What's included
Homework
1-2 hours per week. Students will be asked to practice throughout the week on their own time. This can include practicing songs on the piano and/or completing homework pages. In our first week together, we will set individual practice goals based on the student's age and level, however, practicing consistently throughout the week is always encouraged and recommended.Assessment
Students will be assessed through weekly "open mic" performances where students will post a video recording of one song of their choice that they practiced during the week. Student faces will not be required to be shown, but I will need to see hands on keys to ensure they are playing! We will have formal progress reports the first week of each month. If a parent wishes to use this class for formal purposes, a letter grade and final written report will be provided upon request.Grading
includedClass Experience
NOTE: THIS PRIVATE SECTION OF THE FLEX CLASS IS SPECIFICALLY FOR MY MATERNITY LEAVE. ALL CLASS DESCRIPTIONS BELOW ARE NOT APPLICABLE. THIS FLEX CLASS WILL FOCUS ON A COMPOSITION PROJECT WHICH HAS BEEN DESCRIBED TO ALL STUDENTS IN LESSONS In this flex class, piano students will receive ONE-ON-ONE weekly instruction and guidance through videos and paper activities. We will be learning using the Wunderkeys piano method and will begin based on the student's age and ability level - book options include Wunderkeys Primer series (ages 6-10), Wunderkeys Older Beginner series (ages 11+) or Wunderkeys Elementary or Intermediate series based on previous lesson history. When you enroll in the class, you will receive a link to complete a short questionnaire which will tell you what book to purchase. All books are available under $20 on Amazon. In the weekly videos, the teacher will walk students through the week's objectives, modeling all exercises and songs. From the very first class, your student will know enough about music to learn a song in a day! Each week, there will be a required song assigned from our method book; in addition, I will assign optional songs for those students that want an extra challenge week to week. In order to be successful in this class, students will need a piano with at least 24 keys and the commitment to practice throughout the week. I will also post helpful information about how to help your student practice. Since this is a flex class, in order to help track student understanding, I will hold weekly office hours and students will post a recording of one song per week in the classroom on our weekly "open mic" post. Student faces do not need to be shown, but I will need to see hands on the piano and enough of the student to know it really is them playing! We will schedule live lessons every 3-4 weeks as your schedule permits to still have some in person time together. Students in this course are welcome and encouraged to also participate in group classes with my live piano students that I hold throughout the month ("Ms. Kristin's Music Time"), our virtual recital watch parties as scheduled, and are encouraged to sign up for the following quarter flex class or one-on-one piano lessons to continue their journey learning to play the piano. Our schedule will be as follows... - Each week, the teacher will post all applicable videos and activities. This post will include an intro sheet which will tell students the order in which to complete all activities for the week. Activities will include pick a path sight reading pages, discussions, creating your own songs, coloring, or challenges where you get to be the teacher. This will be automatically posted on Monday morning at 9 am EST. - Each Tuesday at 9 am EST there will be an "open mic" post instructing students how to post their recordings for the week - recordings are not due until the following Sunday. This gives students a full week to complete the lesson and practice the assigned music. - The teacher will hold weekly office hours on Wednesday afternoons (time TBD) for students to utilize as needed. Our learning objectives will be based on the student's previous knowledge and age. Here is a sample schedule for a beginner in the 6-9 age range (Wunderkeys Primer Book 1) - Week 1: Unit 1: Finger Numbers & Groups of 2 & 3 Black Keys Required songs for Week 1: Paw Power, Move & Groove Optional songs for Week 1: Bouncing Bunny, Garden Groove, Hip and Hop - Week 2: Unit 2: Quarter Notes & Half Notes Required songs for Week 2: Deep Blue Sea, Submarine Song Optional songs for Week 2: Mary Had a Little Lamb, Lovebird Lullaby, Hot Cross Buns - Week 3: Unit 3: The Musical Alphabet Required songs for Week 3: Shake the Tree, Acorn Pancakes Optional songs for Week 3: Tree Climb, Rabbit Bounce, Funky Skunk - Week 4: Unit 4: Notes F, G, A, & B Required songs for Week 4: Rabbits on the Run, Bunny Lullabye Optional songs for Week 4: Buzzing on the Breeze, Twinkle Twinkle, Baa Baa Black Sheep - Week 5: Unit 5: The Grand Staff & Middle C Required songs for Week 5: Rock and Roll, Construction Zone Optional songs for Week 5: Student Composition, Frere Jacques, Ode to Joy - Week 6: Unit 6: Whole Notes & D Required songs for Week 6: Batter Up, 'Round the Bases Optional songs for Week 6: Student Composition, Row Row Row Your Boat, London Bridge - Week 7: How to choose appropriate songs & Review Required songs for Week 7: This week, students will choose 3 songs they love and want to learn. Submit the name of those songs to the teacher for approval based on content and skill level Optional songs for Week 7: Choose 2 songs we have already learned and practice them again - Week 8: How to choose recital songs & Review Students will choose 1 - 3 songs that we have learned during this class. They may choose a required song, an optional song, or a Student choice song. Use this week to practice and record the song(s) chosen. The recital will be recorded, not live, but we will have a live class to all watch together! Here is a sample schedule for a beginner in the 11+ age range (Wunderkeys Older Beginner Book 1) - Week 1: (Introduction) Note Names on the piano, the Grand Staff, Finger Numbers, Pop Chords C F & G, C position practice Required songs for Week 1: Come up with a chord progression using the Chords C, F, & G Optional songs for Week 1: N/A - Week 2: (Unit 1) RH 5-Finger Scale, Technical Exercises Required songs for Week 2: Windansea Optional songs for Week 2: TBA (to be determined based on class size, class interest, & season) - Week 3: (Unit 1, cont.) Timed Note Reading, Technical Exercises Required songs for Week 3: Daylight Optional songs for Week 3: TBA - Week 4: (Unit 1, cont.) Timed Note Printing, Rhythm Work Required songs for Week 4: Barefoot Optional songs for Week 4: Composition Activity - Week 5: (Unit 1, cont.) Sight Reading, Improv Action, Level Up: Octaves Required songs for Week 5: Stardust Optional songs for Week 5: Create your own improv - Week 6: (Unit 2) Exploring 3/4 Time, Rhythm Work, Technical Exercises Required songs for Week 7: Footsteps Optional songs for Week 7: Student Choice 1 (made last week and approved by teacher) - Week 7: (Unit 2) Rhythm Work, Technical Exercises Required songs for Week 8: Southward Optional songs for Week 8: Student Composition - Week 8: Recital Prep & Review Students will choose 1 - 3 songs that we have learned during this class. They may choose a required song, an optional song, or a Student choice song. Use this week to practice and record the song(s) chosen. The recital will be recorded, not live, but we will have a live class to all watch together!
Other Details
Parental Guidance
We will be using Google Classroom to track all our assignments and complete various activities.
External Resources
In addition to the Outschool classroom, this class uses:
Teacher expertise and credentials
Hi! I'm Kristin.
I live in Indiana with my husband and two kids, ages 3 and 6 months.
I love to teach music classes to all ages, but I specialize in beginning piano students ages 5 - 13. I love helping students discover a love for music and there is nothing as rewarding as seeing pride on the faces of learners as they accomplish their goals and make beautiful music.
I have a Bachelor's in Music Education as well as teaching licenses in two states in the US. I have been teaching since 2013 - in middle school & high school classrooms (choir, piano, and general music), private voice and piano lessons online and in person, and a preschool music class.
I love to teach using modern methods, songs the learners love, and lots of composing our own music.
PLEASE NOTE: I am currently scheduling lessons for the fall term by request ONLY.
For more information about me and my teaching, please check out my website at www.hufhandstudios.com
Reviews
Live Group Class
$35
weekly or $210 for 6 weeks6 weeks
Completed by 3 learners
No live video meetings
Ages: 6-11