Blogging Day

This is the day I've stayed away from all other activities to just concentrate on updating my blogs. Blogs you might ask. Why in the world does a person need three blogs - one is more than enough to keep track of?

The first blog "Bonnie's Voice and Piano Place" is where I get to express myself as a musician. There's a part of me that loves to find new ways to teach children. The piano blog is one of the ways to do that. I've also have a passion to create, find and pass on new manipulatives and resources for other teachers. This blog is my way of attempting that. These helpful links and games that are here to supplement students private lessons.



The second blog is one I've had sleeping for a while and people's requests have brought it back. It's called "The Maltese Scrapper". It is for digital scrapbookers. Once again it is another way that enables me to create and pass on to others. At it's first inception the blog averaged 1,500 page hits a day. For you non-scrappers, you would consider this a fancy clip-art gallery. All you have to do is click on the previews and you be given a direct link to the art it contains. All I can say is: "Have Fun"




The last but not least blog is called "Reel2Real Kidz". Once again a blog that gives teachers resources to help them teach and games that lets kids have fun all the while learning about their Heavenly Father. We talk about the Bible story for the week and share pictures of what is happening at church. Although I am no longer a children's pastor I want to keep the blog going until my replacement is found.

So you see there are many sides to me and they all can't be confined by one little blogs.

Key Signature Chart

This is chart I made for my students. I thought that you may be interested in it. Back in the day I used the circle of 5ths for my keys but this chart adds what the I, IV and V chords used in each key.

If you do find it useful, let me know so I can publish other useful things.

b

New Games For Summer

You know those days - the ones when your students comes in tired, cranky, distracted . . . No matter what you try to do, you can't get them to settle down and actually play their assigned piece and you still have 15 minutes of lesson time remaining.

There are two things I try to get the lesson back on track. If one doesn't work, the other usually does.

The first thing I try is directing the student to this website's fun and games page and have them play one of the games that works on one of the issues they are struggling with. The second thing I try is using games or other activities that use other senses to help them focus.

Here are a couple that I've just made in the last couple of weeks:

Just click on the pictures to begin your download.

20 Best Piano Applications for iPhone

I always like to be current with technique as well as technology so when a parent asked for some apps for her iPhone to assist with her children's lessons I went to work researching. The blog "iPhoneNess" is a great place to start. It lists what in their opinion are the 20 Best piano apps.

There are also reviews on YouTube talking about other apps that are available. I enjoyed the versatility of "Pocket Piano Song Universe". Have fun!

Mission To Magamon

I've added a new game today to the "Just For Fun" page. It actually had me playing it until I couldn't make it pass level three. Your little male students will especially love it if they're anything like mine. Just click the picture to go to the link. You will need to register to play.

The sound quality is excellent and the game is really fun to play (once you figure it out). It probably took me a while because there are not a lot of video games in my life.

Play on!