, it can thrive! Today, I’m excited to share four fun games that beautifully combine nature and music learning in the form of musical nature walks. Perhaps you can choose one per week for the next four weeks as an enriching exercise. Let’s dive in! Continue reading “4 Ways to Combine Music and Nature”
Category: Playing and Learning Tips
Host Your Own Piano Recital: 5 Fun & Easy Ideas
If I were still your in-person piano teacher, we’d be knee-deep in Spring Recital chaos right about now (folding chairs, punch bowls, that one kid who always forgets to bow). Since I’m your virtual piano teacher instead, I can’t set up the folding chairs for you — but I can help you throw a recital of your own, right in your living room, without any of the stress.
Because here’s the thing: performing matters. It gives your student something to work toward, and it gives the people who love them a reason to stop and really listen. You don’t need a stage or a program printed on card stock. You just need a few willing ears (grandparents, siblings, that neighbor kid who’s also learning piano) and a little bit of intention. Continue reading “Host Your Own Piano Recital: 5 Fun & Easy Ideas”
Piano Practice Prompt Cards (or…the PICK 3 Piano Practice Game!)
It’s not something exclusive to piano: we all want to be good at something as quickly as possible. Getting in our so-called 10,000 hours is often mundane, and maybe even a bit painful. And let’s be honest, some personalities can tolerate the mundane a bit more than others. For those of us who need extra novelty to keep going with piano practice, I’ve got your back.
Continue reading “Piano Practice Prompt Cards (or…the PICK 3 Piano Practice Game!)”
Spring Music Activities Round-Up
Spring has sprung, and what better way to embrace the season’s joy than through music? Whether you’re a music enthusiast or just looking for creative ways to engage your family, here is a collection of some of my most popular spring music activities. Continue reading “Spring Music Activities Round-Up”
Wizard of Oz Music Camp
There’s a reason we still watch The Wizard of Oz decades later. That story, that music — it just holds up. And honestly, I’ve been wanting an excuse to build something around it for a while, so here we are.
I’m inviting your kids to join me for a FREE 3-day online camp built entirely around Wizard of Oz music. Think yellow brick road, but with quarter notes. Continue reading “Wizard of Oz Music Camp”
Meet our January 2024 Members of the Month!
Allow me to introduce you to our January 2024 Members of the Month, Rowan (9) and Brietta (7).
They have been members of Busy Kids Do Piano for over 2 years and attend school at home. Fun facts about them include living in a 100-year-old house where they leave their Christmas tree up year-round to decorate for every holiday. How fun is that? The parents raise chickens while the kids raise worms and build all sorts of contraptions out of the items found in the recycling bin. And this is quite a musical family as well. Mom and dad play piano and trumpet, and the entire family sings in choir. Sounds like a lot of fun in this household!
Continue reading “Meet our January 2024 Members of the Month!”
Why and How to Introduce Kids to Opera
Music is a powerful force that can enrich a child’s life in countless ways. In the vast world of classical music, introducing kids to opera opens doors to a unique and enchanting experience. Let’s explore why opera is a fun and interesting way to connect kids with the rich history and relevance of classical music. Continue reading “Why and How to Introduce Kids to Opera”
A Round-Up Of Hanukkah Music Resources
As the Festival of Lights approaches, I keep coming back to how much music carries a holiday like this. There’s something about the songs of Hanukkah that manage to be both playful and deeply meaningful at the same time, and that felt like exactly the kind of thing worth pulling together for your family.
So here’s a little round-up, some mine and some just favorites I’ve found, that might add something special to your celebration this year.
Musical Nutcracker Activities
I’ll be honest — I go a little overboard for the Nutcracker every December. It’s one of those pieces of music that just sounds like the holidays to me, and over the years I’ve built up a whole collection of Nutcracker activities I love sharing with families. So consider this your list, straight from my “favorites” folder to yours. Here are the five I come back to every single year. Continue reading “Musical Nutcracker Activities”
Free Printable Piano Flash Cards
Learning to play the piano is an exciting and rewarding journey, but it comes with its own set of challenges, especially for young beginners. One of the fundamental skills that budding pianists need to develop is a solid understanding of keyboard geography. Knowing where each note is located on the piano is essential for playing melodies and reading sheet music. I’m thrilled to offer a free printable set of piano flash cards that are designed to help young piano students grasp the layout of the keyboard. In this blog post, we’ll explore the importance of keyboard geography, how these flash cards can be a valuable tool, and how to get your hands on this free resource. Continue reading “Free Printable Piano Flash Cards”
