Stuff for a Happier You!: The Sequel | February 2011
from the What's New! Newsletter Index

Hi Everyone,

Thanks for your emails during the month of January. They helped me create a few new resources that I hope you will find of value. I'll present them first. The rest of the newsletter will be devoted to stuff that makes your day just a little bit brighter.

Every newsletter this year will include:
1) Stuff to make your teaching experience better (and more fun)
2) Stuff that enhances your homeschooling music experience
3) Stuff to help you use your teaching/music talents to generate a little extra income
4) Stuff to help you keep more of the money you work so hard to earn
5) Stuff that is new or improved from the MMF! website including new instrumental and Orff arrangements, improved sheet music arrangements (added fingering and lyrics), lesson plans, and maybe a few surprises...

Here we go...

New Stuff...

"Meet the Composer" Job Application
"Meet the Composer" worksheets are a fun way to introduce kids to the great composers. Print this composer job application worksheet and then head to the "Meet the Composer" Biographies to complete the application for the composer of your choice.

"Meet the Composer" Job Application | Worksheet

Piano Duets
I've added two new piano duets for Easy/Level 2 piano. Play them with your student, or have two students play them together. They are written to make both a possibility.

Chopsticks for Piano Duet by Euphemia Allen
Alouette for Piano Duet | Traditional

Stuff to Make Your Teaching Experience Better...
George Frideric Handel was born on February 23, 1685 in the North German province of Saxony. If you're thinking you'd like to throw a party, we can help!

Create Invitations
Create invitations and send them to a few of Handel's family members, and maybe one to Johann Sebastian Bach. They're the same age. Be sure to include a cute picture of Handel.

Make Party Decorations
Print "Happy Birthday" coloring pages and ask the kids to color them. Then hang them around your music room or school room if you are homeschooling.

Birthday Cake Coloring Page from MakingArtFun.com
Happy Birthday Coloring Page from MakingArtFun.com

Ask the students to write Handel's full name and dates on each coloring page.

Celebrate!
End the last unit lesson with a round of "Pin the Wig on the Composer" or "Composer Concentration".

If you play "Pin the Wig on the Composer"...
Pause the game every few kids to ask them a few questions about what they have learned.

If you play "Composer Concentration"...
Make 16 to 20 8.5"x11" cards and tape them on the white board. (Masking tape will allow for easier removal of the cards when the game is over.) Divide the class into groups of four. The group with the most matches wins.

Matches
Handel and Picture of Handel
Germany and Map of Germany
Composer and Picture of Quill Pen
Harpsichord and Picture of Harpsichord
Violin and Picture of Violin
Water Music and Picture of Musicians on Barge on the River Thames
"Hallelujah Chorus" and Audio Recording (Picture of CD)
Opera and Picture of Opera Singer
Etc.

Here's some other stuff for more educational moments...

Free Printable Worksheets
George Frideric Handel | Word Search

Free Printable Sheet Music
Hallelujah Chorus for Intermediate/Level 3 Piano Solo
Theme from Water Music for Easy/Level 2 Piano Solo

Homeschool Music Lesson Plans
Free Homeschool Lesson Plans

Stuff to Help You Use Your Teaching/Music Talents to Generate Extra Income...
In January's newsletter I told you that I looked for ways to diversify my income during 2010. The first goal I set for myself was to write articles for AssociatedContent.com. Soon after that I created an account on Squidoo.com. I currently have 39 articles (they call them "Lenses") on Squidoo, and made $53.95. It's not much, but the great thing about it is that this is passive income. I don't ever have to think about these articles again and I will still get paid for my effort. If the articles grow in popularity I will make even more.

How it works...
1) Create a Lense
2) Publish It
3) Collect 50% of all income made from ads and Amazon and Ebay products that you place on your Lense. (They make everything easy to understand.)

If you like this, you'll need this...
The following articles will help you to be successful on Squidoo. They will help you write dynamite titles and keyword rich content - important stuff in the web world.

How to Write Titles That Gets You Noticed
How to Write Content That Gets You Noticed

Both articles are from my website, StorehouseBuilder.com, and share the ideas that help me drive visitors to my websites. I hope they are helpful to you too.

People love pictures. If you decide to write about stuff from my websites, you are always welcome to use images of sheet music, coloring pages, etc.

Here's a few of the more popular Lenses...

Henri Matisse for Kids | Bibliography and Lesson Resources
Free Art Masterpiece Coloring Pages
Free Bible Coloring Pages
Pablo Picasso for Kids | Bibliography and Lesson Resources
Free Sheet Music: Nursery Rhymes for Easy Piano

Thanks for your interest in our resources,

Andy Fling
Owner/Teacher

Shelly Nierman
Website Development Associate/Teacher

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