After reading about the success of your incentive programs I decided to come up with my own for this fall. I’m still working on it, but it’s going to be about exploring the mystery of music. I’m wondering if you have any pieces that come to mind for recitals? (So far I have Agent X, […]
Resources
El Sistema – Enter Essay Contest and Win a Free DVD!
El Sistema is a fascinating project that provides “a network of children’s and youth orchestras, music centres and workshops in Venezuela, in which more than 250,000 children and young people are currently learning to play an instrument.” The soon-to-be-released DVD by the same name documents the history and effect of this incredible program. Naxos of […]
Beginning Hymn Improvisation
When I was in my early teens, I distinctly remember wishing that I knew how to improvise so that I wasn’t stuck playing only what was printed on the page. But I had no idea how or where to start. In particular, I saw people playing from a hymnal, but adding all sorts of cool […]
Review of Easy Hymn Solos
Attaching the tag line, “stylish arrangements” to a collection of early elementary hymn solos may seem like a bit of a stretch, but composer Wendy Stevens manages to pull it off! I recently played through each of the hymn arrangements in her new three-book collection of Easy Hymn Solos published by Hal Leonard and was […]
Monday Mailbag – New Release Clubs for Piano Teachers
I noticed in one of your blog entries that you mentioned that you get new release packages from various music companies. Is this available to other piano instructors? Yes. Several of the major music publishing companies offer new release clubs for piano teachers. I personally only subscribe to the FJH one, but I did a […]
Composer Quotes
I spent a good deal of time last night collecting quotes for a game that I am planning to have my students play at the September Surprise tonight. There’s a handy composer category of quotes on the brainy quote site – from which I pulled all the quotes. Although you can’t be 100% sure of […]
