Meet Ludwig van Beethoven | Popsicle Stick Theater for Kids

This video is the second popsicle stick theater production I've posted to YouTube, but the first one I started working on almost a year ago. 

I had most of it complete, but just didn't know where to turn for voice-over talent. I found a wonderful gal that brings so much sweetness and character to this lesson. The wait also allowed me time to learn a bit more about animation and refine things. 

I hope you enjoy this MakingMusicFun production of "Meet Beethoven!"

Get more out of the free MakingMusicFun.net Music Academy video lesson, Meet Beethoven | Composer Biography for Kids, with this free study guide. Click the following link to print this Meet Beethoven worksheet:

Meet Beethoven | Composer Biography for Kids Study Guide

Free Musical Intervals Worksheet for Kids (Fiesta Theme)

I've created a ton of music theory worksheets for my site, MakingMusicFun.net, and coming up with new ideas is sometimes tricky. The inspiration for this worksheet came in the mail. It was a toy for our dog Chester. Actually, what he got was a plush taco with a funny face on it. I started with a design for taco character, but then decided on a cactus as the main character. These worksheets took the better part of the day to put together, but I like the results and hope the music teachers and students that visit MakingMusicFun.net will enjoy them.

Here's the cactus character for the music theory worksheet:

There are a lot of worksheets out there for kids that use clip art to make them kid-friendly, but the theme it's carried throughout the worksheet. To make the worksheet a "fiesta" from top to bottom I used maracas in the connect-the-dot matching section.

If you were looking for the Intervals Fiesta Music Theory Worksheets, here are the links to the free treble clef, bass clef and viola clef worksheets.

Intervals Fiesta - Treble Clef Worksheet

Intervals Fiesta - Bass Clef Worksheet

Intervals Fiesta - Viola Clef Worksheet

The Instruments of the Orchestra: A Guide for Kids

One of early additions to MakingMusicFun.net were the Hey Kids, Meet the Orchestra pages. Each one gives an overview of the musical instrument, including it's history, how it's made, and how it's played. 

I've updated the images a couple times. This time I wanted to match the new site colors and eliminate the drop shadow, in favor of a flatter design. 

If you were looking for the Hey Kids, Meet the Orchestra resources the following links will get you to the resources.

Orchestra Instruments - Woodwind Family 

Hey Kids, It's a Flute 

Hey Kids, It's an Oboe 

Hey Kids, It's a Clarinet 

Hey Kids, It's a Bassoon 

Orchestra Instruments - Brass Family 

Hey Kids, It's a Trumpet 

Hey Kids, It's a French Horn 

Hey Kids, It's a Trombone 

Hey Kids, It's a Tuba 

Orchestra Instruments - String Family 

Hey Kids, It's a Violin 

Hey Kids, It's a Viola 

Hey Kids, It's a Cello 

Hey Kids, It's a String Bass 

Hey Kids, It's a Harp 

Orchestra Instruments - Percussion Family 

Hey Kids, It's the Chimes 

Hey Kids, It's a Snare Drum 

Hey Kids, It's a Timpani 

Hey Kids, It's a Xylophone 

Hey Kids, It's a Glockenspiel 

Hey Kids, It's a Cymbal 

Orchestra Instruments - Keyboard Family 

Hey Kids, It's a Piano

The Rhythm Store™ | Music Theory Shopping Game Illustration

I've updated the illustration for this game twice since I first created it. Getting the girl's pose right and the colors have been a challenge. I think I'm finally happy with the results.

If you're looking for the music theory game, you can get print it on MakingMusicFun.net at the following link:

The Rhythm Store™ | Music Theory Shopping Game

Woman from Sci-Fi Short Film "Dust: Iteration 1" as Animated Character

Sometimes I like to pause TV shows and sketch. The random poses are often more interesting that typical poses. Here's a woman I sketched from the Sci-Fi short film "Dust: Iteration 1," turned into an animated character, and then a vector image.

My Sketch

Vector Image