Third Year Articles

If you're a third- year student or parent, let us help you find the articles that are most helpful. 

The Purple semester begins in a few weeks! Let us help you and your student refresh your piano skills so you'll be totally prepared for the MAGIC. Find out how here.

If your child is working on learning Cockles and Muscles, check out these tips and tricks to help overcome the challenging parts of this song. Read them here.

How much technique do we need when teaching beginning pianists? Our program focuses on building complete musicians...you may be surprised to read our take on technique.  Read more here.

What technique and posture do we cover? Find out here.

Make a major scale ANYWHERE on the keyboard using your ear and following a pattern of tones and semitones (Whole, Whole, Half, Whole, Whole, Whole, Half.) Read more here.

Our 'Magic Keys' song is packed with music theory. In this post we'll lay out everything you heard in the song, and show you how you can find Do from ANY key signature. Read more here.

CEG is the C triad or C chord. Is it Red, Yellow, or Blue?  The answer is... it can be any of them!  A chord's role depends on SCALE DEGREES and where Do is. Read more here.

Memorization helps you get ready for your recital AND has loads of brain-boosting benefits. Here are tips to help you memorize painlessly and keep those songs in the bank forever! Read more here.

Practice Habits: Parents need to develop habits of their own to become consistent cheer leaders and practice reminders.  Here are a few tried and true ways to get going on your habit so you can, in turn, help your child. Read more here.

You hope your child practices because he LOVES making music, but right now he's only motivated by extrinsic factors.  Here's a guide for talking to your child about piano practice in a way that nurtures the developing intrinsic motivation. Read more here.

Looking for more ease and peace at practice time? Author Carol Tuttle, the Child Whisperer, helps you adjust practice habits for your child's personality in this post here.

Frustrated with your child's practice time? One strategy for bringing peace and ease back into this family routine is adjusting expectations. Read more here.

When is the right time to use flashcards to drill reading skills and note skills? The answer might surprise you! Read the post here to find out and make some fun progress at note reading mastery.

Reading and playing is a mental process, so here are some tips, games, and tiny flashcards to help you master note reading at the piano. Read more here.

Do you get worried when your pianist isn't looking at the music? She's playing by ear.... is that bad? Read this article to learn when and how to guide note reading.  Read more here.

Our culminating semester of Let's Play Music is called Orange Roots- it's all about the culmination of musicianship after laying 2.5 years of roots that cover all aspects of musicianship. It's also about how playing with chords and chord roots provides a foundation for composition and improvisation. Check it out here.

Playing chords in different styles is one of the secret superpowers held by musicians. Our students learn chord styles and change them up with some classic songs. Check it out here.

Learn a bit about Johann Strauss II and the real story behind the music for our skater's waltz puppet show. Read the story here.

Don't get too scared! Our Monsters puppets show uses dramatic music by Prokofiev. It's tricky to keep two themes running simultaneously, but you can learn how in this post.

Chords are a foundation for understanding music, composition, and improvisation. This classic song demonstrates what you can do with just one chord- check out some of the ways we use Paint to explore chords and inversions at many levels, in this post.

Discover the pentatonic scale and why it's such a great teaching tool for musicians. You'll be surprised to find out how this scale is popular around the entire world! Read more here. 

Variation is an important element to composition. See how we use Twinkle Twinkle to help teach this idea. Read more here.

The connections songbook and program: every graduate needs it!  See how we transition students from our Let's Play Music program into mainstream private piano lessons. Read more here. 








Have a request/ topic for an article? Leave a comment below! New posts come out every month to help you get the most from class by playing at home.

Big Ideas in the Third Year:

• Orange Roots: How to find the chord root, and the secret of the bamboo! 
• Say It, Play It: Sight Reading from the Staff
• In a Flash: Reading Notes on the Staff
• Connections Songbook: EVERY Graduate Needs One 

Extend Your Learning with Songs/Activities from Third Year:

• How to Master Cockles and Mussels
• Yankee Doodle visits LPM class!
• Monsters: Lyrics and Stylistic fun with a Prokofiev puppet show 
• Skaters: A puppet show with Johann Strauss II
• Twinkle, Twinkle: Variations in Composition

More Ways to Succeed in Third Year:

• Create A Piano Practice Plan with Long-Term Vision 
• Tips for Memorizing Music
• How to Interview for Your New Private Piano Teacher
• Interview with Laurie Berkner: Becoming a Composer is not Magic 
• Interview with The Piano Guys: Practicing, Composing, and Having Friends

Check out These Examples of Third Year Compositions:

• 2016 Composition Contest Winners
• 2015 Composition Contest Winners 
• 2014 Composition Contest Winners 
• 2013 Composition Contest Winners 
• 2012 Composition Contest Winners

A Few More Interesting Topics:

• EARN $200: We'll pay you when you refer a new LPM teacher!
• EARN $100: We'll pay you when you refer a Sound Beginnings teacher!
• Happy Money: 5 Principles to help you decide if lessons are worth the $$  
• 3 Big Ways Music Boosts your brain (from Good Music Brighter Children)
• SET A GOAL: An acrostic to help you launch your musical adventure
• How to Buy a Piano: You'll need one for second year
• How to Care For Your Piano
• Holiday Gift-Buying Guide for Musical Kids
• The Piano Guys Interview: Practicing, Composing, and the value of Friends

CLICK HERE for posts about our CORE VALUES

CLICK HERE for Second Year Topics

CLICK HERE for First Year Topics

CLICK HERE for Sound Beginings Topics  

Second Year Articles

If you're a second year student, let us help you find the articles and blog posts that are most helpful. 

Have a request for a topic/post? Leave a comment below. New articles come out regularly to help you get the most from music class by playing and learning at home.

Let me explain why we put so much emphasis on learning to recognize intervals on the staff, recognize by sound when heard, and audiate them as we read. You'll want to know intervals very well after reading this post.

Practice singing intervals by using reference songs (songs you know well) to mentally isolate your target interval.  I'll show you how with Turtles Tom and Tim in this post.

Learn about the roles of each bee character in Spring Bees, a puppet show starring Vivaldi. Read the post here.

Grab your lasso and your bucking' bronco for a Hoedown with an Aaron Copland puppet show. We've got extension info here.

Chords are a foundation for understanding music, composition, and improvisation. This classic song demonstrates what you can do with just one chord- check out some of the ways we use Paint to explore chords and inversions at many levels, in this post.

How much technique do we need when teaching beginning pianists? Our program focuses on building complete musicians...you may be surprised to read our take on technique.  Read more here.

What technique and posture do we cover? Find out here.

Our tiny students have brilliant minds ready to play bing things on the piano... but tiny hands that aren't very strong.  Here are some playful ways to help develop dexterity and strength without overworking those digits. Read the post here.

Now that we're playing chords, we insist your child practice the fingering taught in class. What's the big deal? We rely on muscle memory to teach your child common chord hand shapes that will help her achieve piano success.  Read the post here. 

Memorization helps you get ready for your recital AND has loads of brain-boosting benefits. Here are tips to help you memorize painlessly and keep those songs in the bank forever! Read more here.

Practice Habits: Parents need to develop habits of their own to become consistent cheer leaders and practice reminders.  Here are a few tried and true ways to get going on your habit so you can, in turn, help your child. Read more here.

You hope your child practices because he LOVES making music, but right now he's only motivated by extrinsic factors.  Here's a guide for talking to your child about piano practice in a way that nurtures the developing intrinsic motivation. Read more here.

Looking for more ease and peace at practice time? Author Carol Tuttle, the Child Whisperer, helps you adjust practice habits for your child's personality in this post here.

Frustrated with your child's practice time? One strategy for bringing peace and ease back into this family routine is adjusting expectations. Read more here.

It's summertime. Do we HAVE to practice? Find a plan that works for you and your family with some of our summer tips here.

The Purple semester begins in a few weeks! Let us help you and your student refresh your piano skills so you'll be totally prepared for the MAGIC. Find out how here.

You'll need a piano or keyboard for 2nd and 3rd year Let's Play Music classes- find out how to get one that meets your needs, and how to avoid a dud in this article here.


You have a piano, so be sure it's ready to play. How do you care for a piano? Read our post here.

Keyboard geography is essential for identifying those white keys. Alphabet pieces can be used in a variety of games to practice and learn the keys. Start having fun here.


Alphabet Gems are a crafty way for you make your pieces pretty and tangible. Learn how here.

Big Ideas in the Second Year:

• Intervals are Worth Knowing: The Power of Intervals 
• Block, Broken, Marching: Love those Chords 
• Learning Chords: Use the Correct Fingers to enhance Muscle Memory 
  
  

Extend Your Learning with Songs/Activities from Second Year:

 

• Spring Bees: A Puppet Show with Vivaldi
• Get Crafty With Alphabet Gems for Keyboard Geography
• Alphabet Pieces: Games to play with Alphabet Pieces for white keys
• Hoedown: puppet show with Aaron Copland
• Intervals Ear-Training with Turtle Tom and Turtle Tim coloring book

More Ways to Succeed in Second Year:

• It's Summer! Should we Practice?  
• Brush up on skills to get ready for Purple Lesson 1
• Strengthening Fingers and Having Fun
• Let It Go: Play the popular song from the musical FROZEN, using chords
• What Type of Musician Is Your Child? Find Peace when you practice 

A Few More Interesting Topics:

• EARN $200: We'll pay you when you refer a new LPM teacher!
• EARN $100: We'll pay you when you refer a Sound Beginnings teacher!
• Happy Money: 5 Principles to help you decide if lessons are worth the $$  
• 3 Big Ways Music Boosts your brain (from Good Music Brighter Children)
• SET A GOAL: An acrostic to help you launch your musical adventure
• How to Buy a Piano: You'll need one for second year
• How to Care For Your Piano
• Holiday Gift-Buying Guide for Musical Kids
• The Piano Guys Interview: Practicing, Composing, and the value of Friends

CLICK HERE for posts about our CORE VALUES

CLICK HERE for First Year Topics

CLICK HERE for Third Year Topics

CLICK HERE for Sound Beginings Topics   

Ann Cue: Exuberant Grandmother

Ann Cue: Loving Grandma, Exuberant Teacher

At an age when most grandmothers have retired from career and childcare, content with activities no more demanding than quilting, crocheting, and gardening, I found Let’s Play Music and began a new, very active, almost full-time career. (And I still find time for quilting, crocheting, and gardening, along with my other businesses of photography and distributing Sunrider herbal products.)

How did you get started?

Actually, LPM found me (read the whole story on my personal blog). My friend,
Gina Weibel, posted on Facebook that she hoped a new recruit would attend training and help teach in her studio. I had time and interest, and knew I would love teaching such fun classes. After a year of teaching in Gina’s studio, I decided to open my own home studio. Things progressed rapidly and within a year I had over 60 students!

What obstacles did you have to overcome?

Mostly, I worried about being too old, but I was motivated. I lost 30 pounds, began a workout program, and discovered I could keep up with and even outlast many of the younger teachers at training. I also learned to appreciate the blessings of experience and wisdom in dealing with the children and their immediate needs.

What is your educational background?

My MA is in English literature; my PhD studies were in Twentieth Century American Lit. (I never finished the dissertation; marriage and children interrupted that.) I have taught high school and college, and all ages in church Sunday schools. I also studied herbology, became a Master Herbalist, and founded the Wisconsin School of Natural Healing. I love teaching, and am always involved in teaching something.

Your music background?

I took six years of piano lessons back when I was in grade school. In high school I voraciously studied any musical instrument I could get my hands on, and performed on both oboe and trombone! Piano is my favorite instrument. 

About 20 years ago I decided to use my gift of poetry (I have won many awards) and my love of musical improvisation to write original songs for choirs (links here). Since I was writing for 4-part choir plus accompaniment, it was time to seriously study music theory, so I did my independent study and I'm glad I did.

What do you like about teaching Let's Play Music?

So many things! First, I love my studio. My husband has lovingly built tables, stools, easels, and anything I could think of. We turned the entire lower level of our home into the perfect place for LPM.

I love the connections I feel with the children. I am able to tune in to their needs, encourage their creativity, and figure out what makes them tick. I will frequently ask a child why he is not responding during an activity, listen to the answer, and provide a solution on-the-spot.

I love teaching the moms (and dads). They are my students too, and it is a special blessing to show them new ways to bond with their children. They know they can be called on at any time during class, and are expected to be fully involved in all activities.

I am loving what I am doing this year with the puppet shows. I am encouraging full-body movement to each of the musical themes. I let the children work these out as a class, then I tweak them just a bit, making sure that some of the actions are closer to the ground and not too wild. We call it dancing, and allow any child who still wishes to sit still and hold puppets to do so. Moms have caught a few of these on their videophones.

I love that I get to be silly, have fun, and know that I am blessing the lives of families.

Joy
If I have only one word, I sum up my LPM experience: JOY.

The world can be a scary place,

A song in minor key,

But when it’s Let’s Play Music time

I suddenly break free. 

And when that red balloon floats up

I feel my spirit soar, 

Or with a silly turtle dance,

I laugh, and wait for more. 

So even though I now beat time 

With genies and monsters galore,

They don’t scare me: I only see

The end we’re waiting for: 

That final great recital day

When fears are set aside,

And young composers take a bow

With confidence and pride. 

Then off they go, they know their chords,

The yellows, blues, and reds,

And even when there is no sound

There’s music in their heads. 

And when life brings its troubles by

Perhaps they will recall

The happy sounds of harmony

To  cushion every fall. 

So with my friendly Echo Pal

I have ONE WORD for you:

The word is JOY; it’s mine; it’s yours; 

And all the children’s too.

By Ann Cue

If you would like to read more about my classes or register, check out my music class blog.

-Ann Cue, Madison, WI