Five and a half years ago, I reviewed Muzie.Live, a new online music lesson platform that was in the early stages of development. I’ve continued using it ever since and at the beginning of this fall it was completely redesigned and is better now than ever! Just check out this new look: Sam Reti, the […]
Astra Perdita – A Work for Piano Solo
Composer Mark Robert Henderson reached out earlier this summer to share a musical work for piano with me: Astra Perdita – Four Piano Vignettes for Those Lost Exploring the Stars You can download a free pdf of the sheet music. You can also listen to it on Bandcamp. I highly recommend this because then you […]
From Character to Confidence Helping Young Pianists Build Faster Note Recognition – A Guest Post by Dr. Leila Karimi
There is a particular kind of hesitation piano teachers recognize immediately. A student looks at a note, looks at the teacher, perhaps looks down at the keyboard, and then begins counting from a familiar landmark. The answer eventually arrives, but the music has stopped while the student searches. That hesitation is not a sign that […]
Three Piano Repertoire Databases to Peruse
As a piano teacher I am always on the lookout for new repertoire for my students. I always love new music showcases and appreciate any presentations or resources that highlight “hidden gems.” The Piano Repertoire Explorer database aims to do just that. From the explanation on the website: “The Piano Repertoire Explorer documents the piano […]
Have You Heard of Joseph Boulogne, Chevalier de Saint-George?
How is that for a name?! There’s a reason I’m such a fan of well-written children’s books; they offer glimpses into people and events and places that I might never learn about if I had to stick to the adult shelves of the library! I recently came across the children’s book “Before There Was Mozart: […]
What If Every Note Had a Home? A Story-Based Way to Introduce the Grand Staff – A Guest Post by Dr. Leila Karimi
This method did not begin in a classroom. It began with my daughter, Alla. Alla started piano lessons at five years old and loved them. Her teacher was wonderful, she practiced happily, and by every visible measure the lessons were working. Then, about three years in, I noticed something that stopped me. She could play […]
