Find out how this piano teacher found new ways to getting her students spot the difference with their ears instead of their eyes.
Performance-readiness is like peak physical fitness: it must be maintained, or it disappears. That’s because rehearsing and performing, in and of itself, does not develop any of the skills required for retaining long-term piano skills. Here are three ways of playing that are essential for keeping piano skills for life.
I will simply be delighted to have my students in the same room with me again. Whilst online teaching is an excellent option when in-person teaching is not practical, it most definitely has its limits, and most of my students are hankering to come back.
Like everyone else, I have experienced a very steep learning curve by embracing online teaching. I have developed skills I never thought I’d have: camera use, audio adjustment, screen-sharing – the list goes on! Teachers have been SO generous in sharing their insights, discoveries and expertise with each other that I think I have actually become a bit overwhelmed with all the information.
So this short post is about the ONE thing I have found to be most useful in online teaching.
Last week, I learned how to play the piano. This may sound strange, as my bio clearly states that I’ve been playing piano for 47 years.
I’m pretty sure I have never taught the same piano lesson twice in a row. Even if my student – you know – DIDN’T PRACTICE ONE BIT. I tend to start new things, rather than reiterate last week’s lesson.
After years and years leaping at every opportunity and upskilling myself as much as humanly possible (and often more), I’ve learned five things that I think every person aged 8 or up who’s got that perfectionist streak needs to hear. Everything in moderation – especially moderation! Here they are.
Ok, so this probably sounds like a very far-fetched analogy, right? But I’ve been thinking a lot recently about the different factors involved in riding a bike, and how similar they are to the factors involved in a successful piano playing experience.
Learning to read music seems synonymous with Every Good Boy Deserves Fruit. But are mnemonics really the quickest and easiest way to learn letter names?
All sorts of things can go wrong in a performance. A cockroach can scuttle across your pedalling foot (this has happened to me). The music may fall off the stand (this has happened to me)….