Thanks Mom

Tonight as I sit here and reflect on Day #1 of the Ultimate Music Theory Certification course here in Burlington (Ontario), I really should say a great big thank you to my mom.  My mother, Loretta U'Ren-Kivinen was my piano and theory teacher.  I was really lucky as she reinforced all aspects of music - practical, ear, sight, technique AND theory.  She pushed me to keep on learning and growing as a musician, especially when my carpal tunnel made it painful to practice.  That allowed me to focus myself on theory instead of playing.  So many teachers today did not have the good fortune of a full-rounded musical education.  And, as is life, we do what we know.  This has resulted in a number of amazing piano teachers not being comfortable teaching theory AND not realizing the importance of a strong foundation in theory.  So, theory gets left out, or is introduced only when it becomes necessary to get the theory co-requisite for a piano/voice examination. 

Even though I am going to be 50 this year, I know that I have NOT stopped learning.  Neither has my mother.  She is going to be 70 years old this year, and she continues to take courses at our local College for a degree in Fine Arts.

Teachers - NEVER stop learning!!!  I challenge you to pick up a set of Ultimate Music Theory Books and start working through them.  If you don't learn anything new, then at least you will have refreshed those theory concepts.  But.....I truly believe that you will be excited by what you didn't know that you didn't know!!!  You CAN become "that teacher" like my mom, who stressed the importance of being a musician, not just a person who could play the piano.

Thanks mom.

Anticipating the beginning of the UMT Certification Course

I am so excited, I can't fall asleep.  Tomorrow, well....later today....I will be helping Glory as she presents Day #1 of the 3 Day Ultimate Music Theory Certification Course.  We traveled this morning from Brockville to Burlington (with a little pit stop for some Dim Sum in Scarborough) and then spent several hours setting up for the course.  17 teachers will be participating.  I will get to "meet" some online friends and I hope to make some new teaching friends as well.  Supporting teachers as they build their theory teaching foundation is very VERY important to me.  SO....I guess that I should head to bed so that I can be awake throughout Day #1 of the UMTC!  Good night and God Bless!

My First Post!

Hello and welcome to my very first blog!  My name is Shelagh McKibbon.  "Shelagh" is pronounced like "Sheila" and "McKibbon" is pronounced like "Mick-kib-bon" (not McGibbon).

I am the Editor and Communications Director for the Ultimate Music Theory Series, an amazing theory series created by Glory St. Germain.

I also have my own private teaching studio in Brockville, Ontario.  I teach Piano, Theory, Voice, History and Harmony.

I have been married to Scott for over 27 years.  We have 2 children and have fostered over 100 children.

I look forward to sharing about Ultimate Music Theory, my own teaching, my thoughts and ideas, and about my life as a writer, a composer, a teacher, a wife, a mother and a foster mother.

Thanks for reading!