Every student is a Musician and Composer

This week, I am glad that two music compositions by two young musicians were written. "The Bus" and "A Peaceful Night" were written by two different students. Both students were elated when signing their name at the completion of their master pieces. Composing is essential in music learning. It helps student to apply the theory they have learnt into a very practical and yet creative use. As they play the keys, they are training their ears while relating to the written form of music. As they add the final touch of adding dynamic markings, articulations, performance directions etc, they have cultivated the awareness of the performance details which brings the music to life. Every student is a musician and composer. Encore !

Thoughts of a Friend

I was playing the keyboard this morning, improvising with some suggested chords which I have not tried.

Thoughts of a friend then inspired a new composition which sparks off from Joaquin Rodrigo.

Just like Schubert was influenced by Mozart in one of his Symphony, I was swept along by the ripples of Rodrigo's Pastoral .

Ride on the waves everyone :)

A Morning with Schubert

From Wikipedia .......

Franz Peter Schubert (German pronunciation: [ˈfʁants ˈʃuːbɛɐ̯t]; 31 January 1797 – 19 November 1828) was an Austrian composer.

Franz Schubert's Symphony No. 5 in B flat major, D. 485, was written mainly in September, 1816 and completed on October 3, 1816[1]. It was finished six months after the completion of his previous symphony.

Scored for one flute, two oboes, and two bassoons, along with two horns in B♭ and E♭ and strings. Of all of Schubert's symphonies, it is scored for the smallest orchestra. It is the only one of his symphonies which does not include clarinets, trumpets or timpani as part of the instrumentation.

In character, the writing is often said to resemble Mozart; Schubert was infatuated with the composer at the time he composed it, writing in his diary on June 13 of the year of composition, "O Mozart! immortal Mozart! what countless impressions of a brighter, better life hast thou stamped upon our souls!"[2] This is reflected particularly in the lighter instrumentation, as noted above. Indeed, the instrumentation matches that of the first version (without clarinets) of Mozart's 40th symphony.[3]

Colorful magnets Help Arpeggio Learning

Multi Purpose !

Place these colour magnets on the keys of the arpeggio this student is trying to perfect .

I would use those tiny dinosaurs erasers for younger students !

Fun aural exam

I played a simple two bar phrase for two students. Student A is supposed to play back the phrase. He played a little incorrect.

Student B was asked to identify the difference between student A and my playing . He did that and enjoyed the session .

The aural exam was not so uninteresting after all .

A Rewarding Day

Though this particular student will be terminating in two weeks' time to focus on a gifted programme test, we are having good quality lessons. Going though the last phrase of the section A of Minuet in G was done effectively with single line focus at a slower pace. Notation reading is guided with steps, skips and intervals. Some demonstrations definitely work better for him. We had sometime to discuss the pieces he wish to play. He chose Schumann's Wild Horsemen and Beethoven's Sonatina. I am happy that not only he has listened to the attached CD , but has also discovered music that he likes. Music is fun when is liked.

Towards the end of Samuel's lessons, we have figure out the melodies of two worship songs he could play. One was by reading the letters of the notations while the other by ear. He felt inspired being able to play these familiar tunes. I feel great that he enjoyed the lesson which has gave him the opportunity to learn music theory, aural, reading, coordination, pulse .... Looking forward to more momorable moments with little musicians :)

Everyday is new

Everyday is a new day. Everyday can be fun, interesting and full of discoveries.

Chin played Howard Blake's Prelude beautifully to sweep me off . His other music seems very magnetising too.

It daunts on me that life can be interesting like music. Discovers beauties after beauties each day .

Put on the eyes and ears and heart to new beauties of everyday

Have a Nice Day ...

Starting the week with ...

Chopin's Wiosna...
Elissa Milne's Have a Nice Day ...
Pam Wedgewood 's Pink Lady ...

Let the day start musically ...