Amanda Furbeck

Bach to School

August 9th, 2011 by

My students tell me they aren’t ready.  And I admit that I’m really not ready, either. But back to school is coming fast. For some areas, school has already begun. Our local schools, however, have a few more weeks of freedom, and I have a few more weeks to get myself ready. Even though I don’t really want to see the end of summer, I do love the excitement of new books, new backpacks, and especially, new pencils. Don’t you? I’m like a  piano teacher in a music store when I walk through the back to school aisle.

This year in the studio, we’re going to break out of our lesson book rut and make lessons more exciting and fun. I’ve been evaluating my teaching skills, my studio space, and the materials that I’ve been using. Since I want to grow my studio by at least 15 students, I know I need to step it up and make my studio a place where students want to be. Here are some of the changes that I’m making this school year.

Enthusiasm. Over the past year, I’ve really seen how enthusiasm on my part goes a long way to motivate and excite my students. So I’m going to work towards being more enthusiastic during lessons – from the time I greet my students at the door until the the time they leave. It also means keeping the studio space fun and exciting, too.

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Posted in Music & Technology, Performing, Professional Development, Studio Management, Teaching Tips

Many of us are expanding our teaching practice to include online video chat instruction. This is clearly evidenced by the number of recent posts about the topic here on the MTH Blog.

Here are a few things I’ve learned as a voice teacher using Skype with some of my clients that I hope will be helpful to any of you who are currently using this new technology or contemplating it…

I do have to say that nothing can replace being in the room with the client. You get a clear read on their sound, energy, and where they are mentally and emotionally. All of these factors help us as teachers to clue in to what the client needs the most.

For me, though, the Skype/online chat lesson offers a lot of advantages by virtue of its limitations.
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Posted in Music & Technology, Professional Development, Promoting Your Studio, Teaching Tips

By Lindsey Wright, guest author

With increasingly cheap bandwidth and a growing library of applications to use, remote online music lessons are growing more popular, affordable and effective. Both in-person (traditional) and remote styles of music instruction have unique benefits that appeal to different students, leading some to prefer one method to the exclusion of the other. For most people, however, the choice is not mutually exclusive. There is great potential for the two styles to combine in a single curriculum, providing a rich and layered learning experience. In fact, many traditional lesson plans now include or allow for remote instruction. However, remote online music lessons are not a replacement for traditional lessons, but can be either a supplement or a partial alternative. Which approach is best for a particular student depends on how they weigh the advantages and disadvantages of each? Read more…

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Posted in Music & Technology, Teaching Tips

Leila Viss

Set Your Studio Apart

July 14th, 2011 by

Recently, 3 home-schooled siblings began lessons with me (yay–that means they can arrive before the bewitching hour of 3:00pm!) With good reason, their mother was definitely concerned about her large monthly investment. With past piano teachers, communication of what and how to practice was frustrating for her children. Once they started with me, it was reassuring to hear that my detailed lesson notes, emailed after each lesson “set me apart” from other teachers.

Wow–that phrase “set me apart” got me thinking about my teaching style and how my studio may differ from others.  Below is a list of the dominant traits that have risen to the top to make mY brand of teaching unique.

PhilosophY

This statement was crafted years ago but is frequently revisited to help me stay focused on what’s important and what’s not:

Students at any age will be encouraged to develop independence at the piano so that music can be enjoyed on the bench for a lifetime.

This mission statement determines what organizations to join, if/when I may enter students in competitions, what materials to use, and most importantly what students will “fit” within my style of teaching.

PsychologY

I play all of these roles but enjoy some more than others: hostess, entertainer, policy enforcer, accountant, administrator, disciplinarian, cheerleader, coach, musician, teacher, bar tender, bill collector, confidant, therapist and friend.

In general, I often ask myself–is this a bench or a couch? I count it a privilege and honor to “be there” when needed.

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Posted in Music & Technology, Product Reviews, Professional Development, Promoting Your Studio, Studio Management, Teaching Tips, Using Music Teacher's Helper

Recently I developed a healthy obsession with Leonard Cohen. I listened to only Leonard Cohen for a straight week, and I had a strong desire to learn his songs. I also felt slightly jealous of his band… so I decided to join!  I plugged in my head phones, pulled up my favorite chord website, a live video of “In My Secret Life” by Mr. Cohen on YouTube,  and I started playing along on the piano!

My reasons were purely for entertainment, but what I noticed is that my tone became more precise and my rhythm more perfect. I had forgotten how helpful it is to play alongside a band! I naturally decided to teach one of my student’s this idea. She was excited to use her iPad in a music lesson, but naturally you could use a laptop too. This is a good opportunity for students to get a feel for what it is like to play in a “band” if they do not already do so. I hope you pass along this tip!

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Posted in Music & Technology, Practicing

Image used with permission.

Last month’s article about teaching by skype generated a lot of interest and comment, so I thought I would update you on my progress so far.

I’ve taught two piano lessons by skype, working with my 11-year old student of three years, and it’s been more challenging than I imagined. Yesterday we were working on new material, and it was remarkably difficult for my student to pick it up without me being there. I realized that I have had a tendency to jump in and demonstrate, and of course, I was unable to do that. However, if my student is to improve, he will need to get better at working this out for himself, so I can see the benefit of stepping back a little. Read more…

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Posted in Music & Technology, Practicing, Teaching Tips

The Search

This month I am closing my West Coast Vocal Studio and heading to the East Coast. As I prepared to do this,  I wanted to assist my students in the process of selecting a new teacher. I hope the letter below is helpful to some of you!

Hello Dear Singers and Families,

Well it is that time! As we begin to prepare our move and I close my west coast studio, it is now time to refer you to other teachers.

I am copying all of you on this list of teachers, and recommending one for each of you to try first. I have taken into account the following aspects of both you and the teachers I am recommending, including :
1. Personality
2. Skill level
3. Strengths and weaknesses
4. I encourage you to give the teacher I chose for you a try first, and if you are not comfortable, try another.

It is fine to “date” multiple teachers for a few lessons while you determine your new path, but not to be “engaged” to more than one- that is not acceptable private teacher behavior.
1. Be up front that you are shopping for a new teacher, tell them I recommended you if I did, and try them a few times.
2. When you have settled on the teacher you think is the best fit for you, then tell them you have decided.
3. This “dating process” is a two way street. If the teacher feels they cannot help you or your personalities do not fit, they can say “no thanks” as well. Do not take this personally, as it is part of the matching up process! You want your teacher to be at their best, and you want to be at your best, and if your personalities and skills don’t mesh, learning may be a struggle. Read more…

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Posted in Financial Business, Music & Technology, Performing, Practicing, Promoting Your Studio, Studio Management, Teaching Tips

Earlier this week I was sent a new iPhone App, ‘Metronome Plus’ to review. My students and I have spent the past few days trialing this metronome and have discovered many excellent features. Read more…

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Posted in Music & Technology, Music News, Practicing, Product Reviews, Teaching Tips

Some Observations…

1) As an organist and pianist with a master’s degree in piano performance and pedagogy, I met the challenges of memorizing Bach, executing the articulation of Mozart, the voicing of Brahms’ inner melodies, and the shimmering tones of Debussy and, succeeded, according to my professors. However, after the diploma was hung, it was quite clear to me that my sight reading skills needed attention AND chord charts for my church’s praise band seemed to be written in a secret code. I kept thinking, what kind of pianist was I? I felt lopsided–I was strong as a classical pianist but very weak as a functional musician.

2) Recently, a student of mine participated in a very unique Creative Pianist Contest and earned a $100 for the best performance of a Contemporary piece and another $100 prize for the most Versatile Pianist. Of course I was so proud of him and can take some credit for helping him to master Copland’s “Cat and Mouse”. However, I wish I could also take full credit for his versatility as well! In general, my “job” as his teacher has been to keep him staying ON the printed page because he has such exceptional skills living OFF the printed page. I can take credit for challenging those skills but the wiring between his hands and ears is an extraordinary gift and very atypical of what most of my present piano students possess.

Question…

If all students can learn to read and play music from the grand staff, should they not be able to learn how to play by ear, read chord charts and improvise as well? Can all students (not just those with a natural gift to play by ear) learn to be versatile, musically fit musicians? Read more…

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Posted in Composing & Arranging, Music & Technology, Music Theory, Product Reviews, Teaching Tips

The other day, I could not get one of my 4-year olds to do what I was asking her. So, I improvised. She had her tiny dinosaur figure and a little stuffed puppy, I had my iPod nano with a totally-awesome video camera. I asked her to help me make a video with her toys.  Afterward, we watched it and created a goofy little piano soundtrack. She was squeal-fully delighted to watch her toys play, and the soundtrack we made was quite awful, but she was smiling the whole time, and technically, I did convince her to play.

Here is the video we made.

*****Warning to sensitive viewers: There IS a make-out scene between a puppy and a dinosaur.*****

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uN75Ow6UxV0

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Posted in Music & Technology, Teaching Tips