Review: Jazz Edge: Easy Piano Basics.com (TOS Review)

My kids were super stoked to try out Easy Piano Basics from JazzEdge.  JazzEdge offers two other courses, DrumswithWillie and PianowithWillie.  Since my kids have no prior piano experience, we opted for the Easy Piano Basics course.

Easy Piano Basics is a video based (streaming) piano instruction program.  This is the very basics that are introduced here.  What keys are what notes, stepping and skipping notes, reading music, basic scales, etc…

My kids really enjoyed the program at first, but I think they may be a bit young for it, or maybe piano just isn’t their thing.  They got bored with the lessons after several weeks.  The two kiddos that were trying this out were ages 6 and 8.5yo and are boys.  I enjoyed the lessons myself, but have prior piano experience, so they were very simple for me.  These are really designed for someone with zero piano experience.  Lessons begin with Middle C, C and F notes, scales, low and high notes, and goes into G and F Clef (Treble and Base), Sharps and Flats, playing with both hands and basic rhythms.  Reading music is also taught.  All important things for beginner players to be able to build a strong foundation in piano music.

We just used a keyboard for the lessons, and we streamed the videos from our iPad.  It was super easy to prop the iPad up on the keyboard.  We scored a keyboard at a yard sale for a VERY reasonable price.  A smaller keyboard would even work for these lessons, so you need not make a huge investment in a keyboard or piano.  The lessons are short (like 5-10mins), and each lesson covers one basic concept at a time. There is a lesson about pedals, which if using a keyboard does not really apply, but still good to know information.  He also covers how to sit properly at the piano, which required us to move the keyboard to a smaller table/chair set up for my 6yo.  Honestly, I'm not sure how you would work that scenario, if you were at an actual piano, foot stool to rest your feet, perhaps.

We used the program about 3-5 days a week, including practice time.  You can sign up for the first 10 lessons for free to see if this is something that interests you or your child.  The instructor, Mr. Willie, is enjoyable.  He teaches in ways that make sense.  The views of the lesson are very helpful as well.  As you get further into the lessons, printable pages are provided, and I recommend you print them. 
As I mentioned my kids sort of grew bored of it, I don't think this has any reflection on the program (try the free lessons to see for yourself), but just that my kids weren't as interested in playing as they had thought.  I plan to revisit these lessons later with them.

For $59.95 you can lifetime access to this program, so it can be used on subsequent children.  It's quite a bit cheaper than piano lessons and could help your child decide if this is something they really want to pursue or not.  It's an easy, inexpensive way to work music into your homeschool, or to introduce your children to piano!

Scales

PianoWithWillie

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Week 41 in Review

Last weekend – I headed to my mom’s for my soon to be Sister in Laws Bridal Shower and we had a girls day shopping as well.  Lots of fun!  I need a few more girl’s days!

Monday – Memorial Day – Hubby had off.  We attended a picnic with our church family.  C participated in an outdoor flag ceremony, signing off his LAST requirement for his Wolf!  Was a pretty chill day!

Tuesday – Normal school day, kids had swim tryouts in the evening…we headed to Burger King for dinner (not something we do hardly ever) because shortly after I had to attend parent meeting for swimming and hubby and C had scouts. 

Wednesday – Partial school day.  We had a field trip to the Star Spangled Banner House in Baltimore.  I hate city driving, and parking garages with my big ‘ol Suburban give me serious anxiety…but we made it.  Kids had first swimming practice in the evening, Z was resistant, but ended up doing well.  He refused to introduce himself, so I did it for him….he is slow to warm up sometimes. C is my social bee, so no issues there.  I then had book club that evening, but I hadn’t read the book…just went to chat.  This month has been a rough one!

Thursday – We finished up what didn’t get done on Wednesday (mostly history, Homeschool in the Woods), and the kids watched a few Civil War clips to go with history.  I was awoken at 8am by the doorbell (well I was awake, but not up)…that was a shocker…early delivery of pellets for next winter. 

Friday – Talk about a lazy day!  We’ve done nothing today!  Feels good to just relax, but will have to get things ready for next week to be back in full swing!

I’ve taken this week off from blogging quite a bit, I’ve decided that some things need to be cut back…and well, the blog is going to have to be one of those things I think.  I’ll still be posting, but I decided that numbers and such had caused me to be more stressed about the blog then I’d like to be.  I enjoy blogging and want to continue to enjoy it.  I’ll still blog a few times a week…but Workbox Wednesday will no longer be a link up, and Field Trip Friday may take a hit as well?  I’m undecided.  Weigh in!

This weekend we have a JrFLL Lego party for the end of season.  Not sure what else we will be doing.

I have lots of great reviews coming up in June, as well as Animal Trackers activities!!  So stay tuned. 
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Book Review: Motivate Your Child Action Plan

I read and absolutely LOVED Motivate Your Child.  Motivate Your Child Action Plan is newly released and just as good!  Though this book can stand alone, I definitely recommend using it with Motivate Your Child to get the full value of the insight given in these books. 

I’ll be honest, the hardest thing about this book is changing MYSELF!  But, I absolutely love the advice and examples given here.  It all makes perfect sense, from a spiritual point of view, but also from a psychological point of view (as an Early Childhood Education Major).  But, the hardest part is changing how I react to things, changing how I handle things….so really this book is a lot about changing YOU as a parent too, not just your child.  I often find my children are a reflection of my parenting, so changing my own heart, helps change theirs.

The ACTION PLAN really helps break down the process and helps you implement these changes.  Results can come almost immediately, but are obviously more obvious in the long term.  For us, we are still working on this….as with any changes, it’s a life long commitment. 

Action Plan is written in workbook style, so you can have plenty of space to write notes, form plans, reflect, etc..  Same as the first book, this is written from a Christian perspective and has many biblical references.

With the purchase of Action Plan you also receive 12 audio presentations by the author. 

I highly recommend both of these books!  I have suggested them to several people already outside of this review post!

Poppins Book Nook- 11 of My Favorite Caldecott Award Books

<div align="center"><a href="http://enchantedhomeschoolingmom.org/2014/02/poppins-book-nook/" title="Poppins Book Nook"><img src="http://i1141.photobucket.com/albums/n597/enchantedhomeschoolingmom/ProfileImage_zpse3f27ae8.png" alt="Poppins Book Nook" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

Grab the code above to come and link up each month and share what YOU do with the theme!  We look forward to hearing from you!

This Year’s Co-hosts

Enchanted Homeschooling Mom - 3 Dinosaurs - ABC Creative Learning - As We Walk Along the Road - Brain Power Boy - Chestnut Grove Academy - Embracing Destiny - Every Bed of Roses - Farm Fresh Adventures - Growing in God's Grace - Kathys Cluttered Mind - My Bright Firefly - Peakle Pie - Preschool Powol Packets - Pray Species - SAHM I am - Stir The Wonder - Sunny Day Family - Sweet Silly Sara - Teach Beside Me - To the Moon and Back - Tots and Me - Tree Valley Academy - Witty Hoots

 

About The Randolph Caldecott Medal

The Caldecott Medal "shall be awarded to the artist of the most distinguished American Picture Book for Children published in the United States during the preceding year. The award shall go to the artist, who must be a citizen or resident of the United States, whether or not he be the author of the text. Members of the Newbery Medal Committee will serve as judges. If a book of the year is nominated for both the Newbery and Caldecott Awards the committee shall decide under which heading it shall be voted upon, so that the same title shall not be considered on both ballots."  See more HERE.

Here are 11 of my favorite and those with * are on the reading list for next year’s Middle Ages Curriculum!

2001 Winner


1986 Winner


1985 Winner*


1975 Winner*

1970 Winner


1964 Winner


1963 Winner


1959 Winner*


1942 Winner


1943 Winner


1940 Winner

Many of the other blogs are doing a giveaway this month (I missed the deadline, did this month fly by or what????!!!)  So make sure you stop by the other participating blogs to enter!

Link up any Caldecott Award Book posts you have below!

An InLinkz Link-up

Share it Saturday!

Please visit my co-hosts:

Colleen & Leann from Sugar Aunts
Mary Catherine from Fun-a-Day
Devany from Still Playing School
Emily at Mom on the Move

If your interested in joining us as a Share It Saturday host, please contact me!

Check out our Share It Saturday Pinterest Board!

Visit my co-hosts to see how they “Share It Saturday”

An InLinkz Link-up

Week 40 in Review

Last Weekend:  My mom and I had a girls getaway, we do it about every 6mos, it’s a scrapbooking weekend at a nearby camp.  It’s so fun and pretty inexpensive!  I got a lot accomplished, and now have to start getting more organized for my next trip in November!

Most of my designs and paper are from Close to my Heart!

I’m so far behind, so it was nice to get caught up, a little bit….  I still have so far to go! The break was nice too!  I wish it was more than just 2 days….I feel like I need a week (at least!).  Maybe I’ll have to plan something longer for just Mom and I.

Monday – Back to the grind, I had a hard time transitioning back.  We took this week pretty easy.  I did make workboxes for C, but Z just did his minimal, and c well, he was excited to get a new Animal Trackers….I’ll get him some Lion themed boxes next week.

Tuesday – another quiet day at home.  I’m actually liking that all our school year stuff ended, I can relax (for a bit anyways, swim team starts up soon). 

Wednesday – C got up and knocked out majority of his schoolwork computer and workboxes before I even got up!The older two got to do a Homeschool class at the library, we have missed them most of the year b/c it overlapped with MMA.  The library has a new kitchen, the littles loved it!  We also had our first chick hatch.  We got 5 total out of 11 (one cracked in the shipping, and 6 didn’t hatch), we had much better success last time we did it.  Bummer. 

Thursday – we met a friend for lunch at Pizza Hut to use up the last of our Book Its for the year!  The last chick (#5) had to be helped out of his shell, but is doing well.

3 shown here

Friday – Hubby stayed home with the littles and the two bigs and I went on a field trip to see the play Diary of Anne Frank.  I think it was a bit over Zs head, but C enjoyed it.  It was very well done.  They allowed for a Q&A after the play, and several of the other kids there had some good questions. 

Weekend:  I’m headed back to my parents just for the day on Saturday, it’s my future SILs bridal shower, will be just a day trip.  We have a Memorial Day event on Monday to attend. 

Link Ups this week -

Workbox Wednesday
Field Trip Friday
Share it Saturday

Post you might have missed -

DON’T MISS THE GIVEAWAY!!

I am cutting back a tad on my blogging….I was starting to be overwhelmed by my own goals (being an over achiever can really suck sometimes). I’ve decided to take a step back.  I may pick things back up in the future, or I may keep it low for a bit.  I have decided exactly what will stay and what will go.  But I will have a min of one post a week, plus reviews.  I am also aware that the FHE booklet I made is down to the last week…I will have June up very soon, and the other months will follow!  Don’t worry!

People always ask “how do you do it all??!!”  I’ve said many times, “I don’t” and lately I’ve really had to re-evaluate and set new priorities!

Follow me on Facebook or Twitter to see the great deals I occasionally post.  This week has been some great ones from the Homeschool Buyer’s Co-op!

Linking up at:

and Weekly Wrap up with Weird Unsocialized Homeschoolers Blog

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