Monthly Archives: October 2026

music

Beginner Piano Lesson #19

Beginner Piano Lesson #19

Playing with Expression: Dynamics and Feeling

By Lesson 19, you’ve likely learned basic notes, simple chords, scales, and rhythm patterns. Now it’s time to make your music sound more expressive.

What Are Dynamics?

Dynamics tell you how loud or soft to play.

Common dynamic markings:

  • pp = very soft (pianissimo)
  • p = soft (piano)
  • mp = moderately soft
  • mf = moderately loud
  • f = loud (forte)
  • ff = very loud (fortissimo)

Exercise 1: Dynamic Control

Play a C major scale:

  1. Ascend softly (p)
  2. Descend loudly (f)
  3. Repeat, gradually getting louder going up and softer going down.

Focus on keeping the notes even.

Exercise 2: Simple Chord Progression

Play each chord four times:

  • C Major (C-E-G)
  • F Major (F-A-C)
  • G Major (G-B-D)
  • C Major (C-E-G)

Try:

  • First round: soft
  • Second round: loud
  • Third round: start soft and gradually get louder

Rhythm Practice

Count aloud:

1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &

Play middle C on every number and clap on every “&”.

This improves timing and coordination.

Ear Training

Listen to a favorite song and ask:

  • Is it loud or soft?
  • Does it change volume?
  • Which section feels strongest?

Learning to hear dynamics helps your own playing.

Practice Goal (10–15 Minutes)

  • 3 min: C major scale
  • 4 min: Chord progression
  • 3 min: Rhythm exercise
  • 5 min: Play a simple song using soft and loud dynamics

Tip of the Day

A piano isn’t just about playing the right notes—it’s about making the notes tell a story. Even a simple melody sounds beautiful when you vary the volume and expression.

Next Lesson (#20): Introduction to the G Major Scale and the F♯ note. 🎹

History

THIS WEEK IN SAINT JOHN HISTORY — Oct 3–10

THIS WEEK IN SAINT JOHN HISTORY — Oct 3–10
Port City • Since 1604

Oct 2, 1958 — Muriel Corkey Ryan, First Woman QC: Saint John lawyer breaks barrier, appointed first woman Queen’s Counsel in New Brunswick.

Oct 4, 1783 — Loyalists Land: 20,000 Loyalists arrive in Nova Scotia; half settle the Saint John River Valley, founding the city.
Oct 4, 1871 — Cold-Water Soap Patented: Andrew J. Stewart patents his famous cold-water soap formula in Saint John.

Oct 5, 1869 — The Saxby Gale: Devastating hurricane surge obliterates wharves and ships across Bay of Fundy & Saint John Harbour.

Oct 6, 1784 — First Murder Reported: Dr. Samuel Moore records the young city’s first homicide in his ledger.

Oct 7, 1825 — Great Miramichi Fire Ends: North America’s largest wildfire leaves 15,000 homeless; skies dark for days over Saint John.

Sources: GNB This Week in NB History / NB Museum

local

What’s happening with our homeless

What’s happening with our homeless neighbours in Saint John and their relocation.

The city has started moving people out of the most unsafe encampments around town. The plan is supposed to be about dignity first – outreach workers connect with people, offer support and a place to go, then the old sites are cleaned up and restored.

What makes this different right now are the new temporary buildings going up.

Those are the new Neighbourly Homes bridge housing communities built by 12 Neighbours on the east side. They are small managed villages of micro-homes built around courtyards with staff on site around the clock. It’s not an overnight shelter and it’s not yet a forever home. It’s that middle step where people can get stable, get support for recovery and health, and start to rebuild.

More is on the way too with the Sunnyside community, 70 homes with supports in partnership with United Way Maritimes.

And the main Hub for anyone needing help has moved to a more central location at 100 Waterloo Street uptown.

Relocating someone without offering a real alternative is just moving the problem around. Relocating someone into a safe temporary home with support is a chance to move forward.

If you want to help, you can drop off food, toiletries and gift cards at 100 Waterloo.

Saint John is a small city with a big heart.

Canada Today

Canada briefing for this week — Sept 28 to Oct 3, 2026:

Canada briefing for this week — Sept 28 to Oct 3, 2026:

 

📰 Canada Weekly

Trade and manufacturing feel the squeeze

Canadian manufacturing softened again in September. The S&P Global Canada PMI eased to 51.5, the lowest since March and only modest growth, after dipping to 53 in August. Output still rose but new orders declined marginally for the first time since March as clients hesitated on tariffs. That backdrop follows a volatile trade sequence. The Trump administration imposed new 50% tariffs in August on about 5% of Canadian exports and then in September signed orders to ban imports of many dairy products, alcoholic beverages and motorcycles from Canada in response to Canadian retaliatory tariffs on about $20 billion in U.S. goods. Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne met virtually with provincial and territorial finance ministers on October 2 to discuss health funding, Canada’s response to ongoing U.S. trade measures, internal trade barriers and growth.

Nation-building push moves to legislation

September was described as the month Canada’s nation-building machinery went into full production. Bill C-39, the Building Canada Strong Act, was tabled September 21 as the most comprehensive reform of project approvals in a generation, alongside the first-ever Canada Investment Summit in Toronto that produced nearly $500 billion in investment commitments over two days. The summit and bill set up October decisions on national interest listings, including the deep geological repository and pipeline files.

Climate and immigration files

Environment Minister Julie Dabrusin led Canada’s delegation to the China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development in Beijing from September 27 to 29, building on more than 30 years of Canada-China environmental cooperation. On immigration, Canada invited 3,500 trades candidates to apply for permanent residence in an Express Entry round held October 1.

 

Want a deeper dive on any of these — the tariff list, the AI council’s mandate, or the upcoming rate decision?