Orange Lesson #2

I really stressed to the students they could earn a big "minute club" prize if they can get through my whole deck of note name flashcards in 60 seconds or less! So practice whipping through those purple cards as fast as you can! Parents: Please let me know when you think your child is ready to be time tested. There are a few minutes allowed in the lesson plans to test the kids, but I want to make sure they are ready!! A recommendation from you would really help. I can't wait to see who will be first!!!

Today we built skipping snakes and used them to help us learn to spell the different triads (CEG, DFA, EGB, etc.). Listen to the song and then do your theory homework!

We met "Echo Edison" (Ed and Edna's grandpa) He isn't all about echoing. He will be teaching the kids composing tips. We learned about musical phrasing this week, by asking Musical questions, and giving musical answers. You can see this on Echo Edisons page in the song book. Important: Have you started composing your song yet? You have 4 more lessons before we have private lessons, where you will report on what you have so far.

Where to begin… A composition can grow from almost anything. I‟d like your child to start working on these questions, “Do
you like songs that are major or minor? Fast or slow? In 3/4 or 4/4 time? Do you like staccato or legato better? Do you
like the chords played in block style, broken, or marching? As the child comes up with something in his ear, voice, or plays
something for you, start there and build upon it. Decide the meter by asking the child if it feels more like 3/4 (pat-clap-clap)
or 4/4 (Pat-clap-out-clap). Then decide the key they are going to play it in. As we progress through the Orange Roots
semester we will continue to modify and improve the compositions as they learn added musical concepts and start to apply
their musical knowledge to their composition pieces.

Have your child think up some new melodies. Write them down in the book, or even tape record it to help him remember what he’s got! The song can be about anything!! If you haven't signed up for a private lesson (lesson #6) yet, I only have a few slots left on Thursday the 10th. Saturday the 12th is full of openings. Just let me know!