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... bringing the joy of music to students and their teachers
In This Issue
Upcoming Events
Teaching Tips
Bright Texas Teens
Speaking Engagement: CWU Music Department
Practice Pointers
Flute Flash
The Funnies
Mailbox
Learn More Online
Handy Resources
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Music For Life Books

Want to know a secret?

I share all of mine in my Music for Life Books -- two indispensable guides for music instructors and their students.


Blast Book Cover
BREAKING NEWS:
Alexa Still explains why you should buy "Making a Music and Having a Blast"


Read her complete review at Flute Focus.

April 2010
Greetings!

Welcome friends to my very first newsletter. Why a newsletter? Why not? (You know I have a lot of time on my hands!) 

I love being a music teacher, and I'd like to share with you some stories and ideas that have worked for me. Through the year, you'll receive tips and tricks that will increase your effectiveness, instill pride and respect in your studio, raise your students to high standards, and add variety to your lessons.

Whether you've taught three months or 30 years, you'll find concrete solutions to everyday problems and inspiration to make teaching and learning more fun.

And, of course, I don't have all the answers, so I'd love to hear your ideas too.

This newsletter is for all instrumentalists and singers but, flutists, there will be a special article in every issue just for you.

Upcoming Events: Speaking Engagements

May 16th
Capitol Music, Seattle: "Ask the Teacher"
Come share your questions and ideas about teaching in an informal setting.

June 23rd
Washington State Music Teachers Association conference 
(learn more)
Red Lion Hotel, Olympia, WA:
"Bringing Music Into Your Students' Lives"

July 2nd
Music Teachers' Association of California convention (learn more)
Los Angeles Airport Marriott
Panel: "Building your studio in a down economy"
Keynote speaker: "Bringing Music Into your Students' Lives"  

July 5th
American Harp Society national conference
(learn more)
Hotel Murano, Tacoma, WA:
"Transform Your Teaching" 

 
Teaching Tip
Squawking ChickenWhat does a squawking chicken have to do with teaching music?

Everything! Kids will listen if you make learning fun. Henrietta and Earl the squawking chickens are a big part of my teaching.

When a student does something really dumb such as playing F natural in G major for the 10th time and you feel ready to explode, let the chicken do your screaming for you!

A squeal from the chicken when the offense happens again gets the student's attention, makes them laugh, and saves you from screaming. Try it, it works!

Cheryl Tomczuk, the lucky recipient of the "Win a Squawking Chicken" contest at the  Texas Music Educators Association convention, can attest to the power of the chicken:

I want to thank you so much for sending me Henrietta the Funky Chicken!!! My students LOVE HER!!!!!!!!!  They always make a big deal of coming into my office and playing with her.  They say that Henrietta is a "stress-reliever"...they love to squeeze her and play with her.  And  yet, look at what an impact you have made on my students....again!!!  Thank you so much for bringing Henrietta into our lives, and bring us such great joy!

Feeling a little jealous?  Click here to see my Famous Rubber Chicken Combo Packs.
The Future is in Good Hands

Blast Book CoverBright Texan Teens Take a Seat at my Feet for "Making Music" Tips
One of the most memorable experiences I had was the product showcase for my book, Making Music and Having a Blast! A Guide For All Music Students.

The seats quickly filled up with seasoned teachers, but many students wanted to attend so they sat at my feet in the front of the room.

I felt as if I should be giving a sermon, but instead we talked about the sometimes difficult road to becoming a musician.

Wendy, a seasoned teacher, was the only person in the room who said she had always known she would become a musician, was lucky to have had great teachers, and encountered no problems on the journey to becoming a musician. The rest of us have all had our ups and downs and I addressed many of those problems in my seminar.

The students seated at the front gave me their rapt attention and thanked me as they left. How polite Texas teens are!

A few hours later, one of their teachers came to my booth and told me that the kids told her to buy my book so they could have it in the band room and one for the library. She then told me they were members of Texas Future Music Educators.

What a thrill for me to be able to connect with these kids who will be taking over for us in the future!
 
Speaking Engagements
Central Washington University Music Department

I enjoyed a great visit with Dr. Hal Ott and his students.
Bonnie & Dr. Hal Ott
How fun it was to meet so many of you in Ellensburg this week. I've had several students who have studied flute with Dr. Hal Ott, and I know from first-hand experience what a great music program you have at Central. I wish you all the best in embarking on your new careers as professional musicians and music teachers. Please feel free to contact me with any questions you have.

 
Practice Pointers
paintbrushWhat painting taught me about practice

Have you ever started a project feeling so sure of yourself, and ended it feeling like crawling into a hole? That's kind of how it went when my husband Don and I took on a home painting project. But I came away with an important insight!
 
 
Flute Flash
This trick makes learning proper embouchure
child's play!

bubbles
The magic of bubble blowing

The wedding and reception had been beautiful and now the guests were ready to give the couple a big send off. Instead of throwing the traditional rice, each guest was given a small bottle of bubbles. As I blew my bubbles I thought, "This is exactly like playing the flute! Even the size and elliptical shape of the blow hole are the same."

I purchased a box of small bottles of bubbles and use them during the first flute lessons to demonstrate proper embouchure shape (say "pooh"), the feeling of sustaining a constant airstream, and blowing forward. The added bonus is that the student thinks, "Wow. Flute lessons are fun" as we laugh watching Angie the Flute Dog catch the bubbles. They get to keep the bottle of bubbles for home practice and I gain a student who knows how to blow and has started to become committed to my studio.

Try it!
The Funnies
 Smiley FaceIt's not worth it if you're not having fun!



My new student had previously taken piano lessons.

"Who was your piano teacher?" I asked.

"I can't remember her name," my student replied.

"You can't remember your piano teacher's name? Were they private lessons?"

"Yes," the dad remarked with a smile, "VERY private."



When I asked Andrea what musical period Telemann was from, she sheepishly answered, "The Jurassic?"

Mailbox

mailboxHere's what you've been saying

Hi Bonnie,

I have your book, and I've read it and it's WONDERFUL! In fact, it's at this very moment sitting right on my desk. I've given your book to some advanced adult students who are thinking of teaching music. I do not, however, think I could get my teens to come in the house announcing they love me and their piano lessons!!!

My book, The Complete Idiot's Guide to Teaching Music On Your Own, is quite different from yours -- they would be good complements to each other. Yours focuses very much on the actual TEACHING, while mine focuses on the business part. There's lots of info on finding students, studio policies, different kinds of teaching options, equipping a private studio, etc. I'll certainly list your book in my resources section.

Warm regards,

Karen Berger
www.KarenBerger.com




Hi Bonnie,

I just received your book, "Making Music and Enriching Lives," today, and I just wanted to let you know that it is exactly what I needed in my teaching life at the moment. I've only read the first chapter and have a new enthusiasm for my teaching. I actually do most of what you have suggested with my students -- but needed encouragement to continue it.

Many thanks. I am going to thoroughly enjoy working my way through it.

Suzanne Cowan
Australia

 
If you've found this newsletter fun and helpful, please forward it to your friends, teachers, and colleagues. I'd love to hear your comments and any ideas or suggestions you might have about content; we can always learn from each other. I promise more tips, tricks, and stories in the coming months.

And don't forget to check out my cool new website.
 
Sincerely,
 

Bonnie Blanchard
bonnieblanchard.com

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