The lab has four stations for students to continue their music learning work at Michelle Tuesday Music School. Our students may spend all their time during a month at one station, like ear-training, or choose to switch stations on different weeks. Remember when you visit we wear masks and social distance, so there will only be one or two students in the lab at a time.
Music Theory:
At Station 1, our Music Theory station, students work on learning how to read notes, build chords, differentiate pitches and rhythms, and a variety of other skills that they can directly transfer to their lessons. Students use computer programs like Music Ace, Alfred’s EMT, and a new program, Utheory, to improve their skills. Music Theory also features our brand new game- Busted!, which works on identifying types of notes and clapping out rhythms with other students.
Ear Training:
At Station 2, our Ear Training station, students may work on listening and echoing rhythms, matching pitches together, even or identifying different types of intervals and scales. This station is entirely iPad based, with apps for students of all different skill levels. Ear Training helps build the musical ear of all students, a critical skill that will be used and improved throughout their musical career. Station 2 also features one of our newest additions to the lab- our bean bag chair!
Composition:
Station 3, our Composition station, allows students to write their own music! Students of younger ages can use blocks to build rhythms of their own, while older students can use computer programs like Noteflight to compose their own songs. The station even has prompts ready to provide inspiration to students writing their own music, encouraging students to write about everything from how they feel that day, to writing a song based on a favorite composer.
Music History:
Station 4, our Music History station, teaches students about the history of famous composers or even the instrument they play. This station has new topics every month, exposing students to a variety of different parts of the history of music. October’s focus is on famous composers, time periods, and the history of instruments and genres. From Beethoven to the Beatles, students will learn about all kinds of music from the past. Our preschool age students may work on coloring pages of famous composers, while our older students read an informational sheet and then play a Jeopardy like game on the information they learned. Another option for our older students is a mini-independent research project on these same topics.
Wherever our students spend their lab time, they are becoming better musicians through the virtual work. Can’t wait until you come and join us!
