Today in MusIQ Club!

This was a heavy ear training week, and Theo, Gabrielle and Chiron all worked very hard.  Katrina, we missed you!  We learned about intervals, thirds and fifths in particular, as well as octaves, and we talked a bit about why perfect intervals are called “perfect” which meant we had to talk about the overtone series and some physics!  We practiced hearing these melodic intervals, and then the students spent time in the intervals section of the ear training software.  After reviewing one octave C major scales (D major and G major for Gabrielle) and reviewing rhythms and rests in Theory Thinker we worked on Twinkle and Row, Row, Row your Boat.

This week please:

1.  Chiron, Katrina and Theo:  Review the symbols for the different rests.  Here is an activity sheet for whole, half and quarter rests which can help you with this, and here is one for eighth notes and rests.  Neither of these will be particularly musically challenging for  you, but they can be used as a different and fun way to get more familiar with some of the symbols and how they are used.

2.  Spend some time playing the note placement games which you can find in the lower left corner on the Theory Thinker page.  If you click on the one for single staff, you can also select only spaces, or only lines, bass clef only or g clef only etc.  Start simple, (g clef, spaces only for example, there will be only 4 different options for notes: F, A, C or E) and once you get so you recognize and know where those notes are you can change or increase the options.  (Gabrielle – you can add the ledger lines, and use both staves.)  You can print out and use this sheet as a reference for the landmark notes if you wish.

3.  Keep practicing Row, Row, Row your Boat and Twinkle.  If you are confident with the notes, please try them with a metronome (not too fast, slow and steady wins the race!)  and then see if you can play them from memory.  Gabrielle, practice Alouette, and try it with the metronome.

4.  If you are feeling ambitious, you may print out and practice Pop Goes the Weasel (or find it in Piano Player).

See you next Wednesday!

Filed under: Fiddlesticks PSP