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?

Feel the Music With this #Tambourine Review

This is such a fun tambourine for kids. If you want to play with your child, they make tambourines for adults too! 

Sizes:

• 4"
• This is a 6"
• 6" in a Drum Form
• 8"
• 10" Two Different Types

For Any Music Lover:

Isaak likes it, but I had in mind that I'd give it to my nephew Emerson. He enjoys dancing, and playing instruments. I run out of ideas on things to get my nephew that has special needs.

Where to Get This Tambourine:

You can get this on Amazon Prime for $12.40. With each size the cost varies. Buy it here: https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=sr_nr_p_36_1?rnid=386685011&keywords=tambourine+for+kids&rh=n%3A11091801%2Ck%3Atambourine+for+kids&low-price=12.40&high-price=12.41

Handle:

I love the handle that this tambourine has. It doesn't get in the way of it playing great.

What it's Made of:

It has a birch body and natural leather for the drum part.

eBook for Playing Songs:

It comes with an eBook. I have to admit I like real books more the eBooks, but eBooks do waist less paper. This book shows you how to play the tambourine.

Here's Their Hot Cross Buns Song From Their eBook:

Did you have a tambourine when you were little?

Disclaimer: I got this product for a discounted price in exchange for an honest review. The company did not tell me what to write. I only review products I think my family, or readers will enjoy.

Newbie With the #Didgeridoo

I got Isaak a Didgeridoo for $5 on his birthday. There was a sight where you could register you school, and in turn get $40 gift card. Yay!

We've been watching some videos on how to play + he went to a class at the library on how to play.

Is he great yet? With a Didgeridoo it's more about training your lip muscles than anything else. He's getting there.

Have you ever played a non traditional instrument? If so, what was it?

I like the Didgeridoo mixed with other things. My favorite artist that uses it quite a bit is Xavier Rudd. I blogged about him once here.

WW: Trumpet {Linky}

Mica told us last week, "I want to play the baritone in band. We need the instrument by Friday." The band form had no date on it whatsoever. I was kind of annoyed because he could have given strings a try last year. We have plenty of those instruments. Travis' boss gave him like 5 string instruments. Mica never told us about that. I got on him to be more informative, and to try new things. When I looked at the prices on renting an instrument I was like, "Whoa we need to make a choice here: Band or Martial Arts. I can't afford both!" Mica said, "You did tell me to try new things." So he had me there.

I looked at pawn shops, but they really only had old trumpets that looked dinged up.

Someone on facebook said they had a trumpet they wanted to sell. I said, "Sold!" It turned out that her Dad sold it without her knowing.

We gave up on the baritone at this point. Mica's like, "I want a trumpet."

I checked out Amazon, and boom they had new trumpets for about the same price as the old ones in pawn shops. They could get it to us in 2 days, we read ratings, and it came with a case, gloves, and a few other things.

Mica: Is this how I blow my trumpet?

Travis: Ya but you have to blow with your cheeks in.

It turns out that after all this Mica didn't need his instrument for a few weeks. He's super excited to have it. He watched the DVD that came with his music book, and now blows with his cheeks in. 

Mica has big plans! He wants to learn to play Peter Gabriel's Sledgehammer. He said, "Dad can be Peter Gabriel, and you can be a background singer Mom." I said, "Why don't you start with Twinkle Twinkle Little Star as your goal?"

Isaak on the other hand is living in a box. He's living in a cardboard box.

Did you play an instrument when you were a kid, or do you still play an instrument now?

Pick Geek Guitar & Bass Pick Set Review

The boys got ukuleles for Easter a few years ago. Are they masters at playing them? Not yet. They are practicing. 

Dad is holding Isaak's ukulele here.

 

I just got Pick Geek Guitar and Bass Pick Set to review. They can work on Ukuleles as well.

First of all they have such great branding. The box, canisters, and picks are so fun!

I like that each pick has a different weight. The boys will use the ones with less weight for now. There is: Thin, Medium, Heavy, & Xtra Heavy. The heavy and xtra heavy are used more for a bass, or an acoustic guitar because they have thicker strings. The thin and medium are more for when you want to play a guitar quietly, and I'm sure the boys will use these kind for their ukuleles because the strings are thinner.

The different colors make playing a string instrument fun to!

Pick Geek Cube - 32 Assorted Cool Custom Guitar Picks for your Electric, Acoustic or Bass Guitar - Celluloid & Delrin (Tortex) - Light, Medium, Heavy - Presented In Two Uniquely Designed Metal Pocket Boxes - for Girls & Guys - A Perfect Gift - Guaranteed.
 
Our boys are getting them for Easter this year. The Easter Bunny is stealing these from me to put in plastic eggs. The picks will be part of our scavenger hunt.

The unique circular 'click-clack' boxes fit easily into any pocket or guitar case, and are opened by pressing on the center of the lid (click!), and then closed by squeezing gently on the sides (clack!).

Quality is assured by hand packing each container, and then adding a five year, no hassles replacement guarantee. And as if that wasn't enough, the pick boxes are being shipped in a FREE Kraft cube gift box, offering a bit of flare and making it an easy purchase for gifting.

A practical gift for any guitar, bass, or in my boy's case ukulele players.

Cost: $29.99, but they are on sale for $15.99!

Have you ever played an instrument?

 

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Sing, Sing a Song Saturday

Sing, Sing a Song Saturday is 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. It could be from another country, someone singing from the streets of NY, and more.

I found Linsey Pollak through TED. It's a website where creatives talk. He is all about making anything into a musical instrument. 

He is a dynamic and exciting performer, well-known for his work in many musical roles — as musician, instrument-maker, composer, musical director and community music facilitator. For the past 20 years he has traversed the country as musician-in-residence in communities from Hobart to Broome. He has been director and composer for companies like Doppio Teatro and Dance North, performed at most major festivals around Australia and recorded 21 albums with various groups.

Source

Visit Linsey Pollak's Website.
Visit Linsey Pollak's YouTube Channel. 

Friday Night

• We went to a friend's apartment Friday night to hang out. We played instruments and went swimming.
• The boys had a blast!

Both boy's loved playing with the accordion! Mica looks crazy in the first one.

Drumming Time