At the end of last year, I announced to my students that everyone would be participating in the 40-Piece-Challenge, the origins of which are explained by Elissa Milne in her excellent blog. They were excited at the thought of participating in something official, and I spent a good deal of my time over the holidays […]
When it comes to playing piano – in fact any musical instrument – I think there are enormous similarities between sport and music. For example: 1. It is a physically demanding activity that takes hours of practice/training each week to do it well; 2. It is not possible to ‘cram’ – that is, ignore practice […]
Although it feels like going against the culture, it’s absolutely, positively FINE not to do exams. Here are five good reasons NOT to do an exam.
Well, the results of the practice survey are in, and they are very interesting! There were just five questions in the survey (each phrased slightly differently, depending on the answer to question 1): 1. Are you a student/teacher/parent? 2. Did you practice much over the holidays? 3. Were you rusty at the beginning of term? […]
…and the Consequence of Copies Call me old-fashioned, but I love using music books. I insist that all of my students buy them. To me, a music book is something you have for life, an addition to a library, a nostalgic possession that can be passed on to the next generation of musicians. However, I […]
If your child loves to practice, and never has to be reminded, ordered or bribed to do it, then that is wonderful. However, you are in the VAST MINORITY. Most children will baulk at practice, and below are the top 10 reasons why. 1. No routine If a child senses that practising is optional, most […]
With the recent announcement by the AMEB that the May Written series will be abolished, leaving candidates with only one option per year for sitting a ‘traditional’ face to face written exam, it seems that online exams are being embraced with such force that they may be the ONLY option available to students in the […]
It has been a while since I’ve instigated a competition of sorts with my students. In the past I’ve had things like the House Points system which tallied up minutes of practice and the 50-piece challenge which tallied up actual pieces learned. However I felt there needed to be something new, a bit of a […]
I have recently inherited a student from a colleague. Luke (not his real name) is a tall, mature and very friendly adolescent, and seemed happy to be coming to the lesson. He had had a break from piano for about six months after his previous teacher moved away, and had decided to come back to […]
Technique is an incredibly subjective issue. Get 10 piano teachers in a room and you will have 10 different techniques. Dare to criticise someone else’s and you’re in for a long night. I’d like to start this article by describing three personal experiences, all to do with comments on technique. Many years ago when I […]