Doodle4Google

The teacher who handles the classes for the Gifted program at my children's school gave us the information about the Doodle4Google contest that is being held every year. This is my daughter's first year in the Gifted program so she jumped on the opportunity to enter the said contest.  This year's theme is  "If I Could Invent One Thing to Make the World a Better Place..."

One talented young artist (grades K-12) will see her/his  artwork on the Google homepage and receive a $30,000 college scholarship and a $50,000 Google for Education technology grant for his or her school.

My daughter was very excited  upon reading the prize for  the school. She does not even care about  the individual prize but  she wants to win it for the school.  It makes me proud of our little girl because she wants to help her school.  

Her entry was about creating a cure for cancer. Below is her essay.

The world would be a much better place  if we could stop cancer from taking so many lives each year.  Technology has made it easier to detect  and treat but  we still have a long way to go.  One life lost is one too many.

Her entry was inspired of the fact that my husband's family have lost lives of love ones  from cancer-related  diseases.  She's sad that she did not get to meet her grandmother (my husband's Mom and her Uncle, my husband's brother).  

I told her  when we sent her  entry that even if she  gets to be included in the 250  that the judges will be selected, it is already a good thing.  But when Google called us and informed us that she is the State of West Virginia Winner, we were  delighted.  She is one of the 50 finalists now that will compete to  hopefully be included in the top 5 finalists.

Please help my daughter realize her dream  of helping her school  by hopefully winning this contest.  It is a shot in the dark but  with your help,  it is possible.  The 50 designs will be  displayed at Google's website  for the public to cast their votes.  The above design is my daughter's entry,  she is representing the State of West Virginia.

THANK YOU all so much for casting your votes!

Header Transformation

When I first started this blog, I posted this crafty guitar that my daughter made out of craft foam as my header.  I thought it is fitting that this is about music and arts.

Then a friend of mine, tweaked it that looked like below.

Then she decided to make it look more fancy and found this design.

She is also willing to walk me step by step on how to do the background that matches the header but I have never got around  to it.  Thank you so much sis Mai of  Redlane Geraine for sharing your artistic skill and talent with me.

Kinsley S. Ard Memorial Talent Show

Last Friday, March 28, 2014, the 6th Annual Kinsley S. Ard Memorial Talent show was held at Milton J. Weinberg Theater, Weirton High, Weirton, WV. Our daughter's piano teacher encouraged our daughter to join the said talent show. Our daughter has never joined any talent show, since she only started taking lessons in January 2013. We gave it a try and sent her application. There was a sign up fee of $15 for every participant.  Prior to the competition, we told our daughter that it  is okay if she don't win, the most important part is  she will get to experience it.

This event was  spearheaded by the Parent Group of the Weir Middle School  in honor of a late student, Kinsley Savannah Ard who died years ago.  

Our daughter was anxious going to this talent show because she did not have any experience but we told her to just enjoy it.  I must admit that I was more  nervous than her lol.  There were three judges and there were three categories Elementary (K-4), Middle School (5-8), and High School (9-12).  Daughter was on the first category.  

She competed  against 10 other acts in Elementary  category. Four of them  played piano, some sung songs, and other danced.  Two winners were piano players and one was a broadway singer.  No dance acts won.  

There  was an entrance fee of $5 for adults and $3 for kids.  There were also raffle prizes during the duration of the show.  They sold tickets  inside the  theatre.  The proceeds  of this event goes to the Weir Middle School.  I am glad that my daughter  have participated  and  became a big part of this good cause.  I think that the event was a huge success, lots of people came to watch which  means that  lots of fund was collected.  

They gave out $675 worth of cash prize to the  winners:

• 1st  place's prize is $100
•  2nd Place's Prize is $75
•  3rd place  received $50 each.

When the head judge   explained the mechanics, she said that the  crowd  will serve as the  4th judge.  Hubby and I looked at each other and said "Well, her chance of winning is very slim because  we  don't know anyone in there" lol.  Our daughter was the underdog so when they announced that she won the first prize, we were actually shocked.

Each contestant  was judged according to  quality of performance, presentation, length of act (2 minutes) and over all impression.  

I think what helped our daughter was the fact that she played without  music sheet and that she confidently played her piece.  When she played the crowd was very silent.  I wasn't sure if they were drawn to her  act or they just did not dig her performance.  But I guess, she captured the audience as she got applauded after her act.

It was nerve wracking when they  were announcing the winner.  When they call the 3rd and 2nd place winners, hubby and I thought that our daughter won't place at all so just imagine  what we felt when  the judge announced that she won the first place, I was like  yohoooo.  

So yeah, she was so thrilled.  This is her first experience and she finished  with victory.  Look how overjoyed  her face is lol.

Of course, the whole family has to share to her  victory so we took a  family picture with victorious smile, wink.  Sorry if my post may sound like too much bragging but I can't contain my happiness inside, I have to share it!  This win will help  boost her confidence to  the next level.

Here is her piece that I recorded.  I missed the first part because I had to switch my camera from  taking photo to video recording.    She was going to play Beethoven's Fur Elise but decided to play The Hunters as suggested by her Piano  teacher.  

I hope you enjoy watching.

Beethoven's Für Elise

One of my favorite piano music is Beethoven's  Für Elise. My daughter learned this by herself. It is not the whole song but just part if it.   Kindly watch, it's under  1 and 1/2 minutes so it won't take long.  Your comment will be greatly appreciated. 

According to Wikipedia:

  The score of Für Elise was not published until 1867, 40 years after the composer's death in 1827. The discoverer of the piece, Ludwig Nohl, affirmed that the original autographed manuscript, now lost, was dated 27 April 1810.

• The version of "Für Elise" we hear today is an earlier version that was transcribed by Ludwig Nohl. 

• There is a later version, with drastic changes to the accompaniment which was transcribed from a later manuscript by Barry Cooper. 

• The most notable difference is in the first theme, the left-hand arpeggios are delayed by a 16th note beat. 

• There are a few extra bars in the transitional section into the B section; and finally, the rising A minor arpeggio figure is moved later into the piece. 

• The tempo marking Poco moto is believed to have been on the manuscript that Ludwig Nohl transcribed (now lost). 

• The later version includes the marking Molto grazioso. It is believed that Beethoven intended to add the piece to a cycle of bagatelles. 

Therese Malfatti, widely believed to be the dedicatee of "Für Elise" 

• The pianist and musicologist Luca Chiantore (es) argued in his thesis and his 2010 book Beethoven al piano that Beethoven might not have been the person who gave the piece the form that we know today. 

• Chiantore suggested that the original signed manuscript, upon which Ludwig Nohl claimed to base his transcription, may never have existed. 

• On the other hand, the musicologist Barry Cooper stated, in a 1984 essay in The Musical Times, that one of two surviving sketches closely resembles the published version.

You can find out more about Fur Elise by visiting this link 

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Für_Elise

Piano iPod Case

We searched and search for piano casing for Ms. Burrito's iPod at the mall but we never found one. We looked onlline and found one on eBay so we ordered it. I tried to convince my daughter to just get a girly design kind of casing for her iPod but she didn't like any. She was so fixed on getting a piano casing so that's what we did.

The seller of this  casing is from China so the shipping is  not very budget friendly lol.  But for my daughter's happiness and satisfaction, we bought it.  As long as we can afford it, we will always go for it but if not, then a serious talk is needed.

Singers and Songwriters from Starvista

Hubby and I are both music lovers. We love to listen to songs that we both like. The only genre that I am not of but he does is the rock music, I am not just into it. Anyway, I asked him what he wanted for his birthday and he said that he would like a collection of old songs from Star Vista so that's what I got for him. It cost a nit much for what I have budgeted it for but I think it is worth it since we can both enjoy listening to them.

I got him the deluxe set  which is composed of 246 songs in 19 CDs.  It cost $287.88 with free shipping.  It is a mixed of classic, rock, pop from the  70s.

This have the unforgettable songs from a generation of young artists who weren’t afraid to express their souls and sing from the heart.  The 1970s brought a new sound with personal lyrics, sweet harmonies and acoustic guitars. These artists shared their emotions and experiences and touched our lives. The artists  includes :

• Jim Croce
• John Denver
• Elton John
• Carole King
• Eric Clapton
• Carly Simon
• Daryl Hall & John Oates
• James Taylor
• Paul Simon

ChordBuddy Junior

I got this junior guitar from ChordBuddy for review and  my kids are delighted especially the little Miss  who immediately said "I want to try it!"  This is a real guitar , only that it is designed for   little musicians who wants to  start their  skills early on.  The set includes  1/2 size guitar, songbook, DVD, guitar tuner, and the chord buddy jr.  

If you are a regular reader of my blogs, you probably read in my previous post that my daughter wants  a guitar that we  saw at the Center for Music  & Arts.  The reason, we haven't  buy her one yet is because the guitar instructor there said that she is too young to start, that the guitar is too big for her body built.  Well, that issue  is resolved  with this ChordBuddy Junior guitar.  Kids can learn rhythm and timing, ear training, and build finger strength and dexterity.  This guitar is  appropriate for  4 years old and up.

What I like about this kit is that, kids can easily learn the basic  keys  with it's  chord buddy that  you can attached on the string.  The chord buddy has different color  that makes it easier for the  kids to remember what keys they have to put their fingers on.

The guitar picks are great addition to the kit as your fingers won't hurt when you strum the strings.  I remember when I  first learn how to strum  a guitar, my  fingers would be so sore as  I didn't use a pick.  It's funny that my  daughter was  kidding at me when I    played this guitar, I got tempted hahaha.  It's been a while since I last played a guitar and I can't even remember what I have learned before.

This guitar tuner  is  great because  there is an indication when your strings are out of tune already.  The kit comes with  two batteries which is really nice.  Tuning your guitar is easier with this  tuner because  there is a green light that indicates that your string is tuned up.

The kit also comes with a songbook and a DVD that you can watch for tutorials.  Our daughter immediately sat down and watched it.

This  Chord Buddy Junior kit  is available at chordbuddy.com for $169.95.  This would be a great  gift for your little music enthusiast so if you are looking for a good gift idea,  you might want to  get this one.  

Before having this  guitar, she plays piano  right away as soon as she gets home from school but ever since we got this guitar, she immediately get it and play a tune or two.  I thought for sure that our son would be all over this guitar since he  is not into piano but I was wrong.  I think my little man is so scared of trying thinking that he will not be good at it.  He love to sing and dance but he hasn't shown any interest  of playing music instrument.  Maybe it will change when he grow up though.

Disclaimer: The author of this blog was NOT financially compensated to write this review. Opinions expressed is not in anyway influenced by other factors. The product/s mentioned above was provided for FREE for evaluation purposes.