It’s been quite a few years since I first read and reviewed Gerald Klickstein’s insightful book, The Musician’s Way, but it still stands out as one of the most inspirational and practical books in the music industry on the subject of practicing and performing. His bi-monthly newsletter still consistently delivers numerous interesting and useful links. […]
Free Piano Sheet Music for Aquarium from Carnival of the Animals
Anyone who’s been around here for a while knows that I’m a huge fan of Carnival of the Animals. I’ve used it as the theme for a regular summer piano camp for my students and also for the Piano Expeditions piano camp – To France with Saint-Saëns and His Carnival. Even before that, I used […]
Review of Extreme Heterophony by John Pitts
When composer John Pitts contacted me about reviewing his newest book, Extreme Heterophony: a study in javanese gamelan, I was intrigued for two reasons. Not, mind you, because I had any idea what it was about! But because, firstly, there has been an increased effort in the music education community to explore more diversity in […]
A New Year’s Sale!
To celebrate the commencement of 2022, everything in the Music Matters Blog store is on sale! Just use the code NY22 to receive 20% off your entire order. You may want to get a head start on piano camp ideas for this summer, liven up your lessons with some fun 5-minute games, or launch a […]
Reflections on Favorites from 2021
As a compulsive planner, I always approach a New Year with high hopes, empty notebooks for making lists, and oodles of ideas and plans to pursue. As I pulled out my trusty “Idea Notebook” to start brainstorming, I couldn’t help but peruse all of my well-intentioned plans from days gone by. Some accomplished; many still […]
New Deck the Halls Christmas Piano Duet
Looking for a quick, fun, lively Christmas piano duet for a couple of students? This page and a half elementary piano duet of Deck the Halls sports a catchy intro, then shares the melody equally between both parts, concluding with a return to the theme from the intro. Simple to learn and fun to play!
