Ear Training with YogiPlay Do Re Mi App

I gave in and purchased an app to help with practice time and I am so happy with it.  Yogi Play Do Re Mi app teaches ear training with the option of using solfegge, colors, numbers and characters like stars and animals.  Parents or teachers can register to allow the app to be geared toward individual children and their level.  Both my 10 yr old and my 2 year old love it. 

I am definitely not a proponent of using much screen time.  My children have a 3 hr a day total screen time limit which includes all tv, movies, computer and kindle etc. so if they choose to do their practice on the app that does take away some of their screen time.  but it has definitely increased my daughter's excitement for practice time.

I try to be right there teaching and experiencing with the girls when they use it,  That way I can stop them and ask questions like "what interval was that?; What are the Curwen handsigns for the song you just played on that game?  OK now stop and go play that song on the piano for me.. . ." etc. 

Be Musically Inspired,

Janelle Joy

Violin Practice with a Left Arm Cast?

It definitely takes creativity, but when Morning Glory broke her thumb and is most likely going to be in a cast for the summer, we decided to find ways to practice. Today our practice time was very fun: I asked her to find a song she likes and we would transpose the treble clef notes into violin language (ie 2 on A, open E, etc.) I was amazed that she knew them instantly and was even able to take to take it a step farther and tell how to play the notes on higher or lower octaves.

I had no idea she could read notes for violin so well. What a wonderful Mom and music teacher reward moment!

Be Musically Inspired,

Janelle Joy

Improv and Dancing

Finding ways to keep practice exciting and fun can get challenging sometimes.  Morning Glory has been coming up with several of her own lately.  This time she decided to turn on Pandora radio to our "No More Monkeys" station and play her own accompaniment to the songs that cam on and also dane at the same time.  bonus: Lady Slipper joined in too and it was great exercize and practice time all in one.  Yea!

Be Musically Inspired,

Janelle Joy

Monkeying Around With Violin Practice

Babysitting during practice time can make things tricky but obviously not impossible for my Morning Glory! She simply started playing animal songs starting with "No more monkeys jumping on the bed"--all played on the spot by ear --wow! I am impressed by your ear training skills, adaptability and your diligence and patience in practice time despite cute little toddler distractions.