#32 Do you have an "umbrella" for this week's practice?
Updated: Jul 12
By Christy | The Practicing Pro
“Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass...it’s about learning to dance in the rain.”
As you know, spring means new outdoor sports and spring schedules. This can really make it harder to find time to practice, and then when you do, the kids' brains are still outside or tired out from being outside. It's great to make the change to spring but ALSO it can feel like the monsoon season, with so much to schedule and juggle.
It’s not always easy, but I’m strapping on my rain boots and trying my best to weather this storm with y’all.
Something that has really helped me is to have a fun new fresh practicing/teaching activity (BUT is not extra work!) A fresh fun practice activity is like a big umbrella in a rainstorm!!!!
A fun and EASY to grab practicing activity is the key to having great practices…… like having an umbrella in a rainstorm!
This fun activity - A springtime/joke fortune teller - will do that for you AND it helps you review your note names and values. What is a fortune teller? It tells your fortune, of course! It is a choose-your-own-adventure activity all folded up in one piece of paper!
I hope you find joy in life’s puddles and find yourself being the parent that gets a "wow" from your player this week!
All you do is print the "Spring Joke / Fortune teller" below and bring it as a surprise to your next practice.
Everything they check off in their practice list means picking a fortune/joke from you.
If they choose the same joke multiple times then let them “practice” telling the joke to you then, if they already know the answer and/or practice their reading if they are younger.
Here are some easy-to-follow instructions I found online that are clear on how to FOLD a fortune teller. Click HERE
Instructions to play:
1) Ask to choose sunshine, ladybug, butterfly, or rainbow. After they choose, use the key at the bottom of the print out to identify the accompanying note name and its value. Flap the fortune teller open one way, then the other the number of times the note has for its value. (example "this is a dotted half note and we count 1, 2, 3" )
2) Ask them to choose the next note value (without reading the question) Flap again that value.
3) The third note they choose (have them ask for it with the proper name and say its value) is their joke - ask it to them and see if they know the answer.
4) Laugh and have fun trying to eventually choose all of the jokes. If they choose the same joke a second time then let THEM ask you the joke and remember the punch line (you can even pretend that you remember can't remember it and laugh all over again! )
PDF download:
Spring Fortune Teller / Note naming Have fun!
Check out my Free PDF download Checklist for a Successful Music Practice for teachers and practicing parents.
Your easy checklist for successful home music practices from Christy, the practicing pro. Whether you are a new or seasoned practice parent or music teacher, this checklist will help you organize before, during, and after practices for effective and fun practices.
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