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Winter Benefit Concert

On Sunday, January 21, the annual MTMS Winter Benefit Concert will happen from 3-6pm at St. Luke’s Lutheran Church, 4456 Morse Rd, Gahanna. Your entry fee for the concert is to one non-perishable food item for GRIN (Gahanna Residents in Need).

This concert will be set in one-hour afternoon sessions. Our students will delight friends and family alike with their hard work and great music – you don’t want to miss this exhibition. MTMS is extremely proud of every student and the progress they make with their music. We will be cheering them on with you.

January Music Lab

The lab stations this month are focused on the Baroque Period of music. This era of music ran from 1600 to 1750. Many of our modern instruments hadn’t been invented yet, so we recommend a keyboard for the composition station for the recommended style “theme and variations.”

The theme at the time was often associated with the patron, and the patron would support the musician to create the music they wanted. So the theme was done, and then variations that sounded very like the theme would also be done.

The keyboard is a stand-in for the instruments normally used in the Baroque period: harpsichord, organ, clavichord. You’ll also find in the composition station the ornaments that were often used in the period – which are exciting, quick notes that are attached to a main note. These ornament notes were not scored like they are now, so it was up to interpretation how to play them at the time.

The listening station has a YouTube playlist, and if you want to listen, please click here.

The music history station will give all the information you want to know about the Baroque Period. Two of the most important composers were Johann Sebastian Bach and George Frederic Handel. It will also teach the students about characteristics, ornaments, and new music styles connected the period. Ask your student about these things!

Enjoy the January music lab stations. We can’t wait to see what you think of them, and the music the students create from them.

Happy 2024!

Classes resume tomorrow, January 2nd. We can’t wait to see everyone again in their normal lessons and classes.

If you’re setting goals, remember to keep them SMART – Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-Bound. This is a great way to fine-tune those nebulous goals we think will be interesting on January 1st and we forget about by February 15th.

Example of a nebulous goal: I want to play guitar in 2024.

Change it to a SMART Goal: I will sign up for lessons for acoustic guitar for an adult, create practice time at least 4 other days per week, and choose with my teacher two songs I want to play in the first three months. After the three months, I will revisit my goals because I may be practicing differently, I will want to choose new songs with my teacher, and I will know more about what that goal needs to look like as the year progresses.

Good luck with your goals. May the new year bring great tidings, and we will see you all soon.

Rock’n’Roll Playlist

We’ve been talking about the three stations in the Rock’n’Roll space in the lab. Last week was the compositions in NoteFlight and the first week of December we talked about the music history of Rock’n’Roll.

The third station that rounds this all out is the listening station. We compiled a playlist of Rock’n’roll for students to take time out and just listen. Everyone gains benefits listening to music, whether it is stress relief or lowering blood pressure or simply activating both sides of the brain for better studying. This station is set for learning about Rock’n’Roll, though, so buckle up for some great music.

Would you like to listen? Click here. I’m listening to it today. There are some great songs!

Keep On Rockin’

Two weeks ago we at MTMS shared about our new Rock’n’Roll history station, and we also brought in composition and a playlist station (which you’ll hear about next week).

This composition station is so popular with the students! We have a short bit of instructions, because mostly we need specific instruments in rock: vocals, electric guitar, electric bass, and drums. Note that we aren’t limited to just those, but that’s where we start.

https://www.noteflight.com/music/titles/8b4c78e1-bc0f-4b64-9412-e28fd4835493

I seem to only be able to link the song above, because it is public. Click the play button on the top of the sheet music. Enjoy this version, and I have a few screenshots of other pieces to share. I’m amazed at how many students have tried this already in the first week, and also how much creativity they bring to the songs. Ask your student about their rock’n’roll experiences and if they wrote or are going to write a song. Maybe they’ll share it with you, too!