Smash Hit Games with the Eggspert
About a month ago, I purchased the Eggspert Quizzing System and began using it in my studio. Since then, I have not stopped raving about how my students and I love it! Many of you have also purchased the inexpensive system and wanted more details on how I use it in my studio, so I thought I’d post about it.
First, a bit about how the quizzing system works. There are 2 settings: one where 1 of 2-6 players can press their “egg” which lights up the corresponding egg color on the master quizzing set. This is the setting I am using most. The other setting flashes the eggs (as many as you have turned on) and then randomly randomly chooses an egg to light up at the end. You can use this setting to make the students who answer more random. The white egg, which the teacher controls, clears the lit eggs before you ask the next question.
Here are some of the things you can do with the Eggspert quizzing system:
Read MoreReview of Tangy Tango
Don’t forget that I’m giving away 2 copies of “Tangy Tango” on Wednesday (AND there is an amazing product post and giveaway starting on Wednesday that you won’t want to miss!). See this post for information on all the ways that you can enter.
Susan Paradis has posted a review of “Tangy Tango” on her blog. She always does a wonderful job of describing a piece in details and what kind of students will like this piece. Thanks Susan, for your kind review!
Read MoreReview and Giveaway of American Portraits
Natalie from Music Matters Blog has written a review, or rather played a review of my American Portraits books. Visit her blog if you’d like to hear a few clips of her performance of these pieces. In addition, Hal Leonard is giving away a free copy of the book, so enter a comment on her blog post for a chance to win!
Read MoreAmerican Portraits Review
DeeAnn Brown is an adjuct teacher of piano at Wichita State University. I have had the privilege of observing her teaching years ago when I was a pedagogy student at WSU. She amazed me then with her abilities to coax the most musical, skilled sound out of each of her students. I have watched her name appear numerous times as the teacher of winning students in local, state, and national piano events. She has reviewed music for the American Music Teacher and is an incredible resource for teachers searching for appropriate repertoire for students. For a full bio, please see the bottom of the page.
DeeAnn has sent me this review of the American Portraits book. This book is currently part of the current 40% off sale at Hal Leonard.
The new publication by Wendy Stevens, American Portraits, is a gem. The Hal Leonard Composer Showcase collection highlights six historical figures from the early eighteenth century to the early twentieth century. Each piece is preceded by a graphic and verbal description which will inspire musical performances.
The Intermediate to Late Intermediate pieces include the wistful and nostalgic “Letters to Abigail,” the resolute and brave “Frontier Chorus,” atmospheric “Morning at the Falls” and “Summer on the Prairie,” and the rhythmic and driving “Underground Railway” and “The Midnight Ride.” Students will be rewarded by selections that satisfy and inspire them. They will think about the people and events that are represented from American history and communicate, through music, the spirit and emotion of the times.
Wendy Stevens has struck a good balance of technical and musical challenges in material that has imagination, contrast and flair. The pieces have a touch of refinement, and yet are attainable. Just perfect for the intermediate musician!
Teachers could easily present a studio recital built around the American history theme. Additionally, students could record selections to support a school project in history.
Thank you for the vision to bring these “portraits” to life and I look forward to a sequel with more historical features!
DeeAnn Brown, NCTM, earned a Bachelor of Music and Master of Music in Piano Performance from Wichita State University. She has been an independent studio teacher for over 40 years and is currently Adjunct Instructor of Piano at Wichita State University.
DeeAnn is an active member of Wichita Metropolitan Music Teachers Association, Wichita Area Piano Teachers League and Kansas Music Teachers Association, having held numerous offices in each organization. She is currently the MTNA West Central Junior Competitions Coordinator.
In 1995, DeeAnn was awarded the Outstanding Teacher Service Award from KMTA. Her written articles have been published in Clavier and American Music Teacher. Student awards include numerous winners in the KMTA State Honors Competitions, WAPTL Concerto Competitions, and MTNA National third place winners for Senior Duet Competition.
Read MoreErasable Highlighter Comparison: Pilot vs. Office Max
In this previous post, I wrote about a new item I was going to be using in the fall: erasable highlighters. I was so excited after learning about these that I ran out to purchase them from Office Max. I bought the Office Max brand which had 5 colors for about $4.99. When I came home however, I was a little disappointed because it seemed that the highlighter didn’t erase 100%. In fact, I was even more surprised because it seemed to use different technology in erasing than the brand name ones I used in the store.
So, I visited a Staples and bought a package of 3 Frixion erasable highlighters made by Pilot. I tore into the package when I got into the car and discovered that these were the ones of which I dreamed! 
When there was a more stubborn mark that didn’t seem to come up at first, I simply erased harder and voila…it vanished! I don’t understand exactly how it works, but I do know that it uses friction to lift the color off the page as opposed to the Office Max “erasers” which appeared to be another wet kind of highlighter which wettened the paper more and didn’t erase the color completely.
Being curious about how this all worked, I read on the back of the Frixion package the following:
Thermo-Sensitive ink formula disappears with erasing friction…[and at the bottom] Do not expose to extreme temperatures (<14 degrees F; >140 degrees F). If highlighter is exposed to temperation that reaches 140 degrees F, the ink will be colorless when highlighting. To restore color, cool to at least 14 degrees F in freezer and the ink will again highlight in color.
So that got me to wondering if extreme temperatures would affect whether or not the color would stay erased once it had been erased with their eraser and underwent temperature changes. So, I did some tests so that you can see both the product comparisons as well as the results of my “extreme heat” experiment.
Pilot Test
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Pilot Test Result
Then, here is the Office Max Test:
Office Max Test
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Office Max Test Result
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You can see the obvious difference and which I will choose from now on! Here is what happened after I baked this index card for 15 minutes at 200 degrees.
Pilot Test after baking
Nothing happened at all! So, increased the oven to 300 degrees and baked it for 10 minutes more. Still, there were no changes, even after I left it out to cool.
So, if you decide to get some erasable highlighters, I would strongly recommend the Polit Frixion brand. As a matter of fact, I grabbed some at Target…a package of 5 for only $4.99! By the way, Pilot also makes erasable gel pens!
That was fun! Now back to the real fun…teaching!
Read MoreOffice Supply Obsession: A Liquid Pencil
Over on Facebook ComposeCreate, I’ve been talking about my obsession with office supplies. It turns out that many of you share my love of browsing at the local office supply store for fun!
Well, I was super excited and surprised to learn of a new product: the Sharpie Liquid Pencil! Ever since it was drilled into me to complete my theory assignments in pencil, I’ve always had a pencil handy. Though I knew a liquid pencil would be a novelty I had to have, I had a hard time imagining why I would want a pencil that becomes permanent after 24 hours. My husband bought a package at Office Max for me and I love it! Here’s why:
The pencil writes as smoothly as a ball point pen.- No more breaking leads!
- The package comes with a number of replacement erasers
- I can finally write my Thank You notes in pencil since it will dry in 24 hours. For some reason, I never have a pen in my purse and eversharp pencils are a must for a composer. So, now I don’t even have to worry about having a pen handy.
- The “lead” is 0.5 mm, #2 lead equivalent
My students always think my endless supply of eversharps are pretty cool since the 0.5 mm lead makes them think it’s a pen. They’ll be fascinated with this one too!
Do you have a new “office supply find?” As a fellow OS Junkie, I’d love to hear about it!
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