8 Incredible Web Sites Every Music Teacher Should Bookmark

A Guest Post by David Turner

The internet has provided some excellent teaching resources for anyone who wants to learn, teach, or play music. Websites exist to help you do everything from learn to read sheet music to compose music of your own. Listed below are eight good ones:

SFS Kids (www.sfskids.org). What kid doesn't like purple skin tone and neat online gadgets with names like "the composerizer"? The San Francisco Symphony has put together a top-notch site that includes a music lab where kids can learn about things like rhythm, tempo, and pitch, a radio where they can choose to listen to classical classics like "Fanfare for the Common Man" or "Flight of the Bumblebee".

musicgames.net (www.musicgames.net). If there's one thing kids like more than purple people eaters, it's playing games. This site has gotten more awards for their games than you probably knew there were games, and with good reason, too. Play them online for free or choose to download and add save features to your game. With titles like "Alice in Vivaldi's Four Seasons" and "Mozart's Magic Flute," you can't go wrong.

Corridos sin Fronteras (www.corridos.org). A music site aimed primarily at Spanish-speakers, Corridos was part of the now conluded Smithsonian Traveling Exhibitions. But the site is still a great way to learn about a musical genre unique to the Americas, and you can even write your own "corrido" after listening to the samples—classics like the "Corrido of the Scolded Child".

New York Philharmonic Kidzone (www.nyphilkids.org). Although it requires Shockwave, the NY Philharmonic's site for kids is worth it. Want to meet some actual musicians? Find out more about a particular composer? Or just play lots of cool games? It's all here, and much, much more, on the well-designed, graphic-user-interface focused site.

Ricci Adams musictheory.net (www.musictheory.net). The home page presents you with three simple choices: lessons, exercises, or tools. An excellent resource for teachers to use as part of a music lesson curriculum, not so much for you to plunk Junior down in front of the computer.

Classics for Kids (www.classicsforkids.com). Another site that's directed more at teachers than kids, CfK gives you chance to find out "What it's like to be a composer," and sign up for their online newsletter for more ideas about how to have fun with music.

playmusic.org (www.playmusic.org). Intro page with little animated dudes (and dudette) playing various instruments. Click on any one of them and link to bio pages of famous musicians, websites to help you compose your own music, or orchestra journal articles. Included because of the graphics-rather-than-text that will appeal to many kids in the video generation.

Pattern Block Rock (http://www.philtulga.com/patternblock.html). When you're tired of trying to teach kids the value of a half note versus a quarter note, check out this site, which uses different color "pattern blocks" to play drum sounds over and over. Just what you needed after a day of noisy kids, right?

David Turner is very interested in helping students who want to pursue a music degree online.

Healthy Soils are Full of Life Art Contest Winner

Our daughter was the school winner for the Healthy Soils are Full of Life Art contest sponsored  by the Northern Panhandle Conservation District on May 5, 2017.  She received a cash award sent as check in the mail.  We were not able to  go to the  awarding ceremony due to schedule conflict with her sports but it was really a good opportunity  where her art talent shined.  

Artsy Kind of Day at St. Francis Xavier School

Our  trip to Moundsville became an artsy kind of day for the  kids, thanks to the kind  lady who offered  to let the kids use their art room while the    parents are dismantling the  playset outside.  It was so nice of her to let us  in the school building and let the kids used the art supplies.

My son  made something for his Dad and my daughter painted something for me.

He also played with playdough and   painted something for the lady.

This is what he  made for his Dad.

This goofball lady can be very creative  most of the times especially when she is bored.  Over the course of summer break she have painted like a dozen of different paintings.  I will have to share it here soon.  I don't mind buying her materials  because she can really put them to use.  My plan is to remodel our basement and use halp part of it for their art works.

She warned me  not to post it but I thought she did a great job so I posted it lol.

My daughter painted me, I think she did a good job considering the short time she spent on it. A previous #birthday #gift. #DaughtersPaintingOfMom #Art

A post shared by Chubskulit Rose (@chubskulitrose) on Jun 15, 2018 at 8:57am PDT

To the lady at St. Francis Xavier Parish, thank you very much for making my children's  stay in Moundsville an awesome one.  You didn't have to do that but  you did so I appreciated it so much!

2018 Torrance Music Recital

This year's music  recital was done a little earlier.  In the previous years, Torrance Music always hold  in June but due to graduation and other events of the older kids, they decided to do it in April.  I like it in June because it isn't cold anymore but April I guess is okay.  It was raining  though on that day so that was a downside.  

The event was held at Memorial Baptist Church  on Sunday, April the 15th.

Glad to have a family like the Howells, they never missed to attend my kids special event, we appreciate it very much. 

I offered to  make my  daughter's hair but she did not want me to do  anything with itm, she said it looks fine the way it is.  Makes me a bit sad that my daughter does not want my help anymore.  She's almost 13 and  so far, she hasn't show any interest in makeup or any other cosmetic stuff.  I think she will grow up just like her Mom lol.

This is Ms. Fedoush, her  piano teacher.  She is a wonderful teacher to  my daughter.  She is very patient and kind which  we love  very much.  She's the reason why my daughter plays very well in piano.  Due to  school events and the scheduling of her piano lessons, my daughter asked if she can take a break with piano for a while.  I hope she would still consider going back to  taking  piano lessons again, I would miss it if  she stop playing because she is good at it.

This is Ms. Tipton, she's our daughter's  violin teacher.  This is her first year teaching and also my daughter's first year of  taking violin lessons.   She wasn't gonna  play  during the recital but because Ms. Tipton is  leaving, she wanted her students to showcase  what they have learned from her.  She  is graduating from her teaching degree from Franciscan University and she has a job offer in Ohio so she is leaving the area.  Fortunately, she  have  recommended another violin teacher who will  assume her position which is nice. 

Rylie made some  thank you cards for both of her teachers.

As a tradition, we  went out to have dinner , this time, we went to  Theo Yianni's.   

The Howells always have a bouquet for her in every recital.

Our little girls is definitely growing.  In my eyes, she is still my little girl  even though she  act and feel like she is 20 already lol.  I miss the times when I can  do her hair and those things that we did when she was little.  As she grows, she changes.  

She played  The Flight of the Mourning Dove on Piano and Fiddlesticks on Violin. 

Christmas Pageant at St. Joseph Church

St. Joseph School's music choir  had their  Christmas pageant this year at St. Joseph Church  last November the 30th.  Both of the kids are part of it.  Our son sung at the choir and our daughter was one of the narrators, she also sung at the choir after  the play.

I wasn't able to watch the play because I was assigned to help two other Moms in assisting the  children with their costumes and  ensuring the  peace and quiet at the back of the  church while the play is going on.  My husband came home early that day so he could watch as well.  I  gave him the task of taking pictures.  He managed to  record  a couple of short videos of the play.

The #Christmas pageant went very well.

A post shared by Chubskulit Rose (@chubskulitrose) on Nov 30, 2017 at 4:00pm PST

After the #Christmas pageant, with his friends.

A post shared by Chubskulit Rose (@chubskulitrose) on Nov 30, 2017 at 4:26pm PST

Here are the videos  he recorded.

The same choir also performed at the Serra Manor to share some cheers for the holiday to the senior people living at that assisted living place.  They went there during the school day so we weren't able to go but I am sure it gave the old people some  exciting moment  listening to them sing.  Kudos to Mrs. Bernardi, their music teacher, for  organizing  this and for  patiently  teaching and working with the kids.

Christmas Carol at Geriatric Center

Torrance Music had a Christmas carol at the Geriatric Center here in Weirton.  This is the place where old and sick people are being taken care of.  It was a really nice event to be able to  spread cheer to  these  old folks who most often don't have anybody or don't have any family anymore.  

Last year was held at Serra Manor, the adjacent building where senior assisted living was.  That was a really nice one as well.

Our daughter  played a classic song.  We arrived there  early so she got to practice her piece before everybody arrived.

Below is the video of the last part of the performances.  My daughter performed last and she was disappointed she messed it up.  When she practiced, she was  flawless.  I think it's the nerves.  

I hope that they would continue doing this because it really makes a big impact to those people who needs a little cheer during this time of the year. Some of the old people were singing to what the kids are playing so it was really nice.  

Amazing Grace by Rory and Joey

This is one of my favorite songs that the late Joey have sung. She has such an angelic and calming voice.

 I also love this one from their last album. "That's Important to Me" really speaks to a lot of people, I love how they put the video together.