Music That’s Out Of This World! - Mozart’s Monthly Memo-Volume 28
March 11, 2023
New session of Crescendo Kids Online begins Tuesday, March 14
Music Created in Outer Space
This Memo includes
Feature Article: Music That’s Out Of This World!
Student Hall of Fame
Practice Tip
Registration start dates for our in-person Crescendo Kids Classes
Sign up link for our 2023 Spring Recital
Parents Ask Pam - My child is 4 years old, but I think they are ready for 5 year old piano material. Can they be moved into the older class?
Feature Article - Music That’s Out Of This World!
Written by Sean Kenney, son of our piano teacher, Mr. Kevin.
There has been a great deal of music made over the course of human civilization; songs devised with thousands of miles separating them, and almost all of it created on earth. Almost.
Chris Hadfield is one of those people who seems to have pushed the limits of what a human can do in one lifetime. He is a writer, a mountain climber, an engineer, the first Canadian to walk in space, and a musician; he is perhaps most well known for that last one. Back in May of 2013 a music video was recorded - something Chris thought would be fun to do with his son - of Chris singing Space Oddity by David Bowie while on the International Space Station (ISS). The song was entirely recorded up there, and the video has now been seen by tens of millions. What is somewhat less known is that Space Oddity was not alone up there.
‘Space Sessions: Songs From a Tin Can’ is an album of 15 songs almost entirely recorded and edited in space aboard the ISS. And while some of those songs he had already written beforehand; a few others he composed entirely up there, wondering at what he might write with such unique inspiration at hand. The first of those and probably the first song ever recorded in space, Jewel in the Night, was recorded basically as soon as he got the idea and the time - and is my personal favorite amongst the songs. It is a song that evokes feelings of wonder, loneliness, and determination.
That all said, the experience was apparently something of a struggle. Gravity is one of those things that humans take for granted - most of us have never known anything else after all. But consider first the instrument you are playing - whether it be a guitar, as Chris Hadfield used, or a Piano as I expect the majority of the readers to be more familiar with - its weight is something you have just accepted. But when it has no weight, only mass, things get much trickier. Suddenly, you have to worry about how well it is secured in place, and how any errant movement may send it off - and it’s not going to stop till it hits something. Even your own movements may betray you, Chris specifically mentions that his hand lacking weight ment it consistently landed in a different place from where he first expected it. It’s also apparently quite loud up there with all the machinery, and the only area quiet enough to record was his tiny sleeping pod. That said, it turned out to be somewhat convenient, as it meant that the small space left him able to wedge his arm up between the guitar and wall so it wouldn’t float all over the place. In his own words, "It's not an easy place to record, but it sure is a fun one."
Those are just the obvious issues, there are deeper issues to consider. By virtue of things like saliva and blood not moving the same without gravity, you sound very different in space, a phenomenon referred to as ‘Space Voice’. And if you listen to his interviews and the songs in sequence, you can really hear the difference.
Something that might be interesting for you to consider - how would space affect a piano? Vibration isn’t affected too much by a lack of gravity; an acoustic piano, on the other hand, has parts that very much do interact with gravity. There’s been some interesting discussion on such topics if you go looking - apparently the consensus is that the keys would take a great deal longer to return to place, among other things.
As far as the album itself is, the man is clearly a competent musician, and it is quite a pleasant collection even gimmick aside, although I do think a couple are over-edited. Perhaps you have different opinions? He says that he made the album in hopes that those who listened might have more of an understanding of what spaceflight is like and, at the very least, it certainly makes me want to experience it myself.
You can find the album below on spotify if you’re interested.
Student Hall Of Fame
Our students are making great progress! These students have accomplished new goals this last month.
5X5 - play the piano for 5 minutes, 5 days in a week, for 5 weeks in a row - Jacob S, Janice L, Lillian R and Shaura J*. ( * indicates first time meeting this challenge!)
Listening - Listened to classical music for 1 hour/week for 4 weeks in a row - Makayla K.
100-Day - played the piano for 100 consecutive days - Isabella N.
Finished their current piano book - August M, Janice L, and Siya P
Completed an individual challenge given by teacher - Ira W.
As a class, passed a keyboard knowledge test - Arden I, Clara J, DangLac T, Janice L, Samuel S, and Xiaoyan W.
Practice Tip
Sometimes it is challenging to set aside 30 minutes every day to practice. Instead, set aside 5 minutes. Then give yourself a goal to complete in the 5 minutes. The most difficult part of practicing is getting to the piano. Once you are there, it is much easier to stay and continue practicing as needed. 5 minutes of practice every day is far more productive than an hour of practice once a week.
Upcoming MOM Events
Want to see all upcoming events? Check out our calendar. It includes when the next Crescendo Kids class begins, school closure dates, piano parties, and recital dates.
FREE Online Piano Party! Students share their own music as well as participate in musical games, creating music and learning some music history. Each party is a little different with new lessons and a special guest instrument. Come, meet our piano teachers, play some music, and have fun! All ages and musical levels are welcome. Parties are available to non-students, former students as well as current students. Click the link to sign up. Piano Party Sign Up
Saturday, April 1, at 11:00 am for ages 3 - 6 years old
Saturday, April 1, at 12:00 pm for ages 7 - 12 years old
Parent Information Meetings - Have questions about our online piano class program? Want a tour of our practicing app? Click the link to schedule your free meeting with Miss Pam. Parent Info Meeting
Spring Recital - May 19, 20 and 21, 2023
Our in-person Spring Recital is BACK! Students may participate in person or online, and the audience my join in person or online. All students currently taking piano lessons are welcome to join us! Space is limited so sign up early! 2023SpringRecital
Crescendo Kids CLASSES - Tuesdays or Thursdays at North Kirkland Community Center visit kirklandparks.net
Next registration starts March 22 at 7:00 am
Tuesdays/Thursdays:
Spring: April 18/20 - June 20/22
Summer: June 27/29 - August 22/24 (no class July 4)
Crescendo Kids CLASSES - Mondays at Spartan Recreation Center in Shoreline visit shorelinewa.gov/registernow
Next registration starts at 8:00 am on March 21 for Shoreline residents, March 23 for Lake Forest Park residents and March 24 for everyone else.
Mondays:
Spring: April 3 - June 12 (no class April 24 & May 29)
Summer: June 26 - August 21
30 - Minute Private Online Piano Lessons - Did you know that many of our teachers also teach privately? Now you can continue your child’s musical education, or your own, with Move Over Mozart. Click here for more information. Private Lessons
New Crescendo Kids Online begins Tuesday, March 14. Our piano classes are fun and easy to do! Perfect for beginning students ages 3 1/2 to 12 years old. Students are put into one of 4 classes depending on their age and musical ability.
Crescendo Kids Online Sign Up
Pre-Reading - Ages 3 - 5 years, or students not yet reading,
We use a color-coded method for the students to match their five fingers to five keys on the piano. New songs using only those 5 notes are given each week.
Primary - Ages 5 -7 years or older and brand new to music,
This group is for the very basics of piano playing. Students learn to play simple rhythms, correct hand position, and the names of the white keys on the piano.
Beginning Elementary - Ages 7-12 years or younger and reading notes,
This is for students just starting to read notes on the staff. Students are taught how the staff relates to the piano and how to translate the notes to making music. Also, having the students memorize a few key notes on the staff will help greatly with their ability to read music.
Advanced Elementary - Ages 7 - 12 years with previous piano lessons
This group already reads notes on the staff and can immediately identify many of the notes by name. They will learn more advanced technique and music theory beyond the initial basics of learning to play.
Parents Ask Pam
Have a question for Miss Pam? You can email, text message, or message on Facebook your questions. She will respond immediately to you, and your question might be featured in future newsletters.
Q: My child is 4 years old, but I think they are ready for 5 year old piano material. Can they be moved into the older class?
A: We use the following criteria to determine if a child would be better suited in the older class. Not every area needs to be met, but it helps give an idea of what would be required for your child to be successful in an older class.
1. Is the child at least 4 years old?
— 3 years old will not have the maturity needed to interact with next age group.
2. Can the child play with either hand?
— Both hands are required in next age group.
3. Can the child play without the colors on the keyboard? (You may tell them where “blue” is)
— No colors are used in next age group.
4. Can the child read (English)?
— Reading music is taught in next age group. Student needs to demonstrate readiness for general reading ability. Otherwise, reading music will be a mental block.
5. Does the student know and recognize the letters of the alphabet?
— White key name understanding is required in next age group.
6. Does the student know the names of the white keys?
— If yes, may be ready for next age group.
7. Is the student playing with correct hand position? (relaxed hand, curly fingers)
— Bad hand position will make the book’s lessons nearly impossible.
8. Can the student read music? (letter names or step/skip, up/down)
— If yes, (from other lessons?) student will be successful in next age group.
Your Comments And Questions
We want to hear from you! What questions do you have? What do you like best about this memo? How do you encourage practicing in your home? Please leave your questions and comments below or email Pam directly at misspam@moveovermozart.net