Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Family Blogging Month Winner ~ Miriam Plays the Piano!

Family Blogging Month just ended and Miriam was one of the top three commenters. Each student won their own post here on Mrs. Yollis' Classroom Blog! Here is a video post Miriam created with her family about the piano.

The pianoforte originated around the year 1700 in Florence, Italy. It was the invention of an Italian harpsichord maker. It has since undergone many changes in appearance and sound. The word piano is a shortened form of the word pianoforte, which comes from the original Italian name for the instrument.



What instrument do you play?
What kind of music do you like to listen to and how does it make you feel?
Do you have any questions for Miriam?

37 comments:

  1. Well done Miriam, I used to play the piano when I was your age but hated practising so I never became very good. How often do you practise?

    ReplyDelete
  2. Dear Miriam,

    I love your post. My grandparents also have a piano. I mess around on it, but I have never learned a song. From looking at your post I learned that the piano was made in Italy is 1700. I also learned that there are 88 keys.

    How long have you been playing the piano?

    Sincerely,
    Jaden

    ReplyDelete
  3. Dear Miriam,

    I loved your fantastic post about the piano! Did you know that I play the piano also?

    Though I know about the piano a lot, I do not know everything about it. I learned that there is such thing as an F scale.

    In piano right now, I unfortunately did not learn the F scale yet.

    I noticed that the song you played sounded very familiar for me. I think I played that piece before when I was six.

    I have a question:

    At what age did you start learning the hobby of piano?

    I learned piano at the age of four.

    See you later!

    Your friend,
    Adia =)

    ReplyDelete
  4. @Mr. Wood,

    Thank you for responding back to me. I have been playing the piano for three years. Sometimes I don't want to practice, but I still do.

    How long have you been playing the piano?


    From,
    Miriam

    ReplyDelete
  5. Dear Miriam,

    That was a fantastic video! I play the piano very little, but I only can play Mary Had A Little Lamb.

    I learned that there are 88 keys on a piano. I also learned that there is a hammer that hits the wood.


    Your friend,
    Kristen

    ReplyDelete
  6. Wow, Miriam! You are a great pianist! The warm up is a stupendous trick. I think that the song looks hard! Is it?

    My grandma plays the piano just like you! She is pretty good too. When she comes up to my house she plays the piano! My favorite song she plays is Mary Had a Little Lamb.

    What is your favorite part about playing the piano?

    Yours truly,

    Grace♥

    ReplyDelete
  7. Miriam, I like your post. I played drums in the school band, but never learned to read music. :(

    This Christmas I am asking for a ukulele so that I can learn to play it. I hope that I get to be a good player, but I know it will take a lot of work.

    Mr. C
    Noel Elementary
    Noeltigers.com

    ReplyDelete
  8. Dear Miriam

    I can not believe there are 88 keys on a piano. I do not play the piano. Miriam, do you play any other instrument?

    From,
    Andrew

    ReplyDelete
  9. Dear Miriam,

    I loved your fabulous post! I thought that it was very good because I have played the piano when I was six. It was really fun, but I don't take lessons anymore. I practiced a lot and I did a stupendous job. My coach and I made slide show too. It was of me playing the piano at a recital. We loved it.


    I have some questions for you?

    Do you like playing the piano?
    Did your mom play the piano too?
    Do you have a coach like I had?

    I also really loved your video a lot!

    Your best buddy,
    Alex♥

    ReplyDelete
  10. Dear Miriam,

    Wow! Great job! I have a piano, but I do not know how to play it, and it is out of tune. I also have played a trumpet. It was my sister's old one. When I am older I would like to play the flute, or the clarinet. Here is something that I have learned:

    I have learned piano is a shortened form of pianoforte.

    Did it take you a long time to perfect your wonderful skills?

    Do you play any other instruments?

    Sincerely,
    Im★n

    ReplyDelete
  11. Dear Miriam,

    Your video is spectacular . I learned that a hammer hits a medal string. I have a question.
    How long does it take you to memorize a song?

    Warmly,
    Ileanna

    ReplyDelete
  12. Dear Miriam,

    I loved your video! The instrument I play is the flute.I have some questions for you. What songs do you play and which one is your favorite?




    Your friend,
    Nicole

    ReplyDelete
  13. Dear Miriam,

    You are an exquisite pianist. Amitai used to play piano. Lindsay does not play any instrument. We learned that there are 88 keys on a piano.
    We have some questions for you:

    How long have you done it?

    Do you play any other instrument?

    From,

    Lindsay and Amitai

    ReplyDelete
  14. Dear Miriam,

    WOW great job playing the piano. I have never played the piano before, but I'm fantastic at playing the drums. Maybe you can teach me how too play the piano ?


    Did you know that octa means eight in Greek ?
    Which key is your favorite ?


    Warmly,
    T:-)cker

    ReplyDelete
  15. Great job Miriam!

    That was a five★ post. I also have a question.

    What piano level are you on?

    From,
    Aaron

    ReplyDelete
  16. Dear Miriam,

    I loved how you played the piano. My cousins have a piano, and I go there four days a week. I play the piano and guitar, but my favorite is the drums. I have questions for you. Do you sing when you play the piano? If you don't it's okay because you might not? How do you play?

    From,
    Misha

    ReplyDelete
  17. Dear Miriam,

    You are a wonderful piano player. I play piano, but I could never memorize a song that long!

    I have been playing piano for 1 year and I enjoy it. I haven't preformed in a recital but I hope I can one day. It looks like you have preformed in many.

    Your friend,
    Hannah★

    ReplyDelete
  18. Dear Miriam,

    WOW! what a great post. I never knew
    you can play the piano. I play the electric Guitar. My favorite song is Pink Floyd "Another Brick In The Wall" and I sing along to it. I have some questions,

    Do you play any other instruments?

    How long is the piano

    From,
    Finn

    ReplyDelete
  19. Dear Miriam,

    WOWOWOWOW!!!!

    You were unequivocally astonishing. What an awesome pianist you are, so coordinated and so very talented. I am speechless, which doesn't happen very often, I must admit. It was EXQUISITE. (One of these days I promise to learn my HTML codes, so that I can italicize, etc., to emphasize on specific words).

    I enjoyed how patiently you explained about the keys, a trick in finding the C's on the keyboard, and the ease in which you showed with confidence the scale. You would make an marvelous piano teacher.

    The song you played appeared to be very complicated. I wonder how long it took you to excel at it.

    How long do you practice each day?

    During College, many years ago, I took two semesters of piano classes, which were considered electives. I have to honestly say, that I never practiced much since I didn't own a piano or keyboard at home. Instead, I had to go to school and sign up to be permitted to use one of the piano rooms. It was such a hassle. You are very fortunate that this invaluable (priceless) piano was gifted to you by your mom. It makes it extra special when you know your mom once played on the same when she was younger. I wouldn't be surprised if your talented mom still does regularly play the piano.

    Do you take private lessons?

    Adia has her piano and voice recital this coming Sunday, which I'm looking forward to.

    Have you performed at a recital before?

    You asked what kind of music we like to listen to. My favorite music is Gospel music. I was formally introduced to this type of music almost two years ago when I visited my Church for the first time and the choir was singing. I have not stopped listening to it ever since. It's inspirational, positive, and it's filled with encouraging messages. When I turn on Gospel music at my house (my favorite artist is Fred Hammond), Adia and Stefan join me in a dance of worship and praise. If someone were to come over at that moment in time, they would think we're a bunch of crazies, jumping up and down. It's an interesting sight to say the least.

    I am curious and excited about your future posts. Until then, take care and enjoy playing.

    Be blessed,

    Ava (Adia's curious, and wild-jumping up and down MAMA)

    ReplyDelete
  20. great music miriam
    very interested in piano
    I am going to research more now

    from Bradley
    Melville int
    Hamilton
    nz

    ReplyDelete
  21. Dear Miriam,
    I am so impressed with your fabulous post about the piano! You gave excellent information, including history and some music theory. I especially enjoyed your details about locating middle C and about octaves.

    What I found most impressive was your proficiency at playing the piano. When you played the composition by Clementi, you had excellent rhythm and marvelous finger dexterity!

    I took piano lessons when I was your age, and I went on to teach lessons when I was a teenager. Because of this, I felt a great connection to your post!

    Keep up the great blogging and piano performing!

    All the best,
    Mrs. Ranney

    ReplyDelete
  22. Dear Miriam,

    What an informative and entertaining post about the piano. Growing up both my mom and Grandma played piano. I used to love listening to my Grandma play ragtime music by Scott Joplin.

    I never learned to play piano but I took flute lessons for many years.

    Do you have any desire to play another instrument?

    Sincerely,

    Mrs. Levy

    ReplyDelete
  23. Dear Miriam,

    Thankyou for this beautiful post about the piano. You did an outstanding job talking about the different elements which make up the piano.

    I never got the chance to play a musical instrument when I was younger.
    However I always have wanted to
    learn how to play the Harp and do Karate. So at this moment I have just started Karate.Hopefully the Harp next.

    Music which I do love to listen to is Andrea Bocelli.

    You play so beautifully keep up the great work.
    What kind of music do you like to listen to?

    Your sincerely,
    AA.

    ReplyDelete
  24. @Jaden and Adia,

    Thank you for responding back to me. Jaden, I some times mess around with the piano too. I have been playing the piano for three years. Adia, The song that I played is a very popolur song. You are right Adia, there is no F major scale. I made a mistake, it should be G major scale which has an F sharp. Thank you for catching my error. My mom makes me practice all the scales before playing songs. You started learning the piano very young. You must be a great player. I started learning to play the piano when I was six years old.

    Adia, what is your favorite piece to play?

    From,
    ♥Miriam♥

    ReplyDelete
  25. Dear Kristen,

    Thank you for the fantastic comment!:D I used to play the song Mary Had A Little Lamb too. At first it was hard to play Mary Had A Little Lamb but now it's very easy for me.

    What kind of music do you like to listen to?

    From,
    ♥Miriam♥

    ReplyDelete
  26. Dear Wonderful Miriam,
    I love this piano guest post.

    I play the piano like you do and I love playing the piano especially infront of people.

    My favourite piece I like to play on the piano is called Swans on the Lake.

    It is a very peaceful piece of music.

    I have a question for you,
    do you know this piece of music?

    From Bianca BB.

    ReplyDelete
  27. Dear Miriam
    I think you are a ☆ piano player and I enjoyed your post very much.

    I learned the piano when I was younger, but the instrument I would really have liked to learn is the flute. I may still give it a go one day!

    How long did it take for you to be proficient at playing that piece of music?

    from Mrs M♔Kenzie

    ReplyDelete
  28. @Mrs. Ranny,

    Thank you for a nice reply back to me. I learned a lot about the history of the piano while putting together my post.

    Did you like teaching piano? Do you still play during your free time?

    My favorite piece that I play is Fur Elise by Beethoven. What is your favorite song that you play?


    From,
    ★Miriam★

    ReplyDelete
  29. @Mrs. Levy,

    Thank you for a thoughtful comment. My sister plays the violin and I tried to play it for a week but then it started to get hard for me to find the time to practice both instruments. I therefore decided that I would stick with the piano and try to learn to play it well. I often accompany my sister on the piano while she plays the violin.

    Do you still play the flute? Can you play ragtime music on the flute?

    From,
    ♥Miriam♥

    ReplyDelete
  30. @Ava

    That was a lovely comment! It sounds like Adia and Stefan have lots of fun dancing. Sometimes my mom turns on the music and we also jump up and down and have lots of fun.

    I practice one hour during the week and two hours on the weekends. Both of my sisters also play piano so sometimes it is hard to find time to play. Hopefully my brother will pick a different instrument. I do take private lessons and the teacher patiently explains to me how to improve my technique.

    I started to participate in piano competitions just this year. I had a recital three weeks ago and I got third place.

    Now that Adia plays the piano do you sometimes try to see if you still remember how to play? I hope Adia has a great recital. Good Luck Adia!

    From,
    ♥Miriam♥

    ReplyDelete
  31. @Mrs M♔Kenzie,

    Thank you for your comment! It took me four months to learn to play this song perfectly. There were times when I was frustrated and thought that I would never get it right.

    Why do you like the flute? Do you still play the piano today?

    From,
    ♔Miriam

    ReplyDelete
  32. @BB

    Thank you for commenting back to me. I have not heard of the song Swans on the Lake. But my mother found the song on you tube for me to listen to it. You are correct, it is a very beautiful song.

    @AA,

    Thank you for a very nice compliment. I listened to Andrea Bocelli sing on the internet and he has a beautiful voice. I can see why you like to listen to him. Have you ever been to his concert?

    I like to listen to classical music. I like Beethoven, especially the 5th symphony.

    Warmly,
    Miriam ♔

    ReplyDelete
  33. Dear Miriam,

    You are incredibly talented, and I very much enjoyed watching the video you made. Thank you for sharing your knowledge about the piano so beautifully and clearly.

    I have never played the piano myself, though I've always wanted to learn. Alexa has thought about having piano lessons again. Maybe she and I will learn to play together!

    Best wishes to you and your family for a wonderful holiday season. I'm sure your home will be blessed with love, peace, joy, and the sounds of beautiful music! Thank you again for sharing your incredible gift with all of us!

    Warmly,
    Lori (Alexa's mom)

    ReplyDelete
  34. Dear Mrs. Yollis,

    I play the piano too! I have gotten many state and country awards for it like the Certificate of Merit. I just had a piano recital today, too!

    From,
    Emily
    (your former student)

    ReplyDelete
  35. @ Emily,

    How nice to hear from a former student! :-)

    What piece did you play at your recital? I bet you were good!

    Sincerely,
    Mrs. Y♥llis

    ReplyDelete
  36. @ Lori,

    Thank you for watching my video and for your very nice comment! I really enjoy playing the piano most of the time. I sometimes play preschool songs for my younger brother and sister and they sing and dance.

    I hope Alexa decides to try learning an instrument. I think she will enjoy it as well.

    From,
    ★Miriam★

    ReplyDelete
  37. @Grace,

    Wow! I ♥ your high vocabulary word, stupendous. You should get to ring the bell and get a sticker.

    Your gramother probaly plays great. At first it took me some time to find the notes but when I found all the notes it wasn't that hard to play the song. My favorite part about piano is that you can play songs that you have
    heard before.

    Does your gramother play other songs?

    From,
    ♥Miriam♥

    ReplyDelete

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