Tampa Bay Music Academy is starting a concert band for homeschoolers in the Tampa Bay area this fall. There will be a beginner class for 4th - 6th graders and an intermediate class for 6th - 12th grade. The concert will include Trumpet, Trombone, Baritone, Flute, Clarinet, Saxophone, and Percussion.

Registration has already started, so you will want to sign up as soon as possible. The first class is scheduled for Friday August 22.

For tuition costs and more information check out their website at http://tampabaymusicacademy.com/concert-band-program/

These colorful little castanets are perfect for little fingers to explore. Not only will your child experiment with rhythm, but he'll also work on developing his fine motor skills!

Materials:
Sturdy Paper like poster board or a manila folder
Pairs of Buttons
Hot Glue Gun or Elmer's School Glue

Cut the paper into rectangles that measure anywhere from 4 to 6 inches long and 1/2 to 1 inch wide. Fold each rectangle in half so there's a crease in the middle. Next, choose two buttons and glue one on each end of the rectangle. The buttons will need to be the same size, and if your child is like my son, they'll have to be the same color too! Allow the glue to dry.

Let the fun begin! What types of rhythms can you create with your new instrument? Can you click the buttons together fast and slow? Can you make a steady beat? How about tapping the rhythm of your favorite song with your castanets? Turn on some music and experiment with all different types of rhythm!

***If doing this craft with young children or with young children present, do be careful to keep an eye on the buttons. Don't let young children put them in their mouths!***

Finding the perfect piano keyboard for your beginning student takes some time and research. Here are three of tips that I share with the parents of my students:

Weighted Keys

Your keyboard needs to have weighted keys. Portable keyboards are typically made with light, plastic keys which take hardly any weight to depress. It will be very hard for your child to transition from that light touch to the heavier touch which is required to play the digital or acoustic piano during lessons. Look for “weighted keys" or "touch sensitive" - like the keys featured on the Yamaha YPG-235.

Number of Keys

The number of keys on a keyboard can vary widely – from 61 to 88 on the typical instruments used for beginning lessons. If you plan to purchase a beginner instrument and upgrade later on, a keyboard like the Casio LK240 or the Yamaha EZ-200 with 61 keys is fine. We rarely use the notes on the extreme ends of the keyboard during our first couple years of lessons.

However, if you’d like for this instrument to be a one-time purchase, it’s better to choose a keyboard with either 76 or the full set of 88 keys. The Yamaha P35B or Korg SP170SBK are good options to consider.

Accessories

Two of the best accessories to consider adding to your very first keyboard purchase are headphones and a damper/sustain pedal. Your child will be using the pedal and possibly the headphones within the first couple months of lessons.

Headphones are especially helpful if you want your child to be able to practice without disturbing the rest of the family. Most keyboards offer a plug for headphones so that your child can practice and be the only one to hear what he’s playing.

A damper pedal sustains the sound of the notes so they sound even after your finger has lifted off of the keys. Most keyboard models have a plug to add a damper pedal. It’s a great option to have from the beginning, since we begin using it within the first couple months of lessons.