Category: Free Inquiry

• This week I learned Congratulations by Mac Miller with sheet music! This song was a lot easier to learn than last week’s song, due to the simple and repeating chord progression, but also due to my increased confidence and patience in playing.
• I feel like I’m starting to get familiar with the sound of each key, so when I do hit the wrong key, I can easily correct myself.
• I’ve also realized how memorizing playing songs comes from muscle memory. When practicing both Je Te Laisserai Des Mots by Patrick Watson and Older by Lizzy McAlpine, if I forget a section, I can usually remember just by trying different things, because I can remember the shape of my hands.
• I have also realized that I learn best before bed, as I’m not worried about what I have next during the day!
• I’m grateful that I have this assignment, as it doesn’t feel like real homework, yet I still feel productive when playing, as well as calmer.

This week, I finished learning Older by Lizzy McAlpine! I used the same video tutorial and realized that I much prefer learning from sheet music! This was a real example of how, as a future educator, I must use Universal Learning Design as I teach. By presenting content in multiple ways and accepting different options of how students can demonstrate their understanding, I can keep students engaged and intrigued. As a kid, I think I fell out of love with playing piano as I didn’t like being told what to play, and having to prove each week at lessons that I had been practicing. When I got a new teacher, having the ability to choose what I was interested in made it much more fun and also easier, as by choosing the songs, I knew how they were supposed to sound. By putting myself in other students’ shoes, and reflecting on my learning as I kid, I will have the flexibility skills to meet students where they’re at and make their voices heard.

Happy Saturday! Today I decided to learn a new song, Older by Lizzy McAlpine! Instead of reading sheet music, I found a video tutorial by Taylor Mackall and learned by watching that. I had to replay the video over and over, put it on a slower speed, and learn one hand at a time to finally get it, as I found it difficult to see which keys were being played at times. Although I enjoyed learning from this tutorial, as it was the exact progression from the song, I learned that I prefer learning from sheet music. This song was also great for me to start practicing using the pedal, as each chord in this song must be distinct, so the pedal must be lifted with each changing chord. I tried playing on my real piano rather than my keyboard this week, which was decently harder as the heavier keys give it a different feel. At one point in the song I kept messing up the exact same part, which was the biggest challenge for me this week. I had to review just that part over and over and take breaks in between to really get it memorized. After taking a long break and coming back to playing, I was surprised at how much faster I could play it! I really enjoyed learning this song and I think next week I’ll work at getting the chorus down, as the chord progression changes.

This week, I have gravitated towards the piano when I need a study break, before going to bed, and when I return home from school. Now that I’ve memorized a full song, it’s been my goal to be able to play it smoothly every time. This week, I listened to the song itself and reread the sheet music of the parts I had already learned years ago. I realized that there were a few parts with the bass clef (left hand) that I have been playing wrong, and are now muscle memory. Working through breaking this habit was difficult, but because I love playing this song, I was determined to get it right. I found that every time I became frustrated, that was a sign that I needed to come back to it later, as it was only making it harder. After listening to the song more, and coming back the next day, I was surprised how naturally it came to me. I worked on using the pedal, lifting it before playing a new sound to create a clean transition, yet this is something I’m still working on. I decided to include an audio this week of me playing, which taught me to be content with my progress, as I’m still just getting back into playing consistently. This week was very fun for me, and next week I hope to start a completely new song!! Hope you enjoy 🙂

When I was younger, I was mesmerized by my sister’s friend, who came over and could play the piano. My kindergarten teacher, grammie, and mom all played for me, all people I looked up to. I played for about five years, but honestly did not have the patience the practice on my own. I enjoyed playing songs that I knew, but for most of the years I played, my teacher focused on more classical foundations, which made it hard for me to engage with. This experience demonstrates to me that, as a future educator, I will be more successful by learning what my students are interested in and letting them decide on their own topics. 

For week one of getting back to playing I…

• Identified all treble and bass clef notes on sheet music (by reviewing mnemonics I learned in lessons)
• Reviewed scales for each note
• Reviewed the meaning of sharp and flat notes
• Practice reading simple sheet music and playing along super slowly with just the right hand
• I reviewed playing a few songs I learned years ago, and was surprised how some of it was still muscle memory. But, this also made me frustrated when I remembered exactly how a part of a song was supposed to sound, but couldn’t remember how to play it
• Practiced finding chords faster by playing along to ukulele music I also had from years ago 
• Finished learning Je Te Laisserai Des Mots by Patrick Watson, which I’ve known for about two years now, but never got around to finishing the ending. I found the same sheet music from when I first was learning it, and after practicing it a few times, I got it down pretty good. I recorded what I’ve learned so far to look back on my progress in the future, when I can play it fluently, and add pedal. 

For my first free inquiry post, I wanted to reflect on why I believe music is so valuable, in all stages of life. Children mainly benefit from music for the benefits of it allowing to use our brains in a different way, which increases memory, and learning capabilities. Music also relieves stress, releases dopamine, trains cognitive and motor coordination skills, as many different parts of the brain must work together. 

During my elementary years, my parents made me take music lessons each year, which, at the time, was often frustrating for me. But, as I’ve grown older, I’m so grateful that I still carry the ability to turn to music when I feel the need to express myself, or simply focus on something beyond daily tasks. 

Helping in a kindergarten class this year has also reminded me just how important and engaging music can be. I noticed that the children loved singing together, as they were able to collaborate in a new way, while simultaneously developing memory and language skills. Attending their music class was very nostalgic for me, reminding me of when my favourite part of the day was sitting quietly in front of the piano, and listening to my kindergarten teacher play for us. I remember being so fascinated and relaxed watching her, and I’ve always wanted to incorporate playing music for my future students ever since. 

What’s so special about music to me is how it can translate to anyone. Any age group, ethnicity, or gender, no matter what, we can all be moved and inspired by music. I feel so lucky that my parents have always been music lovers, and found it important to incorporate it into my sister’s and my life. My parents grew up going to concerts together, playing soft songs throughout the house in the mornings, my mother picking piano back up as an adult, and my dad mesmorized by concert videos on the tv when he’s had a little too much to drink. 

Just last week my dad mentioned to me, “When I’m an old man, I want to be able to strum a guitar.” This stuck with me because it made me sad to hear that he has felt like he hasn’t had time to do things for himself, like learn a new hobby, due to work. A few days later I encouraged him to start going to lessons, and that conversation reinforced why I have the urge to revisit my own musical skills. 

Yes, the brain’s stress levels are directly impacted by music, but I also believe just making the time for yourself to do something creative and just for the sake of having fun, is so beneficial for mental health. As I get older, through all stages of life, I aspire to keep the things I love close to me, and continue to foster a sense of creation within myself.

Throughout this term, I will take time at least once a week, to relearn how to read sheet music and play piano. I will reflect on what learning strategies worked and didn’t work for me as a child, try new strategies, and asses changes in my learning capabilities. In doing so, I hope to better understand why creating a universal design for learning is so important as future educator. 

See you next week as I will begin to learn my first song of the term!