Somehow I recently came across the Roots store on the PianoArtistryStudio.com website (do you ever follow so many rabbit trails online that you forget where you came from in the first place?!). I think I was exploring their collection of rote pieces, but in the process came across a couple of free resources that seem […]
Improvising
Cadence Inspiration
Sometimes it’s the little things that grab our attention and influence the way we teach. That’s how the session on Motivation, Mindset, and Grit by Chris Fisher was this spring. It completely revitalized my final month of lessons, and may have even contributed to one of my pre-teen students making the decision to continue lessons […]
Providing Helpful Boundaries for Improvisation
Again drawing on inspiration from my friend Agnieszka Lasko (author of the First Class Piano method!) and her fabulous ideas regarding improvising at the piano, I set out to help one of my students become more comfortable trying his own improvisation. He has a great ear for music and some definite natural talent, but he […]
Rote Teaching and Improvisation with Older Beginner Piano Students
After attending our KMTA state conference last month, I was inspired anew by a session from my friend and colleague, Agniezska Lasko. Her session, Using Contemporary Compositional Techniques in Teaching Improvisation to Children, is one I could attend over and over again and probably gain new ideas every time! I came back to my studio […]
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 […]
Free Piano Improvisation Training
Looking for some improvisation inspiration? Tomorrow morning from 10:00-10:45 (PST), Paula Dreyer, of the fabulous Little Gems for Piano book series, is offering a free training for anyone who wants to learn more, and become more adept at, improvising. All participants will receive free piano sheet music and handouts – always a perk! I’ve loved […]
