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Hobbies

Do you love doing things with your hands? This is a place to explore all kinds of hobbies - from arts and crafts to book writing and music lessons!

1 year ago

How to Knit for Beginners

Knitting is a timeless craft that’s been around for centuries. It’s easy to learn how to knit as long as you have the right supplies and some patience, and you can do it nearly anywhere. Knitting is also an activity anyone can do, no matter their age or skill level…

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1 year ago

Piano Lesson 10: WALTZ WEEK!

It’s WALTZ WEEK for our Sixty and Me Piano Lessons! This week we will be playing three Waltzes on p. 39-40 in Upper Hands Piano, BOOK 1. Waltzes are pieces written in a ¾ Time Signature (which means 3 beats per measure) that are played…

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1 year ago

7 Easy Crochet Patterns for Beginners

Crochet is a fun, relaxing way to make beautiful projects. And while transforming a single strand of yarn into beautiful garments and accessories using just a hook may seem a bit like magic, it’s easier than you think. There are lots of easy patterns…

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1 year ago

How to Get Started with Tie-Dye

Tie-dyeing has been around for decades and is a creative way to add a pop of color to your clothes, accessories or home decor. Whether you want to revamp an old t-shirt or create a colorful piece of art, tie-dye is a versatile and easy-to-learn technique…

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1 year ago

5 Best Quilt Patterns for Beginners

Have you always wanted to make a quilt but needed help determining where to start? We have you covered! Quilting is a fun, creative hobby anyone can enjoy, regardless of age or experience. When starting out, choosing a beginner-friendly pattern is key…

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1 year ago

Piano Lesson 9: The Dynamic Duo: P and f

When the piano was invented by Bartolomeo Cristofori in Italy in the early 1700s, it was a revelation! The instrument that preceded it, the harpsichord, was much less expressive. No matter how forcefully one pressed a key, the volume remained the same…

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1 year ago

Piano Lesson 8: A Murder Ballad and Goodnight Ladies!

It’s Lesson 8 and today we’re debuting a new note Bass F in the song Goodnight Ladies. Remember the song Goodnight Ladies from the musical The Music Man? I loved the original film starring Robert Preston, Shirley Jones, Buddy Hackett…

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1 year ago

Piano Lesson 7: Steps, Skips and More Joy

Beethoven advised his students to work hard at learning how to play music, but also to notice the profound beauty of the music, and to connect to it emotionally. He believed that music could elevate humans to the level of gods!

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1 year ago

Piano Lesson 6: What Is a Pickup? (Hint: It’s Not a Truck or a Flirtation)

In music there are stronger beats and weaker beats. In 4/4 time (4 beats per measure), beat 1 is generally the strongest beat and beat 3 is the second strongest. This point is well illustrated in this video. When conductor Gustavo Dudamel turns around…

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1 year ago

Piano Lesson 5: Reading Bass G, New Exercise #2, and a St. Patrick’s Day Bonus

The focus for Lesson 5 is reading Bass G. I showed you how to play Left Hand ‘G’s in Lesson 4 and in today’s lessons you will be reading that G note in the Bass Staff! You will play Bass G in The Irish Washerwoman, a fun and popular traditional Irish jig…

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