Oops...I forgot to title this one too

Hopefully I'll be blogging more soon, but here's a quick check-in.
Any Easter gigs? Hope your Easter was great!
-Barbara

Harpy Easter!

photo edited with Adobe Photoshop Elements 7.0

Have a great Easter!

Are you gigging?

-Barbara

Oops...I didn't title this post

Hello there!
Is there anything in particular that you'd like to read more about on this blog? What's been your favorite post(s)?
Have a great weekend!


-Barbara

Gibson App



App used: Rhonna Designs

Have you heard of the Gibson Guitar App? I'm a fan! It's a free tuner and metronome...and some other stuff, but I usually just use those two functions. This is a great source for both you and your students. Now, I'm not sure how accurate the tuner is, but it does the job just fine for me.
If you have a smart phone, you don't have to worry about dragging around an extra tuner or metronome to gigs and lessons. If you don't have a smart phone, you can also use it on an iPod touch.
What apps and other resources do you recommend?


-Barbara


Learning From Your Students & Parts of the Harp

Apps used: Repix, Phonto

Do you know what a string rib is? How about eyelets or bridge pins? (Check out this glossary to find out about string ribs and bridge pins.)
I didn't know what these were called until a harp student (at that time three years old) asked what they were when we talked about the parts of the harp. I then had to do a little research. But now, because of a three-year-old, I know more about the harp and include these parts in discussions of the parts of the harp. If you don't know an answer, don't be afraid to tell the student that you don't know, but you'll try to find out (and then try to follow up on that). Depending on the student's age, you can also suggest that the student research it. You can even suggest some places to look, such as harp.com, Harp Column, Sylvia Woods Harp Center, Harp Spectrum, etc.
What are some things you've learned from students?
-Barbara

Rubberbands as Tuning Aids

Apps used: befunky, Phonto

It's easy to get the tuning key on the wrong string. To avoid broken and mistuned strings, (and irritation), try the following tip for your students. Temporarily color-code the side of the tuning pin opposite the string. Two options are: rubber bands in pink and purple meant for braces (not ones that have already been used with braces though!) and ponytail holders in red and blue. Just put the corresponding rubber band where needed, and you have a guide to help make sure the tuning key is on the intended tuning pin! It's temporary, but the rubber bands seem to stay in place when they should.

What about you? How do you help your students with adjusting the correct tuning pin?

Have a great day!

-Barbara

Music and Dance Part 3: Tap Dance

Apps used: Over, BeFunky

Thanks for checking into part 3 of this little series about dance and music! (See the first two here and here). Today's post is about tap dance.
Tap dance is very much like percussion with the feet along with dance style. Time steps were actually originally used to set the tempo for dancers! Tap training not only teaches students about rhythm, but also teamwork stage presence. Tapping can expose students to many  American/Broadway classics.


Tap and rhythm? Have you seen Fred Astaire dance with a metronome in this movie?






-Barbara