http://www.musicteachershelper.com/blog Tips and Resources for Private Music Teachers and Performers everywhere! Mon, 12 May 2008 02:26:39 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.4 http://www.musicteachershelper.com/blog/games-people-play-in-lessons/#comment-28407 Sun, 11 May 2008 17:47:08 +0000 http://www.musicteachershelper.com/blog/games-people-play-in-lessons/#comment-28407 Thanks so much for these suggestions - I'm on the hunt for games to play in lessons! Much appreciated. Thanks so much for these suggestions - I’m on the hunt for games to play in lessons! Much appreciated.

]]> http://www.musicteachershelper.com/blog/private-lessons-in-the-public-school-a-look-at-teaching-in-an-after-school-program/#comment-28374 Fri, 09 May 2008 18:33:36 +0000 http://www.musicteachershelper.com/blog/private-lessons-in-the-public-school-a-look-at-teaching-in-an-after-school-program/#comment-28374 You may want to run spell check on the word "public" in your article.... You may want to run spell check on the word “public” in your article….

]]> http://www.musicteachershelper.com/blog/games-people-play-in-lessons/#comment-28252 Thu, 08 May 2008 15:33:28 +0000 http://www.musicteachershelper.com/blog/games-people-play-in-lessons/#comment-28252 I learned this game from the piano teacher who owns the school where I work, and young kids love it. You just need a decent amount of floor space and some hula hoops. I start out with 3 hoops lined up on the floor and tell the kids that they're C, D, and E; or A, B, and C; or Do, Re, and Mi; they can be whatever you want, really! I play something on the piano using only those 3 notes, and they have to jump into the right hoop. At first they're allowed to look at my hands, and later they can't - good ear training! You can also add hoops up to an octave. I learned this game from the piano teacher who owns the school where I work, and young kids love it. You just need a decent amount of floor space and some hula hoops. I start out with 3 hoops lined up on the floor and tell the kids that they’re C, D, and E; or A, B, and C; or Do, Re, and Mi; they can be whatever you want, really! I play something on the piano using only those 3 notes, and they have to jump into the right hoop. At first they’re allowed to look at my hands, and later they can’t - good ear training! You can also add hoops up to an octave.

]]> http://www.musicteachershelper.com/blog/an-arsenal-of-vocal-health-remedies/#comment-28092 Wed, 07 May 2008 12:45:30 +0000 http://www.musicteachershelper.com/blog/an-arsenal-of-vocal-health-remedies/#comment-28092 Just to clarify, these topical remedies, such as the gargling, throat lozenges, and steaming primarily help the tissue in the back of the throat (pharynx) and do not involve the vocal chords themselves because they are protected by the epiglottis during the process of swallowing. However, one of the most important remedies listed is drinking water. The vocal chords consist of the vocalis muscle, which is them covered by an eight layer mucus membrane. This membrane needs water in order to stay supple and flexible, and when we become dehydrated, the body produces phlegm to protect the vocal chords from drying out. Just to clarify, these topical remedies, such as the gargling, throat lozenges, and steaming primarily help the tissue in the back of the throat (pharynx) and do not involve the vocal chords themselves because they are protected by the epiglottis during the process of swallowing. However, one of the most important remedies listed is drinking water. The vocal chords consist of the vocalis muscle, which is them covered by an eight layer mucus membrane. This membrane needs water in order to stay supple and flexible, and when we become dehydrated, the body produces phlegm to protect the vocal chords from drying out.

]]> http://www.musicteachershelper.com/blog/an-arsenal-of-vocal-health-remedies/#comment-28081 Wed, 07 May 2008 10:38:53 +0000 http://www.musicteachershelper.com/blog/an-arsenal-of-vocal-health-remedies/#comment-28081 Thanks for the sensible, natural home remedies to take care of the vocal chords. I'll have to try gargling with apple cider vinegar...never heard of that before. Thanks for the sensible, natural home remedies to take care of the vocal chords. I’ll have to try gargling with apple cider vinegar…never heard of that before.

]]> http://www.musicteachershelper.com/blog/running-the-summer-studio/#comment-27927 Mon, 05 May 2008 22:57:41 +0000 http://www.musicteachershelper.com/blog/running-the-summer-studio/#comment-27927 Thank you for the ideas. Anyone else have some ideas. Also do you change how you market your studio to prepare for summer? Thank you for the ideas. Anyone else have some ideas. Also do you change how you market your studio to prepare for summer?

]]> http://www.musicteachershelper.com/blog/importing-into-outlook/#comment-27804 Tue, 29 Apr 2008 21:29:06 +0000 http://www.musicteachershelper.com/blog/importing-into-outlook/#comment-27804 Currently, you can export to Excel, and from there import into Outlook. It will simply add the events to your Outlook calendar, so isn't a very effective "sync", as it's only one-way. (ie. You can't import into Music Teacher's Helper yet.) Currently, you can export to Excel, and from there import into Outlook. It will simply add the events to your Outlook calendar, so isn’t a very effective “sync”, as it’s only one-way. (ie. You can’t import into Music Teacher’s Helper yet.)

]]> http://www.musicteachershelper.com/blog/importing-into-outlook/#comment-27682 Tue, 29 Apr 2008 03:55:12 +0000 http://www.musicteachershelper.com/blog/importing-into-outlook/#comment-27682 Could you tell us more about how you might use this procedure? Is it mainly to import the calendar? How does it end up being used, and how does it look in Outlook? Could you tell us more about how you might use this procedure? Is it mainly to import the calendar? How does it end up being used, and how does it look in Outlook?

]]> http://www.musicteachershelper.com/blog/tips-on-reconciling-lessons/#comment-27441 Fri, 25 Apr 2008 06:27:01 +0000 http://www.musicteachershelper.com/blog/tips-on-reconciling-lessons/#comment-27441 Great Article Ed. Having so many great features in MTH is wonderful, but when you take the time to explain the ins and out of how YOU use them is of utmost value! I have some notions about how I will implement a feature or two but hearing it from the horses mouth helps to solidify my understanding of features and also guides me if my intended use of a feature is off target or just short sighted. Thanks so much for this article. Keep them coming. Great Article Ed. Having so many great features in MTH is wonderful, but when you take the time to explain the ins and out of how YOU use them is of utmost value! I have some notions about how I will implement a feature or two but hearing it from the horses mouth helps to solidify my understanding of features and also guides me if my intended use of a feature is off target or just short sighted. Thanks so much for this article. Keep them coming.

]]> http://www.musicteachershelper.com/blog/pop-music-in-a-classical-world-part-1/#comment-27035 Tue, 22 Apr 2008 15:59:37 +0000 http://www.musicteachershelper.com/blog/pop-music-in-a-classical-world-part-1/#comment-27035 My sentiments exactly! I feel that working on pop music allows us to explore some new ideas in singing, while still honoring the underlying technique that all singers need to use. I am sure to point out that many sounds that you hear in recordings may not have been created by the singer without the help of a special effect. I work with the singers on using their own style and own interpretation of the piece. My sentiments exactly! I feel that working on pop music allows us to explore some new ideas in singing, while still honoring the underlying technique that all singers need to use. I am sure to point out that many sounds that you hear in recordings may not have been created by the singer without the help of a special effect. I work with the singers on using their own style and own interpretation of the piece.

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