Category: MTMS Blog Posts

If you didn’t catch the halftime show, here’s a replay: Video Ad (youtube.com)

If you did catch it live- I want to bring your attention to the Marching Band. Yes, that’s in our music lab theme and it’s really great that they gave us an amazing example of what a marching band can do (and actually the whole thing is pretty awesome).

So, that is Jackson State University Marching Band and they’re also called the Sonic Boom of the South. They spent ten days in Las Vegas to get ready for the halftime show, and I can’t say enough great things about them. Want to see more of their performances? Click here. They have 300 members, and you can see they work really hard.

Are you thinking about summer yet? We are! Information will keep coming, but we’re interested to know how you feel about the coming summer.

We view camps as a fun way to explore a theme, with students of any age, instrument, and experience level coming together. We are looking into options for full-day, full week, or weeklong half-day (afternoon) camps.

Please comment below! We want to know what you’d like to participate in and what fits into your schedule best. It’s a great time to let us know so we can plan the best summer camps and give you the options you need.

Every month, the music lab teachers select a theme for the Music Technology and Learning Lab. Students explore the theme in the Music History, Composition, and Listening Stations during their scheduled music lessons. 

The lab stations this month are focused on the Baroque Period of music. This era of music ran from 1600 to 1750. Many of our modern instruments hadn’t been invented yet, so we recommend a keyboard for the composition station for the recommended style “theme and variations.”

The theme at the time was often associated with the patron, and the patron would support the musician to create the music they wanted. So the theme was done, and then variations that sounded very like the theme would also be done.

The keyboard is a stand-in for the instruments normally used in the Baroque period: harpsichord, organ, clavichord. You’ll also find in the composition station the ornaments that were often used in the period – which are exciting, quick notes that are attached to a main note. These ornament notes were not scored like they are now, so it was up to interpretation how to play them at the time.

The listening station has a YouTube playlist, and if you want to listen, follow the link.

The music history station will give all the information you want to know about the Baroque Period. Two of the most important composers were Johann Sebastian Bach and George Frederic Handel. It will also teach the students about characteristics, ornaments, and new music styles connected the period. Ask your student about these things!

Enjoy the January music lab stations. We can’t wait to see what you think of them, and the music the students create from them.

Classes resume tomorrow, January 2nd. We can’t wait to see everyone again in their normal lessons and classes.

If you’re setting goals, remember to keep them SMART – Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-Bound. This is a great way to fine-tune those nebulous goals we think will be interesting on January 1st and we forget about by February 15th.

Example of a nebulous goal: I want to play guitar in 2024.

Change it to a SMART Goal: I will sign up for lessons for acoustic guitar for an adult, create practice time at least 4 other days per week, and choose with my teacher two songs I want to play in the first three months. After the three months, I will revisit my goals because I may be practicing differently, I will want to choose new songs with my teacher, and I will know more about what that goal needs to look like as the year progresses.

Good luck with your goals. May the new year bring great tidings, and we will see you all soon.