Archive for For Music Teachers

Mr. Noteman Puppet Character Sketch

Hmm, so who exactly is this Mr. Noteman, anyhow?

Age: Young adult, early 20s.

Gender: Male

Personality Profile: High C/Melancholy (Intelligent, Curious, Thinker), I/Sanguine (People person, Flamboyant) – C/S/I pattern.

Voice: Medium pitch, faux English accent, sophisticated, yet kind.

Likes:

  • Fast 3-Wheeled cars (his car is called the Triad)
  • Fast notes
  • Musical instruments that play fast (piccolo, trumpet, piano, banjo)
  • Concert orchestras
  • Bible stories about music (David playing for Saul, Paul and Silas, Jehoshaphat’s choir, etc.)
  • Singing
  • Teaching (makes him happy!)
  • All music instruments, including homemade ones!

Listens to: Patch the Pirate CD’s, Bible Songs for Kids

Favorite Foods: Tune-a Fish, Drumsticks, Hummmus, Hi-C

Favorite Composer: Bach, the church musician

Pet: Dot – sometimes follows him around, makes him go a bit slower; name: “Mm”

Dislikes:

  • Things that move slow (“Don’t be pokey, keep things moving quickly!”)
  • Boring things (“Learning is ALWAYS interesting”)
  • Uncalled for silliness (“Music is serious business!”)

Wears: Red when casual, all black when dressing up for a concert.

Lives In: Staff House

Family:

  • Grandpa/Grandma Whole Note
  • Uncle/Aunt Half Note
  • Dad/Mom Quarter Note
  • Twin Brother Eighth Note (when they appear together in concert, they put their flags on each others shoulders)
  • Little Sister Sixteenth Note (she’s a bit annoying because she runs around faster than he does!).

Friends: Mrs. (G) Treble Clef, Mr. (F) Bass Clef, Sharp, Flat, Natural

Instruments: Plays the kazoo, harmonica and bugle (because he has no arms, hands or fingers)

Favorite Word: Vivace! (Italian tempo word meaning lively and fast)

Other Notes (pun intended):

  • When he goes to a concert, he always sits on a music stand
  • His flag makes him go fast
  • He loves kids
  • He sometimes gets annoyed with “Uncle Curtis” because he does silly things, like juggle, ride unicycles, balance things, tells bad elephant jokes.

Mr. Noteman Pillow Box

Here’s something new — a Mr. Noteman pillow box!Mr. Noteman Pillow Box

Perfect for containing small musical items like kazoos or manipulatives, and interesting to look at. It can be printed out on a letter size piece of card stock.

Check it out!

Mr Noteman Pillow Box

More Music Funny Money

I’ve had a lot of fun creating these cool motivational tools!

Here’s the eighth note music funny money coin:

Music Funny Money - Eighth Note Coin

And, here’s the sixteenth note coin.

Music Funny Money - Sixteenth Note Coin

You also really need to check out the Music Funny Money card stock wallet that can be printed out, cut out and glued together to make a personal funny money holder! It is the perfect size to contain the funny money bills and coins.

Mr Noteman Money Wallet

Mr Noteman Money Wallet

Music Funny Money

I’ve been working feverishly to prepare materials for the Music Is For Kids Workshop. To motivate good learning and to reward good behavior, I have developed our own Mr. Noteman currency.

Music play money is not a new concept for me. Years ago I created some simple music money for use in my elementary music education classes. The files for printing these older money bills and coins can be purchased on my Music Teacher’s Resource CD.

Here’s an example of the new whole note bill–it’s worth 4 beats.

Whole Note Bill

I also have half note and quarter note bills. I created some funny little half-width bills for the eighth note and sixteenth notes, but I think I’ll probably end up going with coins. What do you think?

Eighth Note Half-Width Bill

Funny music money, for sure! I think the kids will love them.

Mr. Noteman Standup

I had the band saw out this weekend, and just for fun, I made a Mr. Noteman standup thingy, good for displaying on your desk or on a shelf.

I have a download with instructions for making your own here:

Mr. Noteman Wood Standup – Picture and Instructions

Mr. Noteman Paper Standup – Color Your Own!

Be sure to send us a picture if you make your own!

Mr. Noteman Coloring Book, Ver. 1

Mr. Noteman, by Eugene Hollembeak

I have been developing a music workbook/coloring book to go along with the 4 week music theory workshop for kids. I think it is turning out great! I was able to talk my dad into helping with the artwork for it — he’s really good at whipping up cartoonish figures based on different shapes.

Here’s the file for you to download and print out:

Mr Noteman Coloring Book

Music Manipulatives

Music ManipulativesThere are some incredibly inventive music teachers out there, who really understand kids! Here are links to some of their really terrific resources for teaching music to kids.

Teachers like these will really make a difference in the lives of kids.

More music manipulatives!

 

If you are interested in learning more about the importance of using hands-on resources like these, you really need to check out the following materials describing the Fletcher Music Method.

Also, you really need to check out Candida Tobin’s teaching methods. She really understood how children think, and her methods were incredible!