Monthly Archives: December 2017

42/60 A Surfeit of Christmas Concerts

The joy of working in several different schools is that you experience different school cultures, environments, collect new ideas, meet so many lovely people. But at this time of year I take a rather different view; Tomorrow (Saturday) is the … Continue reading

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41/60 The “Father Christmas” scale

When I’ve young piano pupils learning their scales at this time of year, I sell them D major as “The Christmas Scale”. Yes, I know, offering a scale as a Christmas Treat might not seem to be totally in the … Continue reading

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40/60 Is this a Music Lesson?

One of my various employers has a policy of observing all their teachers at work every year. Not a bad idea… except if they were to observe me teaching one of my young piano pupils (eleven years old) I might … Continue reading

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39/60 Preparing for the End of Term Nativity

I’ve set up the “teams” now for some of the carols at the end of term. The year 3 /4 class is responsible for playing the percussion I have put three of each different instrument in each carol; the The … Continue reading

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38/60 Soler Fandango

I was given this book as a birthday present last month; and have just started listening to the suggested works for every day. I’m saving 1st December music (meltingly beautiful) for a post nearer to Christmas. The piece for 3rd … Continue reading

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37/60 Finger Puppets and Recorders

My finger puppets have been working hard. I was able to teach a class of thirty year 3 children how to play the note “C” in just a few minutes. This was in the seventh of a series of ten … Continue reading

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