Notices:
1. Policy for MYC graduates
2. Canadian National Conservatory of Music
3. Latest Studio Newsletter
4. Group Lesson Advantages
5. Useful music websites for teachers, parents, students.
Its a privilege to be able to teach students through the Music for Young Children program and I hope you and your children will find the course enlightening, joyful, and positive!
For those people who graduate from the program, there are a few options available. Some of the students wish to pursue private lessons with me following graduation. Some people can be accomodated in a group format as they have been used to in MYC. Some may prefer to go on to a different instrument or different teacher. Those who continue with me are encouraged to enter festivals and possibly aim to complete music examinations.
Canadian National Conservatory of Music provides the most comprehensive exams in Canada today. Includes a public performance of 8 pieces, and a musicianship examination consisting of Vocalization (solfege and sight singing), instrumental sight reading, (composition and rhythm), technical requirements, ear tests, sight reading, harmonization, tranposition at sight, and improvisation. Students are encouraged to set an extheir possible goals in here training. The exams are a perfect following of their MYC training as they encourage continued development of ALL the aspects of their musicianship that were nurtured in their MYC years. For more information, go to
www.cncm.ca
Ted with Frfances and Gunars Balodis at the 2010 MYC conference
held in Banff Alberta July 10-13, 2010.
Here is the latest Studio Newsletter:
Keepin’ in Tune!
tedellis35@gmail.com
Look at the MYC homepage!!!: www.myc.com
Look at the CNCM (Canadian National Conservatory of Music) www.cncm.ca
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34 Martha Court, Welland ON L3C 4N2
905-735-8815 905-735-8815
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facebook: YES!! Your teacher is on facebook! Look me up under “Ted Ellis”. I’m there for professional reasons, marketing, networking and making contacts. Student and parents – feel free to comment on my wall, ask questions, or whatever!
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Clocks! I have MYC Circle of Fifths Clocks available. They are $19.95 including taxes
What time is it when you see two sharps after two flats???
Water Bottles: We also have bright yellow stainless steel water bottles available. $9 each including taxes.
This year again we're subscribing to www.musiclearningcommunity.com This site allows MYC and private students to play music video games at home online and in the studio. I will be able to track progress and I’m sure it will make your progress more fun and thorough!
NEW!!! There are now games that use a midi-compatable keyboard! All you need is a set of MIDI cables! This makes the games interactive with your digital keyboard and are much more intuitive1 Stay tuned!
Are you on TIME for your class/lesson? If you are, a BIG THANK-YOU! Missing 5 minutes a week over a period of 36 classes or lessons amounts to 180 minutes = 3 HOURS of time missed during the year. I know a couple of parents in classes who have to be late due to unavoidable circumstances.
MYC Composition Festival!
The studio received some VERY HIGH QUALITY compositions this year for the MYC composition festival! Everone who entered received a large composition sticker as in the past to add to your collection, or if you are in first level, to start your collection/
CNCM Practical and Musicianship Exams!
NEW: Price reduction!! Only $34.95
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Here is a partial summary of what you'll find in the book:
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Blinkers P. 39 one Set for memorizing one for staccatos, one for tech problems
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Boot camp: p. 45 paragraph 2
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Breakthrough diary: examples – be sure to write something EVERY day in point form - no negatives
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Bridging p. 50
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Bug Spotting – coloured spots – recording, stress testing-play faster,
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Campaigns – p. 59 – like Olympics – different piece are in different places in the campaign
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Cementing p . 66 like back yard path for bike. Till you can’t imagine it any other way… - till its easier to play it right than otherwise – like spelling a word- each time different
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Chaining for tempo increasing
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Clearing obstacles – if nothing changes, nothing changes – don’t use persistence use analysis – see definition of insanity – must IDENTIFY the problem – p. 74
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Clockwatchers – surgeons- schoolwork – done? Use breakthrough diary instead.
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Colour Coding p. 85 like electrical wire – notes, rhythm, fingering, photocopy – structure, prioritize.
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Coral reef mistakes – go unnoticed if play too fast
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Countdown Charts – colour code – big grid – 89 squares or whatever. – see p. 82 for colours- what is to be done each week? Colour code the days left - write in goals – p 103
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Designer Scales p. 107 practise them the way they’re written – staccato, legato, diff. Articulations, improvising in them, blocking them – Jennefer Lin – FEGBC
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Dress Rehearsals – mock exams, 3 ears to listen – don’t try too early, or too late
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Auto pilot p. 120 – dangerous. Reinforces mistakes – use alarm to Wake up!! – ask someone to tap you and ask what you are improving. – work to targets – not time!!!
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Exagerating p. 124: - Overstate points to imprint them on the mind- we filter out non- memorable things – the more unique things are the more we remember them. ARITHMETIC
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Excuses: We’ve heard them all – there are excuses and deflections p. 130 – tip of the iceberg ploy, mock shock,
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Experimenting p. 135 – avoid boredom- improvise, try a dif. Tempo, articulation, etc.
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Fire drills: p. 139 – beam 2 in. above ground, 2km above ground. What to do in an emger. On stage. Landmarks, improvise etc. beautiful nonsense, poker face
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Photocopies: for note learning, for interpretation, one for alternative version copy for parts that need attention, copy of all things whited out –do you know it?
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Isolating: have to improve: Correct notes, Rhythms, Dynamic, Phrasing, Articulation, Posture, Tempo Control, Choice of Temp, Rubato, Legato, Progection, Fingering, Pedalling, Tone quality. – separate these items
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Lesson preflight Check. – like the real life flight check
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Lesson Review: Student writes own notes, review same day as lesson
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Level System: p. 186 – list them – steps
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If Anyone has pictures from the Music for Young Children concert or the private student concert that took place in June, I’d appreciate being emailed a copy! Thank you in advance!
Music Learning Community:
Please keep in mind that I have EVERY student enrolled and registered in `Music Learning Community`. This is an excellent
way to keep in touch with music throughout the summer months and of course the upcoming fall term!
I`d HIGHLY recommend that parents print out the ASSIGNMENT SHEET for the appropriate level for their child and keep track of games and scores completed in that level. I will be monitoring the scores from time to time.
Leon Kaas Children’s Music Scholarship: The Leon/Kaas family very kindly initiated a scholarship to be donated annually to the most deserving student of the studio every year. This was their way of ‘paying back’ to the studio, and it is very much appreciated. This year’s recipient was ANGELA SEDDON.
There are several criteria that I used to determine who would receive this scholarship. Among these are:
1. a dedication to improving every day.
2. an ability to assess one’s needs: technical, musical, artistic and to chart a coarse to fulfill those needs.
3. An awareness that a highly developed skill takes time and incremental improvement.
4. an enthusiastic attitude, coupled with a positive, optimistic outlook in the process of improving one’s musicianship.
5. a striving for quality not just ‘good-enoughness’.
6. an appreciation for all the components that make up a good musician: analysis, technique, a discerning ear, artistic interpretation, a working knowledge of music theory, an ability to harmonize and read lead lines, a willingness to sing etc..
7. an awareness that improvement of a skill means dedicated time and focus. The secret of failure is mental, emotional and physical dissipation. We can’t improve to the best of our ability if we’re involved in 4 or 5 other activities
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Music Technology hint!! QuickTime will play midi files .. also CTRL-SHIFT-K brings up a control panel to slow them down if desired.
Library Materials! PLEASE check thoroughly at home for any books/materials that you may have around the house. There might be some that have been ‘buried’ since last spring (or prior!!) and I want to re-inventory everything. THANKS!!
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Questions? Comments? Email me or call:
tedellis35@gmail.com 905-735-8815 905-735-8815
Keep playing!!!
Ted Ellis
From Joanne Barker, an MYC teacher in Bellmont, ON:
Group Lesson Advantages
*Develops poise and performance skills
*Develops critical listening skills through listening to others
*Broadens musical understanding by hearing and studying a broader range of musical styles
*Develops rhythmical security and counting ability (through ensemble playing )
*Provides an environment that encourages the development of functional skills
*Develops communication skills and the ability to work in a group
*Provides inspiration through peer performances *Motivates students through healthy competition *Provides a social outlet surrounding a common interest not normally available to private students
*Promotes enthusiasm and enjoyment as a result of sharing in ensemble work, rhythm drills and music games *Brings out the best in students through the challenge of cooperation
*Develops supportive camaraderie
*Provides motivation from other students as well as from the teacher
*Provides more diverse activities and expands the opportunity for creative drills and exercises due to longer lessons
*Allows unprepared students to benefit from the lesson
E-Store at the MYC website:
Next time you’re on www.myc.com go to the e-store and look at all the great stuff you can get to enhance your learning experience of your child at home! There are CDs of rhythm and singing for every level, accompaniments for Canadian Hanon, folk songs (Moonbeam 3) and a book called “Meet the Critters” that includes a CD for a VERY reasonable price!
Useful Websites for Students, Parents and Teachers:
The Classical Music Pages:
Music Books Plus:
Hyper History:
Ear Training:
Big Ears:
Ear Power:
Music Ace:
Music Theory.net:
Piano Pedagogy Plus:
Copycat:
Instruments:
Piano:
The Piano Education Page:
Practising:
Practice Spot:
Combined skills/practise/theory/ear: