In one of my earlier posts, I discussed the benefits of having students participate in music auditions, festivals, and other assessment-type programs. Most of my students participate yearly in the National Piano Guild Auditions, and it is this time of the year that I assign their audition program. The National Piano Guild Auditions offer a very flexible audition experience – students can perform anywhere from 1 – 20 pieces, and the choice of repertoire is entirely up to the teacher! While Bach, Mozart and Beethoven will always be staples, I am a big fan of incorporating music from contemporary composers. I would like to share some of my most recent audition-music-gem finds:
Posted in Product Reviews, Teaching Tips
As I write this blog entry, I realize that it was about a year ago that I joined this wonderful Music Teachers Helper community. My first article here was “Time to plan the Holiday Recital” – it is that time of the year again!
Over the years, I have come across a great variety of holiday music for students. My favorites include: Music for Little Mozarts Little Mozarts Perform the Nutcracker, Famous and Fun Christmas by Carol Matz, Christmas Jazz, Rags & Blues by Martha Mier, and Especially Popular Christmas by Dennis Alexander – all of which feature fantastic arrangements of some of the most popular holiday classics. They are carefully graded to suit different student levels, musically appealing, and provide a good deal of pedagogical merits.
While I always enjoy teaching holiday music to my students and playing the teacher duet parts, every now and then I want to play those beautiful, familiar tunes, too! There are countless Christmas songbooks out there, but most of them are collections for voice/guitar/piano. I am not a big fan of these fakebook-style anthologies – the piano part is usually not very pianistically written, either it is too simple and boring, or it is awkward with big leaps and stretches. I want pianistic, musical solos that sound sophisticated, have a bit of an improvisational nature, do not sound juvenile, and are “showy” enough to play for friends and family! This year, I have found three books that fit the bill! Read more…
Posted in Product Reviews, Teaching Tips
Most students need motivation to move forward. My theory is that if one loves the
musical selection, the motivation will follow. However, the long journey towards transforming a favorite piece into a successful performance can often frustrate, dampen spirits and lessen the attraction.
Let’s be honest–why do we work? Because we love it? Perhaps, but back in the fast-food-job days, I worked for that paycheck. With the demanding, repetitious practice required during the “transformation period” an incentive or a “paycheck” can prove helpful. Music Money, created by TCW Resources, sparked my curiosity years ago and I continue to see the benefits of paying students for practice and progress (and so do my students!)
Ways to Pay that Can Make Huge Dividends Read more…
Posted in Music Theory, Practicing, Product Reviews, Teaching Tips
New Release Review: Alfred Pop and Movie Hits Level 5 and Level 6
This series is part of Alfred’s Premier Piano Course, designed to provide students familiar music from Disney cartoons, movie hits, jazz and popular songs, while reinforcing concepts introduced in the lesson books. Each piece correlates page-by-page with the materials in the lesson books; teachers may assign them according to the specific instructions, use them as review material, or to supplement another method.
Although I am familiar with the lesson books of Premier Piano Course, I have not tried the Pop and Movie Hits in my studio, so I decided that I will play through the entire Level 5 and Level 6 books and see. My verdict? Worth every penny! Here are some of the reasons why I think this series is superior in the field of popular music arranged for piano students. Read more…
Posted in Product Reviews, Teaching Tips
Recently I set the challenge for some of my students to find what they thought was the most useful free music iPhone app. A recent focus in my studio on developing aural skills was evident when multiple students came back raving about a free app called ‘Ear Trainer Lite’ (the full Ear Trainer app costs $7.49). Read more…
Posted in Music & Technology, Music Theory, Practicing, Product Reviews, Teaching Tips
Recently I attended an Alfred Piano & Keyboard Workshop given by Dr. Gayle Kowalchyk, senior keyboard editor at Alfred Publishing. The workshop was organized and hosted by The Piano Warehouse San Marcos CA, and was well attended and received by enthusiastic piano teachers from southern California.
I always love to go to these publisher workshops. As an independent piano teacher in the 21st century, I feel it is very important to know the variety of method books and teaching resources that are available through many fine publishers of educational materials. While some methods are tried and true, and I certainly have my favorites that I stock up throughout the year, it is always refreshing to see what’s new. I also strongly believe in supporting living composers. By using a variety of books and music from different publishers featuring different contemporary composers, I know that come recital time, the students will all have different and interesting pieces to play, and the lessons are more fun for me as well, as I get to listen to a variety of pieces instead of the same things over and over!
Posted in Product Reviews, Professional Development, Teaching Tips
A few months ago, I began looking for a vocal warm up CD. Up until that point, I always played the warm ups on the piano myself. As you know, playing the piano and singing requires a division of energy, and I was desperately wanting to focus all of my attention on my voice. I spent an hour on iTunes and Amazon testing out different CDs. Many coaches had somewhat irritating voices, and I could not see myself getting through a half-hour workout listening to them each day. Others were too boring and reminded me of high school choir. When I landed on the Music Academy Essential Vocals Warm Up CD I was pleasantly surprised.
The coach has a UK accent which is always soothing to my American ears, and I liked that they were challenging at first, but proved to help my vocal chords become more flexible over time. I even began using some of the tracks in my voice lessons.
For the past 3 months, I have used this CD daily. I notice my range becoming higher and my tone more controlled and flexible. As teachers it can be really hard to make time for our own practice, and I have found this CD to help my voice stay fit and strong. I have even moved onto the advanced CD in order to make my practice last for an hour each day. I highly recommend it!
Posted in Product Reviews
The World in Six Songs: How the Musical Brain Created Human Nature is a fascinating book with the premise that there are six functions of song (music) in human culture. He backs up his ideas with scientific data, and he frequently uses tales from his own experience as a musician and record producer (in his pre-research scientist days). He works to answer the questions “Why is there music?” and “Are we musical because our brains made us that way, or are our brains adapted to music because we are musical?” He explores the social advantages to being a musical being and through the six categories of song, he presents a very cohesive and coherent argument.
The six categories of song, as posited by Levitin, are: Friendship, Joy, Comfort, Knowledge, Religion and Love. Songs of Friendship are songs of camaraderie, togetherness and creating a functional large group. The selective advantages (Levitin talks of evolutionary advantages) of being in a group that works together for a collective whole are obvious. Society as we know it could not exist if we were unable to get along within larger collectives of people. A big way of getting a group to work as a unit is through music. Think of the last time you were at a baseball game and everyone sang “Take Me Out to the Ballgame.” The entire stadium is able to work together as a unit. Also, “Music has historically been one of the strongest forces binding together the disenfranchised, the alienated.” (61) Read more…
Posted in Music History & Facts, Product Reviews
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.
Posted in Music & Technology, Product Reviews, Professional Development, Promoting Your Studio, Studio Management, Teaching Tips, Using Music Teacher's Helper
When listening to a jazz trio years ago, Bradley Sowash (age 12 at the time) bravely walked up to the pianist and asked how he played with no written music. Without missing a beat, the pianist replied, “learn your chords, kid!” Since then, Sowash has managed to build a career as a recording artist, pianist, composer, arranger, collaborator, educator…
As I continue on my path towards keeping myself and my students musically fit (see last month’s blog), I continue to seek out musicians/educators who inspire, train, and challenge me–one of them being Bradley Sowash. Inspired by his story above (see link below for entire article), my studio bulletin board exclaims “know your chords, kid”. All students know we will be hitting chords hard over the next months to build some strong “chord” muscles. Sowash crafts inspiring articles, unprecedented books and videos that help me hone my skills as a musician, teacher AND a jazz player. Of course, many of them will be used this summer to develop students‘ chord playing skills and so much more. Read more…
Posted in Composing & Arranging, Music Theory, Product Reviews, Teaching Tips