Piano Lessons in the Middle of a Pandemic

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For more information visit - https://www.lessonface.com/pianoclasses #onlinepianoclasses

I do plan on giving this to Isaak. I feel bad because he was doing well with piano lessons, then they were ripped away from him, when COVID struck. I'd really like to get him back into playing. Even if it's virtual. 

What's something you've gotten as a gift this year?

Disclaimer: I'm getting lessonface piano lessons, in exchange for an honest review. 

Homework Assignment #violin

Isaak was saying something about creating a video last week, for Strings class.

The trouble was...his teacher didn't exactly explain how to upload the video. Isaak logged into where he thought he was supposed to put it. It didn't work. His Home Room | Social Studies teacher tried to help him. She couldn't figure it out either.

On Tuesday I mentioned he should stay after to figure it out. If that teacher wasn't able to help, he got behind in Social Studies, so he could pay that teacher a visit.

He got his answers in class. He found out he had to go somewhere entirely different, than where he was at in Office365.

I recorded him last night. I put the video in, only to find out that it was too big of a file, and needed to be compressed. I don't do a whole lot of video editing. I was trying to compress it in iMovie, which I'm sure one can do. I just don't know how. Finally I just opened it in Quicktime, and it had the option to save down in file size. I was thinking it would have been easier to import it in YouTube, if they didn't have to make an account, and all the privacy stuff to work around.

I started thinking: 

How would the average parent help their kid with this? What if they don't know how to get a video from their phone or camera into Office365? What if a kid/parent doesn't have a phone, or camera to record on? What if they don't know how to compress a video, if it's too large? What if a kid doesn't have a parent that's there, for them? 

I know it's not my problem, but I keep thinking about it.

It took 5 runs, but here's Isaak's video:

All said and done, I think it's a cool assignment. Kids and adult should record what they are doing, to watch themselves. That helps them to improve. I was trying to work the kinks out in my mind, to help with technical errors. Maybe a side teacher could take them one by one out to an office room where they record their thing. Then they could show the student how to upload it. At least for the first time. 

Isaak's really looking forward to being done with Strings. He enjoyed it in Elementary School. The teacher he has now basically started them over, for any new kid that is just starting Strings. Isaak's like, "I know how to play the scale, and we've been doing that for 1/2 a semester!" He enjoyed Piano so much more because it was new, and moved along. I'm not so sure his current Piano teacher enjoys how he started learning. She doesn't like the idea of memorizing songs, but instead learning the notes. I get it, but Piano class in school was a short class. In school he was just giving them a flavor of playing the piano, to see if they'd like it. Isaak did, that's why we moved him to lessons. Now he's learning how to read notes more. 

Isaak has to pick one of the following to focus on next year in school: Drama, Art, Strings, Band, Chorus, or World Studies. He's picking Art, but staying in private Piano Lessons. 

Did you play an instrument in school? Do you still play it?

Code Piano Review - Teach Kids Coding, From @LetsStartCoding! #LetsStartCoding #Coding

This was the first year Isaak didn't believe in Santa. I should be thankful that he believed, for so long. He's in sixth grade, and I stopped believing in fourth grade. I wanted it to be a special Christmas for him. I kept reminding him that the spirit of Santa is still real. You can look up Saint Nicholas, and he was in fact a real, and giving person.

One of my favorite gifts that Isaak got, was Code Piano from Lets Start Coding. 
  

I was going to put it in his stocking, but decided I wanted to make it a bigger gift than that. I put it in a big box, filled with confetti, a note in there that he'd start actual Piano Lessons towards the end of January, and wrapped it. Code Piano is a perfect stocking stuffer size.

Learning how to play the piano has been therapy for Isaak. If he gets frustrated with his homework we tell him to go play his keyboard. It takes all frustrations away. It's the only thing I've found that works to calm him down, when he's really frustrated. I knew Code Piano would be up there on his list!

If you don't like to play the piano, that's ok. It's really mostly about coding. Lets Start Coding does have other sets!

• Code Piano $44.99
• Code Speaker $19.99
• Code Rocket $44.99
• Code Car $44.99

I have to admit I was apprehensive about Isaak starting to use Code Piano. I just kept thinking, What if we can't help him? The product was new to me as well. 

If there's one thing I disagree with, it's the age range 8-12. I think it's for ages 8 and up! It would be good, for a lot of adults to use.

Isaak kept saying, "I know how to code. Let's do this." So we did. The cards can seem like foreign language if you're not familiar with coding. They are helpful when you dive in to the project.

We read all the cards, and just decided to begin. They have everything you need to get started. It will work on my Macbook from work, but not my newer laptop I own. The newer one has no USB ports. There are adapters, but as is it won't work. 

Once it's plugged in, a download comes up, for the application. That was the one thing I wasn't sure where to put the coding in. It simply worked right after it was plugging it in.

From there are tips, videos, quizzes, and sample code to use.

If you code wrong, your code highlights in red. That way you know to fix it.

Isaak started out just like me, knowing what to do, but really knowing nothing. Ha! He got lots of code that was red, and not working. Thankfully they do have a refresh button.

We left him home alone, to do his thing. He called when we got a few blocks away. "Dad! I did something! Listen!" A few notes chimed in. He called a few more times after that. He was excited about his accomplishments!

I got home, and we did our video. He learned a lot in the few hours we were gone. He still needs to learn more. If he knew everything, Code Piano wouldn't be as fun. He'd have nothing to learn.

What I really loved, was that there was notes from Isaak all over my note page about the product. He said, "Mom I had to do some math to figure out some of the coding. You need math to code." I said, "Remember that when you tell me that you will never use math in the real world." 

I'd say Code Piano is a success! It's a toy, but also a learning device. 

Questions for you:

Do you know how to code well? Do you find it challenging? 

Out of all the sets they have, Which one would you choose: Code Piano, Code Rocket, Code Speaker, or Code Car?

Disclaimer: I got this product for free in exchange for an honest review. 

My Jailbird Plays the Piano

I got a call last Friday, right before I was supposed to give my 1 hour lecture. Who was it? It was the Dean at Isaak's new school. Before I really talked to him I confessed that the reception is horrible where I work, just in case we got disconnected. The call took me off guard.

Here's How it Went: 

Isaak was outside in Walking Club. He started to tap or jab a few other kids. The other kids did the same. No one was hurt, or threatened. BUT Isaak didn't own up to it. It was behavior that often leads to fighting. Touching others isn't tolerated at that school. He gets an in school in school suspension on Monday (today).

I said I'd talk to Isaak, and got off the phone as quickly as I could because I knew my class was about to start.

Fast Forward to the End of the Day:

I mentioned this distraction phone call to a few people that all responded to, WHAT? You've got to be kidding me. I got out of class, went back to my office. I tried to call Mr. W., but he left for the day of course. I sent an email. I mentioned that if in fact he had bad behavior (which I don't think what he did was really bad per say), please help Isaak with getting more speedy - give him tips. All week last week he went to bed at 9:30, and probably didn't fall asleep until 10 due to the Strings Concert he HAD to go to, for his grade, and homework. I'd love for him to go to bed at 8:30 because we wake up at 6.

I wanted to say:

I'm just really glad Isaak's making friends he can play with! My co-worker thinks I should talk to him, and take him out for ice cream because of your ridiculous punishment. Don't you know boys play like that? Heck even some girls do. 

I picked up Isaak:

I got Isaak because he was at Poetry Slam. He didn't seem too bothered. I thought the boy would be in tears.

He said, "Mom look what I got!" It was an award, for the most outstanding Piano player. He was the only one that got one. Along with that he got candy, a free ice cream at Dairy Queen, and a few other random things. He was super excited!

When I brought up that the Dean called me, he said, "That was super annoying. Mom I didn't even feel like we did anything wrong. I seriously touched them lighter than if I was playing tag with them. They weren't bothered by it...until we got in trouble." 

I said, "Well I'm proud of you for your award. That is a big deal. We'll have to take a photo tomorrow when the lighting is better. You may have to serve the time for the touching big. It seems crazy to me! I emailed Mr. W., because he was gone for the day. I told him if you have to have suspension, which I don't agree with, I want them to give you all your homework, and work with you on tips for speeding up the process. Mr. W. really should focus on other kids that bully." 

Isaak said, "Am I in trouble at home?" 

I said, "No. Just know the rules at school, so this doesn't happen again. It's really ridiculous!" 

When Travis caught wind of it he email Mr. W. as well. 

We haven't heard anything back. Maybe I should call, but I kind of feel like I did what I could do. Isaak's learning about injustice today. I sent him to school in a sweat shirt that says, "Do Good", and "Be Good". I said, "Please don't wear your jacket, let them see the shirt. I love you! Ask them a lot of questions. Make them help you with your homework." 

What's something that you got in trouble for that was not called for? 

I had a few things happen:

I had to stay after school in 5th grade because I didn't realize there was a back to a homework assignment. My Mom was pissed at the teacher! I always did my homework. This was one time that I missed something not purposeful, and was in trouble for it. 

I used the word Enormous one year, and the teacher I had LOVED it because it was such a big word for me. The next year I used that same word again. That teacher kept me after school because she thought I copied that word off the board. She wasn't my favorite person in the world. 

Out of the Box Saturday

It's all about me discovering something that is different. I don't want to post things that you and I have more than likely heard before. I want to find something different. I'll cover something sing | songy one week, and artsy | fartsy the next.

I ran across this fun jingle:

The jingle is by Grant Woolard. He meshes a wide range of styles in his work. He started out as a science geek, and later got interested in making music videos. He took piano at a young age, and incorporates that now in what he does. 

I wouldn't sit down and listen to Grant's work for hours upon end. I do however think his work playful.

Source

Read an Grant Woolard interview here.

Listen to more of Grant's work here.

Follow Grant Woolard on twitter.