by Steph Beech | Jan 7, 2019 | Blog
Do you struggle to get your child to practice?
The majority of us know what it feels like to get your child to do their homework and sometimes piano practice is no different #thestruggleisreal
Well I am here to help! Each week I will be posting a challenge for Creative Ways to Play It Again, to get your child enjoying their practice time. These creative ways will be sure to have your little one chuckling while they learn #winwin
Here is their first challenge.. have them practice their piece with their left eye closed ?
Why not post your child, or yourself if you play too, doing the challenge and tag me at @minimozartsmusic or use the hashtag #minimozartsmethod so I can see ?
Share the challenge with someone who you think would also like to take part #weeklychallenge
by Steph Beech | Jan 7, 2019 | Blog
If you caught my Instagram stories over the weekend you will have seen me opening this amazing mail I received from the Pianist Magazine. They sent me these two issues from the past year of their monthly subscription magazine in the UK which includes interviews of great pianists, a number of piano pieces marked as beginner, intermediate and advanced – Each issue also comes with a CD containing recordings of all the pieces – Q&A’s sent in from readers and some great info on upcoming piano workshops across the world.
I’m so happy these magazines were sent to me and only wish I knew of them earlier. Not only are they great for pianists but also teachers who can use them with their own students whether it’s to use the sheet music to learn new pieces, for sight-reading or exercises.
Now time to put the kettle on and indulge 🙂 #metime
You can subscribe to the magazine here https://www.pianistmagazine.com
by Steph Beech | Jan 2, 2019 | Blog
Happy New Year! I’m kicking off the new year with another character from my Children’s Online Piano Course. Meet Gershwin’s Grandma who lives on piano key G!
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George Jacob Gershwin was an American composer and pianist. Some of his best known works are the songs I Got Rhythm (This was actually one of my Grade 8 exam pieces) and Fascinating Rhythm, the orchestral composition Rhapsody in Blue and the opera Porgy and Bess.
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He began his career as a song plugger but soon started composing Broadway theater works with his brother Ira Gershwin. He moved to Paris intending to study with Nadia Boulanger, but she refused him; he subsequently composed An American in Paris. He then returned to New York City and wrote Porgy and Bess with Ira and DuBose Heyward. It was initially a commercial failure but came to be considered one of the most important American operas of the twentieth century and an American cultural classic.
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Click on the image below to print off your colour in. Be sure to share your child’s masterpiece with us once complete ? #minimozartsmethod
by Steph Beech | Dec 19, 2018 | Blog
If you saw my stories yesterday on Instagram you would’ve seen these amazing Composer baby books that I found over the weekend and as promised I have the details for you.
I came across these when looking for some books for my 7 month old and I just couldn’t resist. They even play one of the composers pieces at the touch of a button 🙂 They are in French but hey why not teach your little one another language at the same time. There aren’t too many words so time to brush the cobwebs off that French you learnt in school. And if not then there’s always Google translate 😉 haha!
There were only the Beethoven & Back books in the shop where I found them in but when I’ve looked online they also do them for Mozart and Vivaldi – I will be purchasing these also.
If you would like some of these books for your little one then just go to their website www.deux-coqs-dor.fr or you can order them on Amazon
by Steph Beech | Dec 13, 2018 | Blog
Hi all,
It’s almost Christmas and it can get a little crazy with last minute shopping, wrapping of presents and what not. So whilst your hands may be a little full, I have something that may give you a bit of peace – as we all know that’s hard to come by with kiddies, especially those who are hyped up on that Christmas spirit haha!
So click on the image below of their mascot, Mini Mozart as he’s Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree and let your children colour him in while you go and put the kettle on 😉
Be sure to share a picture of their creation with me either on our Facebook/Instagram Page or email me direct. If you would also like to share a picture of yourself with your feet up munching that mince pie feel free 😉
by Steph Beech | Nov 29, 2018 | Blog
Time to introduce our next character, Elgar Elephant who lives on piano key.. E of course 😉
He was named after Sir Edward Elgar who was an English composer, the son of an organist and music dealer. Elgar left school at age 15 and worked briefly in a lawyers office. He was an excellent violinist, played the bassoon, and spent periods as a bandmaster and church organist. He had no formal training in composition yet became famous for his work #cleverclogs
Click on the image below to download your colour in picture – be sure to share your child’s (or your) masterpiece with us on either our Facebook or Instagram pages once complete. Happy Colouring!
by Steph Beech | Nov 16, 2018 | Blog
Want to learn something easy and simple on the piano? Well, because its the season of giving, here is my gift to you. If you are already a Mini Mozart using our course or just curious about starting out, here is a song to start you off. Unlike your typical sheet music, Mini Mozarts uses graphics and characters to engage children and to help memorise musical patterns. Hot Cross Buns is fun and easy to learn and with our Children’s Online Piano Course, its made even easier with games and funny characters to help you along the way. Click on the image below to get your free sheet and start playing.
by Steph Beech | Jul 3, 2018 | Blog
Introducing our first character from the course, Debussy Dog, he’s a cutie isn’t he.
The name comes from Claude Debussy who was a French composer and famously known for his piece Clair de Lune.
Click and save the image to your computer to print. Colour away and don’t forget to post a picture of your masterpiece to our Facebook page.
by Steph Beech | Jul 18, 2017 | Blog
Phew, it’s nice to sit down with a cup of tea and just reflect. On what once started as a thought and an image in my head that has now developed and unfolded right in front of me. With just a vision to one day be able to have an impact on a child’s life through teaching music and to see it come to life has been a wonderful experience and an achievement I will be forever proud and grateful for.
The aim was to get children involved in learning to play the piano at a fairly young age considering most piano lessons start at age seven. So my drive to put something out there for even younger children was at a high. I now have children as young as four years of age and they are a joy to teach. We have so much fun and the smiles on their faces when they come to my lessons and leave my door fill me with so much gratitude.
I remember imagining my company branching out to schools and one day having teachers help with my Mini Mozarts. I now offer lessons to over 5 schools , pending a lot more, with two new teachers who have recently joined my team who share the same vision and passion that I do. But with rapid rates of interest and willing participants, I am working extremely hard to meet these demands by continuing to find suitable teachers to help guide our Mini Mozarts and cater to the growing demand.
It really is a breath of fresh air to go away from the old school teaching and learning that I had as a child where my teacher sounded robotic and the lessons lacked atmosphere, games and fun! So I really wanted to change it up a bit and create an environment where children could come to learn and have fun at the same time. As we know, if you’re having fun and enjoying yourself it’s much easier to be engaged and have things register.
The thing about acting on your thoughts, taking an idea, working on it and believing in yourself is that you never know where it will take you. When I sat picturing Mini Mozarts future many years ago, I never thought that it would expand overseas, or that it was even a possibility. I actually never had any intention of living in a foreign country, let alone take my business there and attract so much interest. It really is overwhelming.
So I am excited to set off on a new adventure in the South of France to see Mini Mozarts build and flourish over there. But it is also with great sadness that I have to leave my students back here in the UK. You can’t help but get attached to the children. I’ve received letters of “don’t go’s” to tears of “we’ll miss you’s” and also asked by one parent to write in her daughters book of influential people in her life that she is planning to give to her at the end of her schooling. It is just the most touching thing to know I’ve had an impact on these children and parents lives.
As sad as it is to part ways, I have great confidence that I’m leaving them in good hands and my teachers will continue to provide the same love and passion that I have. It also gives my students peace of mind that I am always just a call or message away as despite moving, I will always be available to help and follow their progress.
It has been a busy few months for Mini Mozarts also launching it’s first ever online starter course. The course has been designed by myself from information gathered along the way that really flicked a light bulb. From children who couldn’t commit to weekly lessons or lived too far away to those who were just to shy to attend something new or just simply couldn’t afford it. So with all this in mind I put together a starter course which is cost-effective and at your disposal to share with other siblings but most importantly a fun way to spend time with your children as you help guide them through the course and watch them grow as a Mini Mozart. Learn how you can get your hands on the course by visiting us at www.minimozartsmusic.com
So this isn’t a goodbye, it’s a Bonjour to new beginnings and a see you soon to my Mini Mozarts,
Steph x
