Welcome to Music Teachers Insightful Practices (MTIPS) Newsletter!
Written and Published by Nicholas Ambrosino
www.musicsimplymusic.com
director@musicsimplymusic.com

February 5, 2005

Table of Contents:

1. MTIPS Theme
2. Welcome Notes
3. MTIPS Development
4. Notable Quotables

MTIPS is sent only to those who have requested it.
To Subscribe, please send an email to mtips@aweber.com with the word “subscribe” in the subject line of the email. Or go to http://www.musicsimplymusic.com/newsletters.htm

===================================================
1. MTIPS Theme

On a regular periodic basis, I highly recommend getting students new books and materials to play. When a child is learning to read his native language, his parents and family fill his life with all sorts of music books. Why shouldn’t it be the same for music students?

===================================================
2. Welcome Notes

Welcome to Music Teachers Insightful Practices (MTIPS) Newsletter! 

Well, the snow has hit Long Island, NY! We had 18 inches dropped on us a couple of weekends ago. Unfortunately, for one of my students who has not yet been completely bit by the music bug, I have a four-wheel drive truck which handles very well in the snow! You should have seen the look on that student’s face when I arrived at his house for our normally scheduled lesson! He came to the door and said, “I thought our lesson would be cancelled today because of the snow.” He then looked over my shoulder, saw my Ford Explorer and said, “Oh you have a truck.” It was priceless! 

Calling all MTIPS subscribers! I am compiling a list of “cool” songs that kids love to learn on the piano. Here is my proposal. If you will send me the names of 5-10 “cool” songs that your students love to learn, that ignites their passion for playing music, I will compile it and post it on the FREE reports page of the Music Simply Music web site for all to view! Please send your list to mtips@musicsimplymusic.com

My goal for MTIPS is to provide you with practical tips and insights that will make your career or education in music, more fulfilling, rewarding and enjoyable. Please feel free to contact me if you would like to see a certain topic covered in an upcoming issue of MTIPS. My email address is mtips@musicsimplymusic.com


FREE REPORTS! 
http://www.musicsimplymusic.com and follow the links to the FREE report page. This page is only accessible if you are a registered MTIPS subscriber. We have lots of information, and resources you can use. 

And a REQUEST: If you enjoy MTIPS, please encourage your friends and colleagues to subscribe. Our growth over the years simply comes from word-of-mouth. http://www.musicsimplymusic.com/newsletters.htm

===================================================
3. MTIPS Development

When I was a young student, I always enjoyed getting a new book from my teacher. As a matter of fact, I enjoyed it so much that I used to “preview” all of my teacher’s other students’ new books. You see, for the first eight years of my music education, my dad was my piano teacher. He had a big private practice of piano and voice students. There was a man named Steve from a local music store (I can’t believe I remembered his name!) who would deliver my dad’s music order. When the order came (usually once every couple of weeks) it was like Christmas for me! I would open the box and try to sight read all of the literature (both classical and pop) that seemed within my visual vocabulary. Many times, this ended up with me telling my dad, “Hey, I would like to play this song in my lessons.”

The excitement of trying new music still permeates my learning today as it appears to do for much of my staff. Come to think about it, the excitement of “newness” seems to permeate my life. When I get a new shirt, I can’t wait to wear it. Recently, I picked up a new paper shredder for my office (it even shreds cd’s and credit cards!) I couldn’t wait to get back to the office to shred something! It’s the same way with new notebooks, new pens and new golf balls. Having something new keeps life fresh and it is no different for music students.

On a regular periodic basis, I highly recommend getting students new books and materials to play. When a child is learning to read his native language, his parents and family fill his life with all sorts of music books. Why shouldn’t it be the same for music students?

Many music students simply do not have enough of literature in their homes to stimulate their musicianship and love of learning. It’s okay if the student just dabbles with some of the songs. (There are many books on my bookshelf through which I have only read the first few chapters!) The newness will excite your student. It will motivate him to try to read more and it will make your job as a music teacher easier, because you will feed off of the student’s excitement. So, go find some new music for your students! As a matter of fact, make sure your students receive new material every couple of months! 

===================================================
4. Notable Quotable

Growth is an erratic forward movement: two steps forward, one step back. 
The Artist’s Way 

Copyright © 2005 Nicholas Ambrosino. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to reproduce, copy or distribute MTIPS so long as this copyright notice and full contact information about the author is attached. The author of this issue is Nicholas Ambrosino and he may be contacted at director@musicsimplymusic.com or reached by telephone at 631-863-2069

To subscribe, simply send an email to:
mtips@aweber.com
with the words "subscribe" subject line of the email.

"A sound approach to music education"
ph: 631-863-2069 fax: 631-863-2355

Click here to return to MTIPS archive page