Algonquin Ridge – Week 3

Yes, this is Week 3, sorry for the mistake with last week’s post!  What a great class today!  We worked on finger numbers and practiced our finger dexterity to “Crazy Frog”.  Everyone did a great job with their lessons and almost everyone brought their folders today… wonderful!  We missed Taylor and look forward to seeing her next week.

Level 1

Today, we did Lesson 28, where we continued to work on finger numbers and worked on strengthening the individual fingers.  It is tricky, but remember to give each finger a white key and play the finger number that is shown!  This will help your fingers to work independently.  Practice your finger numbers at home (see in This Week @ Home) and that should help!  We also reviewed our Musical Alphabet, forwards and backwards.  After your lesson, you spent some time in the Games room and I went over some of your songs with you.   Good job!

This Week @ Home

• Complete the worksheet on “Colour the White Keys” and bring to our next class.  Allison is all done her worksheets, she can complete any from last Semester that she has in her folder.
• Keep practicing “Love Somebody” and try “Hot Cross Buns” which we reviewed today.
• This week we want to get those fingers working even more. With your RH one day and then your LH the next, put fingers 1 2 3 4 5 on the keys, with your thumb on Middle C, just little Mr. Dvorak showed you. Practice keeping a nice “ant tunnel” with curved fingers, and your fingertips on the front half of the keys, not up in between the black keys. Have your adult at home call out 3 finger numbers for you to play. (Ex. start simply with 2 2 2, or 1 2 3, and gradually build up to 1 5 1, 2 3 4, 4 2 5, etc.) Then switch with your adult and see if THEY can play the finger patterns you make up!
• Try clapping these rhythms with an adult at home. Remember to clap on the “&”s: 1 2 3&4 , 1&2 3&4, 1 2 3 4, 1 2 3 4&, 1&2&3&4, 1&2&3 4, etc. You can make up your own, too!
• If you have CMJ2 at home, review Lesson 28 with Miss Melody and then head to the Improvisation room.

Level 2B

Today in Class

Today we did Lesson 42, where Mr. Tchaikovsky taught us all about piano (soft) and forte (loud).  These are Italian terms used to music to help us to play at different volumes.  After that, you spent some time in the Games and Improvisation rooms.  Well done!  I will also hear you play your songs for me next week, so keep practicing!

This Week @ Home

• If you have CMJ volume 2 at home, you should review lesson 42 with Miss Melody, and head to the games room.
• Complete the worksheet  on “Forte and Piano” and bring it next class.
• Practice the songs in your folder.

 Level 3B

Today, we completed Lesson 78 where we learned about “Sticky Notes in the Left Hand” with our new teacher Mr. Haydn (we will find out more about him next week).  This is where you play a melody in the right hand and your left hand play the background or Bass notes.  We also reviewed your right hand C major scale (12312345) and I introduced the left hand (54321321).  Keep practicing these at home.  You also composed some 2 bar rhythms for me on the Grand Staff.   Good work today! 

This Week @ Home

• Complete your worksheet on “Rhythm Review”.
• Keep practicing your songs.  You can also start to add the left hand “Sticky Note” part to “Ode to Joy”!
• If you have CMJ3 at home, review Lesson 78 and then head to the Improvisation room.