To Celebrate Christmas or not?

Wishing you a

Merry Musical Christmas Season

Candy Canes, Christmas Carols and warm woollen mittens!

December arrived as it ususally does - with no less busyness than can be expected. Christmas songs have been practiced and are almost ready for the recital on Saturday.

I know many of you are just experiencing your first bout with snow but here a green Christmas is the ususal so a little more effort is required needed to get into the mood of the season.

This coming Saturday I will be hosting a Christmas recital at a local coffee house. It is always a great success because it makes the spirit of the Christmas season a little more real and helps everyone feel a little more like Christmas when there is no snow.

Christmas solo's, duets, ensembles and carols make up this mini-recital. Since I am not requiring students to memorize their songs, we all feel less pressured. This event will be a time to play, perform and enjoy the season. Some students will even bring their red activity books for everyone to sign so they can fill up their "I'm a Star" pages.

In the resource section of Solo Time Music Games I have posted some seasonal note review flashcards for you to use with your students. Print, laminate, cut out and have fun!

In other news, my grandson, Jakob, is coming for Christmas! I am so excited! I've have purchased way more baby gear for him than I ever did for my own children. I just love being a grandma.

Merry Christmas and many wonderful teaching days ahead in 2011.
Jakob

Warmly,
Mrs. Lois

MYC games made in BC

info@solotimegames.com

www.solotimemusicgames.com

Celebrate Christmas or not?

A question asked of me lately was "What do I do with students who don't celebrate Christmas? This situation is one that I try to address when parents first register their child. I inform parents that I do hold a Christmas recital and party and during this season their child is welcome to practice a secular song.

The choice to participate is left up to the parent's. It is a parents responsibility to instruct their child in their faith, traditions and how to say "no thank you's" to something that is not part of their beliefs. Families who don't celebrate Christmas generally do another activity with their child on the day of our Christmas party and recital. I never penalize a whole class for the sake of another's beliefs.

This situation and any other of your concerns can be addressed and written into the policy statement that parents are required to read and sign at the beginning of the teaching year, to prevent misunderstandings as any seasonal or cultural events approaches.

Give Yourself a Rest!

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Take the struggle out of learning the correct placement of rests with your students.

These two games are a fun and easy way to teach rest placement.

Students are required to complete each measure with one rest.

Weak and Strong beats (easy)

Strike Out (hard)

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Take learning rest placement to a whole new level with Give it a Rest!

Students must find one or more rests to complete each measure.

These teaching aids take a little more time in class but are worth the value to

reinforce the strong and weak beat placement of one or more rests.