Claire Chadwick Music Teacher

Violin, guitar, piano and music tuition, Sheffield

Fun Music Warm-Ups: 36 fun-packed games and activities to help children learn and use rhythms

Give your student or child oodles of enjoyment and their rhythm skills a rocket boost with Fun Music Warm-Ups!

Fun Music Warm-Ups is my beginner rhythm training book packed with fun, imaginative games and activities for students aged 5 to 8.

The games are designed to be used by teachers and music reading parents and take just a few minutes each in a lesson or at home.

I’m over the moon that it’s already received many lovely comments from people, teachers, students and parents alike.

“As a teacher I’d use it with all beginners” – Louise Turnbull

“The concept, games and character ideas are fantastic” – Kevin Smith

“Fun and friendly and the activities are easy to fit in” – Alison Moar

Take your music learners on exiting adventures…

  • Will they solve the mystery of the chocolate goose?
  • Can they outwit the pirate captain and avoid walking the plank?
  • Will they discover musical time travel and journey back in time?

Discover these and much more in Fun Music Warm-Ups!

Improve yours or your child or teenager’s performing confidence

Feeling nervous is very common when performing.

Many people find that when they play to others or even their teacher, they don’t play as well as when they’re on their own.

Most people feel like this but don’t worry there is hope!

By putting ourselves in positive performance situations and getting used to playing with an audience, performing can feel a lot easier.

This is why I’m a big fan of the informal performance practice.

This is when we play a piece or song we can play well to a person we like.

Relatives, friends and neighbours are all great for this.

A performance can be face to face or online.

Doing a number of these prepares us for performances with bigger audiences and exams too, like a stepping-stone.

By playing a piece or song to someone we like, we improve our confidence and give them a nice experience.

People don’t have live music played to them every day.

Unless you’re a music teacher!

Do you need an instrument when you start lessons?

Yes, you do.

You need an instrument to practice in between lessons. 

In a lesson a teacher shows you a skill. Before the next lesson you practice this skill to make it stronger. This makes you ready to take the next step in your playing in the next lesson.

Practice is a huge part of learning an instrument, so you need your own instrument or access to one to do it.

So how do you get an instrument suitable for you, your child or teenager?

Ask your instrument teacher to advise you on the best instrument for you.

Teachers have a lot of experience teaching people of different ages and levels.

So, they are the perfect person to recommend an instrument that is a great fit for you or your child/teenager.

They also will have useful information about great places to get your instrument and supplies.

Then you will get a quality instrument that is fit for purpose and a good shopping experience.

Teachers are a treasure chest of useful skills and information.

Make things easier for yourself by asking their advice.

A few fun pieces

Playing pieces we like is the icing on the cake of learning an instrument.

If we like and are moved or inspired by music we have listened to it’s a great experience playing them.

We can feel even more connected to a song or piece of music we love.

Playing pieces we like has other benefits too.

If we’re learning a new technique or learning exam pieces and finding it tricky, playing a fun piece is a nice break.

It’s a great motivator. Learning a fun piece can draw us to practice like a magnet.

Some students just want to learn so they can play a particular music they like.

Playing fun pieces to other people is a really nice thing to do and can be a great shared experience with their family, friends or an audience.

Fun pieces are uplifting and a quality experience.

Why do we practice?

Practice can sometimes have negative associations which is why I often describe practice as ‘playing in between lessons’ to my students.

But what actually is practice and why do we do it?

In lessons your teacher uses their skills and knowledge to show you how to do something.

This could be a new playing technique to make a particular sound or learn a new note that will give you the musical range to play new pieces.

When you practice or play in between lessons following the instructions your teacher has given you, the new things you have learned become smoother, quicker and more automatic.

These new aspects then start to join with the previous aspects of playing you have learned to make your overall playing more varied, richer and give you great new pieces to play.

Learning to play an instrument is a bit like construction. Each week of practice adds an extra brick or piece that joins together to make an amazing building.   

Testimonials

"An accomplished musician herself, Claire has given my children the confidence to play their instruments well and with real passion. They both love their lessons, looking forward to them each week. And she has even managed to get them to practice with enthusiasm, what more can I ask … Read more