Category: MTMS Blog Posts

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!

Let’s Learn About Rock’n’Roll

Rock Around the Clock by Bill Haley and His Comets was the first famous rock and roll song, released in 1954. Rock existed before; it existed as African American blues and added speed and electricity, and then bass and drums. It became a new genre and caught on quickly with African American and then white musicians, too.

There are many options in the lab to learn about rock’n’roll for MTMS students. We have a slide show of musical history about rock’n’roll, there’s an active listening station with a great playlist to discover new music, and there are templates in Noteflight to create your own rock’n’roll. This is also a great time to bring it to your teacher’s attention that you want to learn to play one or more of these rock’n’roll songs, whether it’s one from the playlist or something you discovered on your own time.

Rock’n’roll is our lab focus in December. We can’t wait to see what all of our students do with this fun genre.