It doesn’t happen often, but every once in a while I have a student who requires more than a convincing argument to believe that something I’m making them do is important. For example, fingering. I find this aspect of playing to be particularly challenging for students who learn to read the notes quickly. They seem […]
2012 MTNA – Concerts, Meet-up, and Live-Blogging!
Have you completed your registration for the 2012 Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) Conference in New York City?! Today is the early registration deadline, so you can save $50 if you register by today. My registration is in and I am eagerly looking forward to a wonderful week in The Big Apple next spring! Also, […]
Collection of 12 Free Piano Pieces
Looking for a great collection of intermediate level piano pieces for some of your advancing students? Charles Wu has put together a very nice set of 12 pieces that will introduce students to a variety of composers and styles. The compilation includes: Georg Frederic Handel – March in G HWV 419/3 Henry Purcell – Air […]
My Favorite New Christmas Piano Book!
Several weeks ago, I posted about my afternoon of playing through Christmas music trying to find just the right piece for each student for the Christmas recital. As I confessed, I wasn’t that thrilled about spending a sunny Saturday afternoon in the basement at the piano, but when I started to play through these contemporary […]
Monday Mailbag – Not Giving Credit for Missed Lessons
Do you credit students for missed lessons if they let you know in advance that they’ll be gone? Also, do you charge for holding a space open for a student such as the one you mentioned that was moving or say if they had a long term injury such as a broken wrist? I had […]
A Story of Thanksgiving
Since I’m taking the week off of teaching, I won’t be blogging either, but I wanted to share a really cool story with you that happened this past week. The church where I have been holding my Christmas recital for years disbanded this fall and sold the building. I knew I wouldn’t be able to […]