One of my favorite aspects of teaching is leading students to a discovery of knowledge. Renowned pedagogue Frances Clark reminded us, “Teaching is not telling.” As easy, and seemingly efficient, as it is to fall into the rut of telling students what I want them to know, the reality is that they will almost assuredly […]
Key Signatures
Using Key Signature Flashcards to Make a Circle of Fifths
This may be a no-brainer, but for some reason it just occurred to me this week that key signature flashcards (I love this set of Student Flashcards from TCW Resources!) would provide a great hands-on opportunity to create and understand the Circle of 5ths! Mercy has been working hard on memorizing all of her key […]
Monday Mailbag – When to Start Teaching Scales
When do you start teaching scales? I have been using the “Piano Adventures” method books and really like them, but they don’t teach scales or time signatures until four books in, and I am debating about teaching younger students scales before they encounter them in their music. How soon do you start introducing scales and […]
Monday Mailbag – How to Teach Key Signatures
I’m starting to wonder if my method of teaching both major and minor key signatures is too cumbersome for my students. So I have been researching more intuitive approaches. When do you start teaching key signatures and how do you introduce and drill them so that they are second nature? This is an area that […]
Giveaway of The Pianists’ Book of Musical Scales and Keys!
It’s always challenging trying to come up with a creative and musical gifts for students each year, but I love trying to think of something that will be special and useful. After quite a bit of brainstorming and reflecting on what students have appreciated most in the past, I settled on the idea of making […]
Free Circle of 5ths Diagram in Color
The Piano Teacher Resource website is offering a free circle of 5ths diagram in wonderful bright colors for a limited time! We use the circle of 5ths all the time in the studio for learning and understanding keys and key signatures, so I think my students will enjoy this colorful version!
