Gail L. Fischler, of the Piano Addict blog posted a very helpful series on “Essential Skills for the Transferring Developing Pianist.” Here are direct links to each of the three parts: Essential Skills for the Transferring Developing Pianist: Part One – covers the importance of warming up, listening to multiple performances, visualizing your playing on […]
Favorite Rote Teaching Pieces
Do you ever teach pieces to your students by rote? I have a couple of students that absolutely amaze me with their ability to watch me play something once and then repeat it almost perfectly and retain it in their memory all week long! Here are a few pieces that I frequently use for this […]
Review and Giveaway of Goal-Oriented Practice!
Within days of reading Gretchen Saathoff’s ebook, Goal-oriented Practice, I was already referring to it in conversations with students during their lessons. The 39-page book is an easy read – written in a conversational and easy-to-understand style. Sections of the book include: Your Practice Environment Warming Up Learning the Music You’re Off to a Good […]
And the Winner Is…
The winner of the autographed copy of Playing [Less] Hurt by Janet Horvath is Dee Fisher (#24)! Congratulations! I know you won’t be disappointed with this helpful resource. Thanks to everyone for participating in this giveaway. Stay tuned for another giveaway coming up in just a few hours! 🙂
Monday Mailbag – Teaching a Beginning Student Who Has Some Music Background
I have an 11-year-old student who has played in band for one year and this will be her first year of piano. She is familiar with the R.H. notes and basic musical notation. I’m debating whether to start her completely at the beginning of a basic method (considering her age) or should I try to […]
Dozens of Free MP3 Downloadable Classics Especially for Children!
A friend of mine who is writing pre-school curriculum as she homeschools her children came across this fabulous website full of free mp3 downloadable classics! The files are from children’s record series (vinyl records) sold in the US during the 1950’s and 1960’s. I downloaded the “A Child’s Introduction to the Instruments of the Orchestra […]