“Deliberate practice requires sustained concentration, and the rewards are subtle and apparent only in the long term. Thus, one needs motivation in order to enter into and sustain the hard work of deliberate practice. But the learning happens not simply through putting in the hours, but through doing so intelligently.” ~Sanjoy Mahajan >>Read the rest […]
Inspirational
Repertoire Reviews of Intermediate Level Piano Music
Have you ever wished you could listen to beautiful performances of intermediate level repertoire so that you could discover new and appealing pieces for your students? Well then, you can thank Luke Bartolomeo, of the Repertoire Review website, for being your wish-granting genie in a magic lamp because that is what his weekly podcast is […]
Do You Keep a Studio Journal?
I’ve been an avid journaler since before I turned 10. And at least three of the pedagogy courses I took required some form of journaling. Perhaps that’s why I made a point years ago to start a studio journal of sorts. There are probably a variety of ways one could use a studio journal, but […]
When Unwillingness in Practice is a Good Thing
In Bruce Berr’s column of the latest American Music Teacher magazine, he talks about relearning pieces and particularly the importance of good fingerings. I really appreciated the whole article, but was especially struck by one sentence toward the end: “The new approach I’ve adopted is about mindfulness, physical awareness and an ironclad unwillingness to accept […]
How to Motivate Your Kids to Practice Their Instrument
Jason Bernstein, of the Piano Lessons World website, has a helpful post on How to Motivate Your Kids to Practice Their Instrument. He shares 6 specific ideas that are great for parents looking for practical tips on how to help their child be successful. In particular, I really appreciate #2 – Participate in Performance Opportunities. […]
On Overcoming Difficulties
A daily calendar that I have in my studio had this wonderful quote by John R. Mott yesterday, “Difficulties are not without their advantages. They are not to unnerve us. They are not to be regarded simply as subjects for discussion nor as grounds for skepticism and pessimism. They are not to cause inaction, but […]
