This is a great point by Mike over at the How to Practise website. I’ve noticed how often my students, who play well with dynamics at their lessons, often can’t get the same good sound when they perform in other venues. I’m definitely going to start using this principle of “no such thing as piano” with my students – in fact I even incorporated it into a student’s lesson yesterday! – and see how they do.
BTW, if you haven’t checked out Mike’s website, be sure you carve out about three hours (or maybe three days!) and treat yourself to all kinds of helpful information and practice tips. It’s loaded, and I haven’t even begun to scratch the surface of everything the site has to offer. Not to mention that I love the colors and layout of the site!
Hi, thanks for the positive comments – always nice to hear that the site has been of use. Hopefully we can all help spread the message about good practice technique – in my opinion one of the fundamentals of learning any instrument.
Thanks Natalie for letting us know about Mike’s website. I wish I knew about it earlier. I am doing a practice workshop over the summer (one more session to go…). So far it is doing great.
Jennifer~
I would LOVE to see notes from your practice workshop! Any chance you’ll be posting them to your website? I think that’s an area I really need to work on more with my students.
I can send them to you… It will have to wait until next week if that’s okay. This is my very full week with classes. That’s actually a good idea to put them on my website…
That would be wonderful! Next week would be fine. Thanks!