Archive for category Music for Teaching
New Review of Irish Celebration
Posted by Wendy in Music for Teaching, New Music, Piano Teaching on March 3rd, 2010
Natalie has posted a review of my Irish Celebration piece on Music Matters Blog. Thanks, Natalie!
You can buy this piece of sheet music from any of the online music dealers, your local music store, or directly from Hal Leonard. See a “Closer Look” at the music and hear an audio sample on the Hal Leonard site.
New Triplet Rhythm Drill
Posted by Wendy in Music for Teaching, Piano Teaching, Wendy's Piano Studio on January 28th, 2010
Since I use my own site as my “go to” for rhythm worksheets, I’ve become aware that there is no rhythm worksheet for introducing triplets! So, I have created a Triplets Worksheet and have posted it to the Rhythm Worksheets section (under Wendy’s Piano Studio: Teaching Resources).
I hope this is helpful!
Themed Recitals
Posted by Wendy in Music for Teaching, Piano Teaching on January 19th, 2010
After introducing my Irish Celebration piece to teachers, many have written in to tell me that they are doing a “World Music” themed recital this year. I am so excited for all of you teachers who are doing this because I think world music is very motivating for students and it makes for a very interesting recital. (See below for a list of suggested world music pieces)
Our local association did a World Music Festival a few years ago and the only stipulation about the music is that it could not be by an American composer. So, you can imagine the variety of music that we had in 2 days full of recitals! Here are some highlights from the event:
- The decorations. You can see from this picture that there are banners above the piano with the flags of many different countries. These were everywhere at the recital and made for colorful and interesting decor!
- The displays. Many teachers contributed by making and manning displays about music from different lands. We had displays about music from Ireland, China, Africa, Latin America, etc. Students visited the displays and teachers helped them try out instruments and do rhythm projects from that country’s music.
- The Irish dance lesson. One of our teachers taught students how to dance the Irish jig. She looked like such a pro doing it, but when I asked her if she had taken Irish dance lessons, she said no, she had learned it on the internet (youtube)! So, it sounds doable for most studios. (This picture is of one student experimenting with the pentatonic scale by a display about music from China.)
- The music. By far, the most interesting thing was the variety of music and the excitement the students had about the music.
More about the music
I compiled a list of the music that was performed as well as some pieces that had been suggested by some of the teachers in the online teaching forums. You can see this list by clicking here: World Music.
My favorite piece of all was Glenda Austin’s Bravo Brasilia! This piece is an intermediate duet and is super fun to play and listen to. Some of my more advanced students even ordered this piece after hearing it just so that they could play it together.
Winning Recital Pieces
Posted by Wendy in Music for Teaching, New Music on January 18th, 2010
I’m going to modestly suggest that some of my new pieces might fit this “winning” recital pieces category. 
Seriously, I have gotten good feedback on these pieces and do appreciate those of you who give new music and new composers a try! Below, I have also included some updated lists of other winning recital pieces (pupil savers) in my studio.
New Solo Pieces for Beginners:
If you are shopping for spring recital pieces and have some beginning students, you might also be interested in the pre-staff Piano Recital Showcase that came out late summer. This book contains 8 solos on the black keys or white keys in simple notation (no staff). Some of the fun pieces include: Bumper Cars • Cherokee Lullaby (my piece) • Fire Dance (also my piece) • The Hungry Spider • On a Magic Carpet • One, Two, Three • Pickled Pepper Polka • Pumpkin Song. See some samples.
Late Elementary “Pupil Saver:”
If you have students who love to play fast and with a flourish, they might be interested in Twister, an “easier than it sounds” Level 3 piece published last year. I have received an overwhelming amount of feedback on this piece from teachers with students who love the fast-paced, tarantella feel. Here is a music and an audio sample.
Read Susan Paradis’ review here.
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New Elementary Music:
Earlier this week, I told you about my new Level 1 Irish Celebration piece that would be great for spring recitals or St. Patrick’s Day. This is an elementary piece with only quarters, halves, dotted halves, and a few quarter rests. See a sample here.
Shopping for these pieces:
All of these pieces and books can be found at the following online retailers: Sheet Music Plus, Music Dispatch, Piano Pal, Prima Music and JWPepper.
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Other Winning Recital Pieces:
I have updated the Pupil Savers document under Teaching Resources/Repertoire to reflect some of my student’s most recent “winning pieces.” You might also check out the Repertoire page for other lists of:
- Fun Duets
- Pieces that are easier than they sound
- Humorous Piano Pieces
- Pieces for 1 hand
- One piano-6 hands
- World Music
Irish Celebration Winners
Posted by Wendy in Good Deals, Music for Teaching, New Music, Piano Teaching on January 15th, 2010
I have used a random number generator to pick the winners of the Irish Celebration giveaway. And the winners are:
- Ruth Manweiler (#15)
- Julia (#13)
If you both would email me your mailing address, I will mail you a copy of Irish Celebration!
Thank you all for your interest in my new music. I appreciate those who are willing to take a chance on a new composer and new ideas!
Review of Irish Celebration
Posted by Wendy in Music for Teaching, New Music, Piano Teaching, Reviews of teaching materials on January 13th, 2010
Don’t forget to enter the Irish Celebration giveaway. You have until Friday, January 15th at noon to enter by commenting, blogging, or tweeting about the piece. Enter by leaving a comment on this post: Irish Celebration Giveaway.
Susan Paradis has posted a very thorough review of Irish Celebration on her useful piano blog. Thank you Susan for your kind words and thorough review!
Irish Celebration Giveaway
Posted by Wendy in Good Deals, Music for Teaching on January 12th, 2010
Yesterday, I introduced you to my new Level 1 Solo Irish Celebration. I will be giving away 2 of these pieces this Friday at noon (CST). To enter this giveaway, you can do any of the following:
- Leave a comment on this blog post and let me know how this piece might be useful in your studio.
- Tweet about the giveaway and link back to this post. (Be sure to leave an additional comment on the blog so you get credit for your tweet.)
- Blog about this piece and link back to this post. (Leave a comment about your blog post so you can get credit.)
In addition, I have been known to go ahead and send a few extra pieces out to those that look like they might be able to help me spread the word about the piece (in a teaching organization newsletter, at a teacher’s meeting, or any other ways you can think to help me get the word out). So, please send me an email (in addition to your comment/giveaway entry) if you think you might be able to help me spread the word. I really appreciate those of you who take an interest in my music. As a composer fairly new to the publishing scene, this is of great benefit to me and I am more than happy to send you a free piece for helping me spread the word (until I run out of copies)!
New Irish Celebration for Beginners
Posted by Wendy in Music for Teaching, New Music on January 11th, 2010
My new piece is out just in time for spring recitals and St. Patrick’s Day celebrations! Hal Leonard has just published a new Level 1 Solo called Irish Celebration in time for spring recitals and St. Patrick’s Day.
The piece is reminiscent of a peppy Irish jig and is complete with a catchy teacher’s duet (beginning with bagpipe sounds, but not limited to these). Containing only quarter, half, and dotted half notes (with a few rests at the end), Hal Leonard describes this piece, “Beginning piano students will love the dancing spirit of this little jig! The bagpipe sounds in the teacher accompaniment add to the fun mood of this toe-tappin’ Irish tune.”
Click here to see a sample of this piece. Come back tomorrow for information about a giveaway of this piece!
This solo can be found at the following online retailers: Sheet Music Plus, Music Dispatch, Piano Pal, Prima Music and JWPepper.
Reproducible Sight Reading Pieces
Posted by Wendy in Music for Teaching, New Music, Piano Teaching on January 7th, 2010
Both Kansas and Washington have a state music curriculum called Music Progressions. This year, KMTA asked me to compose some original sight reading pieces for levels 1-6. I have done this and 2010 tests will include these revised pieces.
I decided that now might be a good time to write some practice sight reading pieces as has been requested by many teachers in the past. Of course, the advantage of this is that I know exactly what the “real” sight reading pieces will be like and was able to compose in a similar style for the practice sight reading.
This item, called Sight Reading Practice Pieces, contains 2 pieces per levels 1-6, for a total of 12 pieces. Each piece is reproducible from year to year in your studio for your students. Since this is a PDF, the file will also allow you to print just what you need from year to year. You must have Adobe Acrobat Reader to see the files. If you can see this Rhythm Drill then you know you will be able to open the pdf files. If you cannot see the file, they you need to download Adobe Acrobat Reader which will enable you to see all files on this site!
You can order these tests directly from this post. Please let me know if you have any questions!
Item: PDF Sight Reading Practice Pieces
2 pieces for each level (1-6); 12 pieces total
Reproducible
Price: $17.50
A Closer Look at Easy Hymn Solos
Posted by Wendy in Music for Teaching, New Music on January 6th, 2010
Hal Leonard has uploaded pdf samples and sound files of the Easy Hymn Solos series. To see a “Closer Look,” click on any of these book titles:
See PDF samples of:
Doxology
For the Beauty (Hear a sound file too!)
Come Christians Join to Sing
Savior Like a Shepherd
See PDF Samples of:
I’ve Got Peace
Be Thou My Vision
O Worship the King (Hear a sound file too!)
This is My Father’s World
See PDF samples of:
All Creatures of Our God and King
All Things Bright and Beautiful
Count your Blessings
Wade in the Water (Hear a sound file too!)
Order any of these books from the following online retailers: Sheet Music Plus, Music Dispatch, Piano Pal, Prima Music and JWPepper.
