Music Teacher's Helper Blog

Teaching students to carry a “Life Giving Sword,” part 2

Thu, 04 Feb 2010 01:35:10 +0000

“… When samurai warriors train to perfect a deadly technique with the sword, they come to understand the fleetingness of life. This is why master samurai speak of wielding a “life-giving sword… Understand and respect the depth of your instrument’s power. The guitar has the capacity to save lives; it has given many a desperate person [...]

Using Music Teacher’s Helper On Your Blackberry

Tue, 02 Feb 2010 04:23:18 +0000

Dr. Foley, I forgot my notebook again. Can you just email the lesson notes to me so I can read them on my phone when I practice? Often students arrive without their notebook, still expecting lesson notes to magically appear. If you’re able to use a laptop with an internet connection, it’s a snap to use [...]

African American History Month

Mon, 01 Feb 2010 18:06:09 +0000

February is Black History Month. This is an excellent oppurtunity to teach your students some history of American Music. Our own American music style goes back to the days of slavery when Africans carried over their own folk music and merged it with the European classical and folk music that was brought here by the [...]

Jam Session!

Thu, 28 Jan 2010 15:52:33 +0000

As I ponder my blog entry today, I’m in the process of scheduling new monthly jam sessions for my students! In the past, as a summer workshop, Keyboard Jam proved to be very successful in stretching the students abilities, as well as giving them experience and enthusiasm for playing with other musicians! Have you read Nate [...]

What’s Happening at MTH

Wed, 27 Jan 2010 17:05:27 +0000

It’s an exciting time at Music Teacher’s Helper. We hope your year is off to a good start and that your studio is running well. We’re working hard right now to bring you some awesome improvements to Music Teacher’s Helper, including a brand new graphics design, and several features that we know you’ll love. The new [...]

How To Prepare- A Different Kind Of Recital

Mon, 25 Jan 2010 15:04:29 +0000

Prepare Your Students For A Different Kind Of Recital Last month I discussed a different kind of recital (I call it a gig) I have implemented for my students. It takes place at a jazz club. Uses professional musicians to back the students, young and old. And is very casual for both family and students. See [...]

Something to Write Home About: Using Lessons Notes in Music Teacher’s Helper

Mon, 25 Jan 2010 05:54:04 +0000

One of my favourite features of Music Teacher’s Helper is the Lesson Notes. I imagine that teachers use this feature in a variety of ways. Perhaps you use the notes as a practice reminder for your students, as a way of communicating with their parents, or as a reminder for yourself. I use them in all [...]

Approaching teaching the extremely young private voice student

Fri, 22 Jan 2010 06:18:47 +0000

I am odd amongst my local voice teachers in that I DO accept extremely young voice students for private lessons.  My studio policy is a minimum of 10-years old and MUST be self-motivated, but I will take (and currently have in my studio) a highly-focused 9-year old.  The first question I ask a parent (usually [...]

What Would You Do? – Follow-up on Janina (#10)

Mon, 18 Jan 2010 05:13:33 +0000

I hope you enjoy this series of fictional scenarios about teaching music, and find it at times thought-provoking, familiar, and even humorous.  We look forward to reading comments by yourself and other teachers at the end, about “what would you do?” .                ******************************* To follow this story, you should first read Janina’s story (#9), if you haven’t [...]

Music Teacher’s Helper Tip: Using Lesson Notes

Fri, 15 Jan 2010 20:03:41 +0000

I really enjoy having the option to send out lesson notes after a lesson through the Music Teacher’s Helper website. I find this is a great way to recap a lesson, reiterate the main theme of that lesson, and to remind me of what occurred in the student’s previous lesson, as the notes appear on [...]

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