When do you introduce the five finger pentascale to a student? Any information regarding pentascales would be greatly appreciated. I usually introduce pentascales as soon as the student has learned the names of all the white keys and understands half steps and whole steps. We start with the C-Major pentascale, and I teach them the […]
Teaching
Fresh and Fun! Idea for Key Signatures
Steve, over at Music Ed Lounge, is the one who first suggested a theme of key signatures for this month (thanks, Steve!). Next week, I’m planning to use his Fresh and Fun! idea of “Simon Says” with my students. If you have a Fresh and Fun! idea you’d like to contribute for focusing on Key […]
Major Minor Scale Matchup Free Worksheet
Since my students have been doing well with the Key Signature – Scale Matchup worksheets, I thought it might be helpful to use a similar format to help them understand the relationship between relative keys. In the Major-Minor Scale Matchup worksheet, students are supposed to draw a line connecting each scale in the left hand […]
Monday Mailbag – Treasure Chest Piano Practice Incentive
I was directed to your site from an Internet search I did to find more info about piano pedagogy. I think I originally found it on www.toddfamily.com/policies. Anyway, can you tell me more about your Treasure Chest idea? Sure! One year for my practice incentive program, I did a Treasure Chest theme. Students could earn […]
Key Signature – Scale Matchup Worksheets a Hit!
Here are a couple snapshots from my studio this week as my students worked on their Key Signature – Scale Matchup Worksheet. I had them all do the Major Sharp worksheet in the studio under my supervision, and then gave them the Major Flat worksheet to do on their own and bring back completed next […]
Think you don’t have time to practice…
…imagine serving as Secretary of State and still putting together a beautiful performance of the Dvorak Piano Quintet like Condoleezza Rice did for the Aspen Music Festival last August! (I’m feeling like I should beef up my practicing now!) Part One: Part Two: HT: Collaborative Piano Blog
