Many of us are out of school for President’s Day, but please note that MTMS is open as usual on Monday.
Lessons this week will be at their normal times. Your Lobby Recital will be during that time with whomever you’d like to bring with you. This will be a week-long recital at MTMS, and we hope you enjoy all of the different performers while you wait during your child’s lesson time. Also, there will be one on one time for the student to get pointers on their piece and what they will continue to work on.
Music History: For Music History this month we are going to be looking at broadway music. People may think that broadway music refers to music in theater musicals. While that would make sense, broadway actually covers all musicals, even movie ones. Like a song about a certain someone we don’t talk about in a recent Disney movie. Listen to some famous musical songs and read about the history. If you have any questions ask a lab attendant!
Composition: For composition this month we are going to be taking about broadway music, which is music from musicals. Maybe you want to write the next song about a certain someone we don’t talk about. Try your hand at it with some famous examples and guidance. Give it a shot and if you have any questions please ask a lab attendant!
For our Youngest Students: For February, we have a bunch of new music games for our young students! These games help younger kids learn to compose. Along with that, we also have some new winter themed coloring pages! Enjoy!
In two weeks, MTMS will have a lobby recital during lesson times.
Your recital audience will be who you invite with you during your regular lesson time, as well as whomever is generally there (with their audience). So bring Grandma and your other siblings to see your student show off their hard work.
This performance will not take longer than the usual lesson, and your student will have time to check in with their teacher as well.
Virtual students will be given a zoom link and that link may be shared with whomever you would invite to a recital.
Some songs stick in your head like nothing else – and Encanto brought most of us a new one this month. No, I’m not going to talk about it.
My kids play that song and many others in the morning before school. Sometimes it causes fights because one of them is not sharing the choices. They both take music lessons, and they each have a game called My Singing Monsters which is a pretty cool way to get involved with music. Their other extracurriculars (dance and gymnastics) also involve music.
Occasionally fights break out in the car over my choices of music, but I’m driving and I don’t think I should be distracted, so if it isn’t my music that day, the radio goes off and we chat. I also play some music at home, and it is wonderful to have that outlet.
Deep thoughts: Where are we sharing the music? What are we teaching our kids about the music? When my daughter first started playing the violin, she had no idea what to do with practice time. She felt much better when I got out my guitar to play with her a little. My friend also played the cello with her over zoom in the early pandemic days.
Anything you can do to foster that love of music will stick with your kids for their lifetimes. My mother played trumpet, and I loved to listen to her play. My kids enjoy listening to me.
P.S. It’s the end of January. Have you checked in on your goals for the year? Do they need to change? I’m reviewing mine today to make sure I’m on track.
Often at MTMS this time of year we try to do a recital. We have worked to switch it up between in-person gatherings and YouTube playlists. Right now the COVID numbers are too high to plan for it, and we will give you a month’s notice when it is time.
For the first time, we’re going to attempt a more COVID-friendly recital. Over a full week, at your lesson time, you will perform in the lobby for your family and the other participants at that time. A few extra may come as well, like grandparents or siblings. Most of the people there will be people who are already there – and I’ve seen this work very well at my son’s dance studio.
If there’s time left over, the students will have a debrief with their teachers – we always want to improve on what we’ve done and also reinforce the best parts of what our students do.
