2016 Composition Contest Winners!

Let's Play Music studios have wrapped up with annual recitals, and for all of our third-year students, that meant a chance to play their very own compositions!

Students from across the continent had the opportunity to show just how far they've progressed as musicians by composing an original piece of music for piano and entering our 2016 Composition Contest.


We had many fabulous entries and want to share with you our eight fantastic winners, announced a few days ago at our 2016 Symposium.

Best Use of ABA Form: Monster Trucks by Thomas. 
Teacher: Marnie Christensen



Most Original: The Skiers by Colton.
Teacher: Karri Mickelson
Colton says, "My song makes me feel like I want to go skiing. When you listen, you can hear people going up and down the hills, and people falling." Sounds like a perfect ski adventure!
 
  

Best Use of Chords: The Rattle Runner by Jack.
Teacher: Alicia Dansie  
Jack says, "I love to learn about animals, and there are two animals in this one. When you listen, you'll hear the hiker, the rattlesnake, and the roadrunner." Take a listen to the lively adventure they share.
 
 

Chords, Honorable Mention: Quickest Racers by Kathryn 
Teacher: Annah Clark
Kathryn describes her piece as magical. Take a listen and you'll hear why!



Chords, Honorable Mention: Keepers of the Sea by Cannon
Teacher: Chandra Schmitt 
Did you know that dolphins can save people from sharks? Enjoy this lively musical saga that illustrates just such a tale!
 
  

Best Melody: I'm The King of Everything by Ethan
Teacher: Janalee Fish
Take a listen and you'll agree, he's king of keyboard and vocals!




Melody, Honorable Mention: Egyptian Desert by Abigail
Teacher: Nicci Lovell 
Enjoy being transported across the world to Egypt when you hear this piece!

 

BEST Composition, OVERALL: Ballerina Dancer by Julia
Teacher: Lily Hight
Julia says, "In the B section, you can hear the ballerina spinning around."

 
   

Nicely done, everyone! We love hearing ALL  of the third-year compositions, and hope you'll keep writing new songs every year for years to come! 

Spirit Week 2016: Prizes, Fun, and Celebration!

*Spirit Week is over, but it will be back each March! 
Be watching every mid-March for more ways to win*
 
Spirit Week March 14-18, 2016
Spirit Week is our way of celebrating the music-making, class time fun, and success of all Let's Play Music and Sound Beginnings students, families, and teachers!  We revel in sharing memories, photos, and videos of our musical journey.  So, join us in our big annual celebration!

3 Steps to Connect
Of course, everyone wants to know about the contests! We always have great prizes for you, and this year we have a contest each day.

In order to win prizes, there are three first steps to take to help you get connected and be eligible, and you can do them now. No need to wait! Maybe you've already done these:

1. Like our Facebook Page HERE
2. Subscribe to our Blog HERE
3. Follow our Instagram feed HERE (@shelle_solfege) 

Free Shirt Fridays
Who likes waiting? We don't! To help you get dressed up for Spirit Week, we're giving away a free shirt from our Etsy shop every Friday leading up to Spirit Week.  To enter, simply leave a comment (one per post) to one of our Facebook or Instagram posts. We'll randomly pick a commenter to win! 

You don't have to be a SB or LPM family yet to win- just someone who likes t-shirts.




Daily Contests
Sound Beginnings families are included in every contest, too. This is your chance to share your spirit with all your friends- and win amazing prizes while you do!  You can begin entering the contests NOW, and winners will be randomly chosen each day during Spirit Week.

ALWAYS: Gain multiple entries into the GRAND PRIZE by entering the daily contests and by tagging friends.  Post any time, just get it up before each evening when we draw winners.  Use #letsplaymusic or #soundbeginnings in addition to the specific contest/daily hashtag.

You will always post to your own Facebook and/or Instagram feed. Be sure posts are public so we can find them! You double your chances when you post to both Facebook and Instagram!

 

MONDAY: #LPMlove Tell everyone what you love about Let's Play Music or Sound Beginnings! 5 Winners will receive the new CD from Piano Guys.

TUESDAY: #LPMshirt Post a photo of your child proudly wearing an LPM or SB T-shirt. 5 Winners will get a sing-along storybook.

WEDNESDAY: #LPMvideo Post a video of your child performing or practicing on the bells or piano! 5 winners will win the Beethoven's Wig 2 CD.

THURSDAY: #LPMclass Post a photo of your entire class, or your child doing something fun and active in class. One winner will get an entire set of pitch pipes to take back and share with the whole class!

FRIDAY: #LPMguy We have a new logo! It still looks like a jumping child, but with a new style.  What should we name that guy!? Leave a comment on the "Name our Guy" post (link coming) with your child's idea for the jumping guy's name.  One winner receives a t-shirt and the glory of finally naming that guy!

GRAND PRIZE: $500 CASH To enter, simply enter any or all of the above contests and be sure to do the first 3 steps of connecting. Winner does not have to be a Let's Play Music or Sound Beginnings student.

2016 Updates

Prizes, contests, and celebrations of those beautiful children gave you plenty to smile about- but there's more! This fall all of our classes will be using new and updated materials. I'm so excited! Check out what's changing (images coming soon):

• All years have FREE digital downloads included with any CD purchase. You love listening to your LPM music on your ipod, so we make it easy!
• Accompaniment tracks are included for every song in the 2nd and 3rd year songbooks.  Keep your ipod dock or CD player near the piano so your student can play along to these helpful tracks!
• Homework and practice tracking have an improved look in the booklet. Now it will be even easier and cleaner!
• New songs and activities will be introduced. We've got some good stuff for you, with easy-to-learn lyrics and games that reinforce theory concepts. Come to class and find out what's new.
• Re-recorded songs with new voices and instrumentation make this newest CD release sound fresh and fun. You'll hear the old favorites and love their new sound!
• Coloring books for each puppet show mean kids will have even more classical-music immersion and play.
• 3rd year rhythm cards are a perfect addition to the 3rd year memory cards.  Students can play with and learn their rhythms in lots of new ways!
• Spiral-bound songbooks for 2nd and 3rd year means they will stay open at the piano more easily.  Less hassle for everyone!  

Enjoy Spirit Week everyone!

$100 For Our #LPMGrads

Hey, there Let's Play Music graduates! WHAT are you up to these days?  Perhaps the answer is...

You're busy WINNING $100!

Really, we want to know where you've gone.  Are you playing another instrument (violin? drums? trombone? piano?) or performing in musicals or singing in the local talent show or rocking with a band?!

Post a short VIDEO to Instagram, showing off your musical doings, and include the tags:  #LPMGrads and #letsplaymusic  You know those videos are VERY short. Use your phone. This will be easy.

Tell us when you graduated! Tell us who your teacher was! Tell us what you remember about your LPM days! We are super proud of you and want to show off how much you've grown up.

If your account is private, be sure to invite @ShelleSolfege to see your post so we can find you. If it's mom or dad reading this post, yes, parents can post on their accounts on the behalf of the student (but some of our grads are in their 20's already!)

Tell your friends and family to LIKE your post, and on September 30 we'll choose the 3  most-liked grads to win $100 VISA cards!

2015 Traveling T-Shirt Contest!

You'll have to wait until NEXT summer to enter our contest again!  Head over to our Facebook page because we have contests every month or two, with lots of fun prizes.  We love seeing you share your LPM spirit.  Go check out the winners!


It's summer and that means vacation time! Show us the fun you're having this summer and you can win FREE GAS and ROAD TRIP MUSIC to make those summer road trips even more spectacular.

How To Enter (Ends 7/31):

Take a photo this summer of you or your kids in your LPM Shirt.  If you don't have a shirt, grab a snapshot with your music book, bells, or other LPM gear.

Post your photo to YOUR facebook wall. In the description include the hashtag #LPMTshirt.  (If you are a teacher you must also include #ITeachLPM). Be sure to make the post public.

Finally, post your photo to OUR facebook wall HERE so we will be sure to find it.  You're entered!

Photo from Facebook user and LPM teacher: Kristi Ison

Check back to our facebook wall and your facebook messenger to see if you won: winners are contacted through facebook.
 
Prizes 
Winners will be chosen in a random drawing on July 31 at 6:00 AM PDT. Three additional winners will be chosen for "most beautiful" images.

3 Winners will win $50 in GAS CARDS.  No matter where you go for family fun, we are guessing you could use some free fuel to get you there on time.

10 Winners will get two musical treats. First, my family's FAVORITE Road-trip Album Ever! I just love the story 'The King, The Mice, and The Cheese' as performed by Stevesongs.  This hilarious story is acted out in musical fashion by Steve and his young  singing entourage to give you the best 45 minutes of every road trip you take.  In our family we listen to it once for every road trip without fail!  It will be delivered to you for MP3 download from Amazon.

Second, you'll receive more great road-trip music: 'Peter and the Wolf' (Prokofiev)  AND 'Carnival of the Animals' (Saint Saens).  I like this recording because it is the rare one that does NOT have the narration over or amid the music.  After telling the story (or listening to a version with narration) I like to put this on and drive in peace while the children listen carefully and imagine what is going on, without too much narrative guidance.
Take a photo and upload it to Facebook today! Also delivered via MP3.

You Can CHEAT! Here's How!
So, perhaps you have a photo of your child singing or dancing or playing an instrument...but there's no LPM T-shirt or LPM music books in the photo! Oh no!  Here's a VERY COOL way you can get LPM icons into your picture so they'll be super great for the contest.

1. On your phone or tablet, download the Rhonna Designs App:

2. Find the sticker pack of LPM icons! RD has created this pack just for us!

3. Not only will you be able to make super-cute text and images with your family photos before you put them on Facebook and Instagram, but you'll be able to make them Let's Play Music-y too!

4. Go post it for the contest.  Hurry! Time is almost up. Check out this example of a sticker added to a photo; how cute is that!?

Photo credit: Brooke Sutherland

2015 Composition Contest Winners!

The student confidently steps onto the stage, and announces his original composition before taking a seat at the grand piano.  He performs beautifully for the audience.  The parents, and certainly the teacher, are surprised how quickly three short years have flown past since he began Let's Play Music, and now he's graduating from the program as a viable musician.  Audience members gasp in delight to hear the creativity, knowledge, and feeling bursting from compositions by unassuming six-, seven-, and eight-year-olds.

This is a familiar scene every Spring in Let's Play Music studios nationwide.  The program helps students read and play piano music, but the more fantastic result of three very short years is a student body who understand the music, enjoy the music, and create their own music!

Today we share the video of the winners from the 2015 National Composition Contest: students who made it clear that they will forever be creators of music.  Winners were announced earlier in June at the National Let's Play Music Symposium for teachers.  1,500 young composers completed compositions in 2015.

WATCH HERE:

 

Best Overall Composition, by Asia: Sledding.
Teacher: Trina Harding 
"My song is about me and my dad sledding fast down a long hill."
 

Best Use of Chords, by Jackson: Piano Man in China.
Teacher: Lily Hight

Best Melody, by Katie: Swallow & The Tortoise
Teacher: Shea Morley
"You will hear a swallow. She's happy because she is invited to a birthday party. Then you'll hear a tortoise, slow and sad, because he isn't invited."

Best Use of ABA Form, by Kien: Robot's Workshop
Teacher: Anna White
Video: coming soon!
 
Most Original Composition, by Oliver: Dragon & the Man
Teacher: Stacie Raddatz
You'll hear an exciting tale of a man who sneaks into a dragon's lair for a diamond.

Honorable Mention, by Aleena: Avaleena
Teaher: Debbie Huish
Aleena's composition "Avaleena" is about her and her sister Avalee. The title is both of their names together and she wrote the song for her sister Avalee. In the song you will hear happiness, fighting and sadness. Aleena loves her sister Avalee. 

Honorable Mention, by Gavin: Here Comes a Bison
Teacher: Tina Gosney
"The reason I wrote this song is because I love Bison"


Honorable Mention by McKenna: Make a Wish
Teacher: Heather Prusse
"I dedicate this song to both my sisters, because they're the best."  
Honorable Mention, by Elida: Best Friends Forever
Teacher: Natalie Pasqueralli
"My song makes me feel happy because whenever I play it, It reminds me of my best friend, Sophie."

Honorable Mention, by Quentin: Angry Creature
Teacher: Annie Miller
"If you listen carefully, you'll hear a troll, a goblin, and a zombie." 

Honorable Mention: Dog Bite Boogie
Teacher: Liz Murdock

 

Celebrate Spirit Week! April 20-26

*Spirit Week has ended, but it will be back each year (now held in Mid-March). Be on the lookout for more ways to win!*
 
April 20-26, 2015 #LPMSpiritWeek

This week has been declared Let's Play Music Spirit Week!  Sound Beginnings students: you are part of the family, too!  We want you to share YOUR love of Let's Play Music by posting to Instagram and Facebook and telling us what you love best about LPM.

Prizes:

We'll be giving out lots of prizes this week:

Tuesday Morning      (5) Great Composers Coloring Books
Wednesday Morning (10) Beethoven's Wig CDs
Thursday Morning    (10) Let's Play Music T-shirts
Friday Evening    (1) $100 Visa Gift Card, (1) Dinner and Movie Gift Certificate
Friday Evening    (3) Sound Beginning materials sets (must be SB student)

How to Enter and Show Your Spirit:
Post to your personal Facebook Timeline a picture of you or your child in your Let's Play Music t-shirt.  Don't have a shirt? How about a photo of practice time on piano or bells, or performing your favorite puppet show, or a snapshot of your recent recital? Anything that shouts out "Let's Play Music!" will show your pride.

Make sure your post is public (down there near the 'post' icon is a button to choose your audience).

MOST IMPORTANT: Use the hashtags #LPMSpiritWeek and #iloveLPM so we can find your post.  You'll be automatically entered to win and your post will stay in the pool all week.

If you are a Sound Beginnings student, also use #SBSpirit so you can win a few prizes for SB only!

Check it Out:
On Facebook, do a search for #LPMSpiritWeek and you'll quickly see all the other posts on this topic- look what fun we're having with LPM!

2014 National Composition Contest Winners

The student confidently steps onto the stage, and announces his original composition.  He performs beautifully for the audience.  The parents, and certainly the teacher, are shocked to discover that three short years have flown past since he began Let's Play Music, and now he's graduating from the program as a viable musician.  Audience members gasp in delight and amazement to hear the creativity, knowledge, and feeling bursting from compositions by unassuming six-, seven-, and eight-year-olds.

This is a familiar scene every Spring at Let's Play Music studios nationwide.  The program helps students read and play piano music, but the more fantastic result of three very short years is a student body who understand the music, enjoy the music, and create their own music!

Today we share the performances from the 2014 National Composition Contest winners: students who made it clear that they understand and will forever be creators of music.  Winners were announced earlier in June at the National Let's Play Music Symposium for teachers.  1,264 young composers completed compositions in 2014.

Best Overall Composition: 
"The Wild Mustangs"Joshua, Age 7.  
Teacher: Heather Prusse, Arizona
"You should hear two horses racing. In the minor section, you should hear some horse bandits trying to get them, but the Mustangs get away." - Joshua


Most Original: "Secretariat" Paige, Age 8. 
Teacher: Laura Leavitt , Utah
 "You will hear horses hooves thumping on the ground." -Paige



Best ABA Form:  
"The Great White Shark" Noah, Age 7
Teacher: Marianne Barrowes, Utah
"The song helps you think about scary stories."- Noah



Best Use of Chords:  
"Ponies in Trouble" Kinsey, Age 6 
Teacher: Alicia Dansie, Utah




Best Melody: 
"Gypsy Air- Dani's Song"Kallyn, Age 9 
 Teacher: Janalee Fish, Arizona
"I wrote this tune for my little sister, Dani."- Kallyn



Honorable Mention: "Miracles"Grace, Age 7 
 Teacher: Cindy Read, Arizona




Honorable Mention: "Scottish Jig" Eli, Age 7.  Teacher: Annah Clark, Kansas


Honorable Mention:  
"I Love To Swim All The Time" Ashyln, Age 6 
Teacher: Lily Hight, Utah
"My B-section is minor, because it's when you have to get out of the pool." -Ashlyn


Honorable Mention:  
"Horse Family On The Range"Aundra, Age 6. Teacher: Celeste Stott, Montana
"My song is about me and my family chasing cows."-Aundra

Honorable Mention:
"The Best Day Ever" Charlie, Age 7.
Teacher: Jera Farnsworth, Arizona




If your student hasn't reached the third year yet, stick with Let's Play Music and you'll see all the foundational skills come together for some joyful musicianship.  If your child isn't in Let's Play Music, FIND A TEACHER near you: most are registering right now for classes that begin this fall!

-Gina Weibel, M.S.
Let's Play Music Parent

2014 Traveling T-Shirt Contest!

*This contest has ended, but check our Facebook page for other contests and promotions!*

Share the Love!
It's summer again, and we want you to share your love of Let's Play Music with the whole world!  Wear your LPM shirt to the cool places you visit, and submit a photo to be entered.

* Post your photo onto our Facebook wall with a message telling us where you went, and who your LPM teacher is.  Did you tell anyone about Let's Play Music on your trip?

* Entry Deadline is Monday, September 1.

* One entry per STUDENT, please.  Parents can enter multiple times according to the number of students they have enrolled for 2014-15.  Students who just graduated in 2014 may also enter!

No Shirts at Home?
Don't have an LPM shirt? Don't travel much?  You can still enter by sharing the LPM love in your very own town.  Tell us your brief story about how YOU shared LPM with the world.

*Post a message to our Facebook wall or this blog with briefly telling readers how you shared Let's Play Music, and who your LPM teacher is.  It's not hard to let the world know what you love most about LPM!

Here's an example from yours truly:
At summer tennis class, another mom started chatting with me. 

Linda: "Are you signing Clementine up for the next session of tennis?"
Me: "Yes, we're all set.  How about Johnny?"
Linda: "Yep, he just loves tennis."
Me: "What about this fall- will he play sports or take music class or something?"
Linda: "We haven't planned anything yet."
Me: "Clementine's favorite after-school event is her Let's Play Music class. We just LOVE it. She'll be playing piano this year, so I'm totally excited.  Are you planning to have Johnny learn piano?"
Linda: "Well, eventually, probably. We haven't really looked into it yet."
Me: "I was kind of surprised to find out that this age is actually the key time to get started with music.  The class she is in takes advantage of how quickly 4 and 5 year olds learn ear-training, but they also learn to read music.  Our teacher is so fun."
Linda: "I should get the name of your teacher.  I bet he would like something like that."

Prizes!
Our friends at Easy Ear Training understand our passion for balancing all aspects of MUSICALITY in our young students.  Let's Play Music brilliantly incorporates ear training into our classes, along with note reading, sight-reading, singing, composition, music appreciation, piano skills, music theory, dictation, improvisation, and ensemble-playing.

We want to give you even more opportunities to master ear-training with your whole family, so Easy Ear Training has generously donated a GRAND PRIZE 5-book set of ear training books, (valued at $77).

Our SECOND WINNER will receive the  Ear Training Essentials e-book AND audiobook (valued at $30).

* Winners will be chosen in a random drawing from all entries.
* Be sure to enter by September 1, 2014.
* Go share your love of LPM!

-Gina Weibel, M.S.
Let's Play Music Teacher

Traveling T-shirts Have Come Home

Congratulations to our farthest-traveling T-shirt (nearly 6,000 miles from home) and our most artistic photo; each won a free month of tuition via our facebook contest.