I found great music this year for my students and it made Halloween piano playing super fun.
Thursday, November 1, 2012
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
play the piano in the mornings
he's the piano man
This past month I had a very successful recital. Let me tell you how it came about. Last spring, as I watched each of my 50 students individually perform, I couldn't help but noticed something that was happening in the audience. Every time a boy/young man performed every single one of my other male students young or old would perk up and listen intently, very intently. Mind you it was a long long recital. But even with the lengthiness there were still those boys who would listen no matter what to the other boys around them. I was fascinated by this. I decided that it was time to have an all boy recital!! It turned out so GOOD!!
A tradition of mine is to always invite local guest artists to perform at my recitals. They could be someone with a beautiful singing voice, amazing piano skills, or even the talent of playing other instruments that are not often found at a piano recital. I decided to search out a male pianist who was not only awesome and amazing but also would be perfect to talk with the young men and motivate them to always continue with the piano.
I asked a man who attends my church because I had heard him play Chopin once and was left mesmerized. After he accepted to play and inspire my piano men he called a week later and offered to have our piano man recital in his home! How perfect especially since he sheltered a nine foot Steinway grand!
The evening was perfect. I loved watching all the boys listen again so intently. They left that night all fired up and ready for a new piano piece at their next lesson. What could be better then this?
A wonderful intimate setting that made for such a beautiful evening.
A sign one of my amazing piano moms made. She put names of famous composers all over the sign along with all the names of my piano men.
They were all so excited to play on such a huge piano.
What an unforgettable evening! Don't they look so great!! I'm so proud of my piano men!!
A tradition of mine is to always invite local guest artists to perform at my recitals. They could be someone with a beautiful singing voice, amazing piano skills, or even the talent of playing other instruments that are not often found at a piano recital. I decided to search out a male pianist who was not only awesome and amazing but also would be perfect to talk with the young men and motivate them to always continue with the piano.
I asked a man who attends my church because I had heard him play Chopin once and was left mesmerized. After he accepted to play and inspire my piano men he called a week later and offered to have our piano man recital in his home! How perfect especially since he sheltered a nine foot Steinway grand!
The evening was perfect. I loved watching all the boys listen again so intently. They left that night all fired up and ready for a new piano piece at their next lesson. What could be better then this?
Friday, September 28, 2012
happy day
Introducing my new favorite thing: THE MONTHLY VIEW PRACTICE CALENDAR!!
I have started printing out the entire month view each month and putting it in my student's piano folder. At the bottom of the monthly calendar we make a goal together. Most of the time it is a practice goal and so it is fun for both my student and I to see their practice progress throughout the month.
I was thrilled the other day when my little 7 year old student came into my studio with the best words hand written by her on the top of her monthly calendar. I had to just take a picture of this. Take a look and see if this makes you smile.
I have started printing out the entire month view each month and putting it in my student's piano folder. At the bottom of the monthly calendar we make a goal together. Most of the time it is a practice goal and so it is fun for both my student and I to see their practice progress throughout the month.
I was thrilled the other day when my little 7 year old student came into my studio with the best words hand written by her on the top of her monthly calendar. I had to just take a picture of this. Take a look and see if this makes you smile.
Thursday, August 2, 2012
the pentascales playoffs
They have begun!!!
I have loved seeing how my students have progressed through this awesome competition. I have seen fingering, rhythm, and tempo all improve. Not to mention how quickly my students can find their starter notes. The playoffs did not start until all my students took about three weeks to learn 12 major pentascales. They had to also write out these pentascales on staff paper. After all the staff paper was turned in and after I heard all 12 pentascales sounding amazing, the playoffs started. Each student progressed at their own pace. I kept close track of everything in their assignment folder.
The playoffs began with me timing each student. I had flashcards with the name of the pentascale on them. They would quickly play the pentascale listed on the flashcards. They had to have a steady tempo and correct fingering for it to count. At the end of their first timing I would record their score. Generally the score was 2 minutes 35 seconds. Each week for the following three they had to improve their score. Currently they are improving each week and it is so exciting to see!!
Their ultimate goal is to play all 12 major pentascales in a minute or less. They have three weeks to improve their first timing or get it in a minute or less... whichever comes first. When they receive a minute or less they are officially a pentascales champion and receive the following;
Their name up on my pentascale champion wall, Bach Bucks to shop in the studio store and my favorite... they get rights to the lights!!! This has been the best part. Take a look at how awesome this is!!!
Rights to the lights include wearing the finger lights each time they come for a lesson. Of course they must play the pentascales while wearing them and get up and dance afterwards, if they so choose.
I have loved seeing how my students have progressed through this awesome competition. I have seen fingering, rhythm, and tempo all improve. Not to mention how quickly my students can find their starter notes. The playoffs did not start until all my students took about three weeks to learn 12 major pentascales. They had to also write out these pentascales on staff paper. After all the staff paper was turned in and after I heard all 12 pentascales sounding amazing, the playoffs started. Each student progressed at their own pace. I kept close track of everything in their assignment folder.
The playoffs began with me timing each student. I had flashcards with the name of the pentascale on them. They would quickly play the pentascale listed on the flashcards. They had to have a steady tempo and correct fingering for it to count. At the end of their first timing I would record their score. Generally the score was 2 minutes 35 seconds. Each week for the following three they had to improve their score. Currently they are improving each week and it is so exciting to see!!
Their ultimate goal is to play all 12 major pentascales in a minute or less. They have three weeks to improve their first timing or get it in a minute or less... whichever comes first. When they receive a minute or less they are officially a pentascales champion and receive the following;
Their name up on my pentascale champion wall, Bach Bucks to shop in the studio store and my favorite... they get rights to the lights!!! This has been the best part. Take a look at how awesome this is!!!
Rights to the lights include wearing the finger lights each time they come for a lesson. Of course they must play the pentascales while wearing them and get up and dance afterwards, if they so choose.
Monday, July 2, 2012
how to get your piano players to love scales
Hmm.... why do my students not like to play the scales? Probably because something fun needs to happen. Probably because there needs to be a little competition. Probably because they need to discover just how fast their fingers can move.
Introducing: THE PENTASCALES PLAYOFFS!! Let the finger games begin!!
The lesson just following our spring recital I handed my piano students a piece of paper that said:
3 WEEKS UNTIL THE PENTASCALES PLAYOFFS!!
Week 1: C Major, G Major, F Major & D Major
Week 2: A Major, E Major, D b Major & A b Major
Week 3: E b Major, B Major B b Major & G b Major
Learn, memorize and write out all Major Pentascales listed above for a mystery music prize.
Playoffs will be at the end of three weeks. Playoffs will include all 12 Pentascales above being timed and played in different ways including: Legato, Staccato, Forte & Mezzopiano
WWHW
I made sure that each student read the title with their most enthusiastic voice. I then went on to teach the "Major Pentascale Code" (as I would like to call it) WWHW. I would tell my students that the piano keyboard has many different sounds but in order to find them we needed to use the magic code of WWHW.
I went on to explain or reteach (most of my students are playing with flats and sharps) the concept of whole and half steps. All of my students were excited to open the unknown Major Pentascale world with their new found Major Pentascale Code. My boys loved it!! They felt like they were on a treasure hunt!!
I told them it was now up to them to use their code and find the four Pentascales listed under Week 1. It was so exciting to watch them discover the Major sounds on their own. I gave each of my students the task of playing these four Pentascales daily, 10 times each before they started into their songs. Each student was also given the task of writing all four Pentascales out on staff paper (which I provided). The completed scales written out and given back to me along with them showing me the Pentascales on the piano, would be their ticket into Week 2 or Round 2 as I would call it.
I repeated these tasks each week until all my students did the written work and had mastered the four scales for that week. Of course, I would have my students always work on the scales they learned prior as to not forget them.
Most of my students have been through all 3 weeks/rounds!!
Stay tuned for the Pentascales Playoffs!! They are right around the corner and all my students are getting excited!!
Introducing: THE PENTASCALES PLAYOFFS!! Let the finger games begin!!
The lesson just following our spring recital I handed my piano students a piece of paper that said:
3 WEEKS UNTIL THE PENTASCALES PLAYOFFS!!
Week 1: C Major, G Major, F Major & D Major
Week 2: A Major, E Major, D b Major & A b Major
Week 3: E b Major, B Major B b Major & G b Major
Learn, memorize and write out all Major Pentascales listed above for a mystery music prize.
Playoffs will be at the end of three weeks. Playoffs will include all 12 Pentascales above being timed and played in different ways including: Legato, Staccato, Forte & Mezzopiano
WWHW
I made sure that each student read the title with their most enthusiastic voice. I then went on to teach the "Major Pentascale Code" (as I would like to call it) WWHW. I would tell my students that the piano keyboard has many different sounds but in order to find them we needed to use the magic code of WWHW.
I went on to explain or reteach (most of my students are playing with flats and sharps) the concept of whole and half steps. All of my students were excited to open the unknown Major Pentascale world with their new found Major Pentascale Code. My boys loved it!! They felt like they were on a treasure hunt!!
I told them it was now up to them to use their code and find the four Pentascales listed under Week 1. It was so exciting to watch them discover the Major sounds on their own. I gave each of my students the task of playing these four Pentascales daily, 10 times each before they started into their songs. Each student was also given the task of writing all four Pentascales out on staff paper (which I provided). The completed scales written out and given back to me along with them showing me the Pentascales on the piano, would be their ticket into Week 2 or Round 2 as I would call it.
I repeated these tasks each week until all my students did the written work and had mastered the four scales for that week. Of course, I would have my students always work on the scales they learned prior as to not forget them.
Most of my students have been through all 3 weeks/rounds!!
Stay tuned for the Pentascales Playoffs!! They are right around the corner and all my students are getting excited!!
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