In the November/December 2012 issue of Clavier Companion magazine, Penny Lazarus wrote a fascinating article called, “Silent Movie Music in the Piano Studio.” This was fresh on my mind when our family was invited to participate in a special talent-sharing night at a local church, so we decided to give the silent movie idea a […]
Teaching
Monday Mailbag – Teaching Hand Position
I have a technical question – my boy wants to rest his wrist a lot while plays. I sit by him and sort of poke underneath to remind him. Now he’s getting into harder stuff and has runs with 8th notes. He tends to play with his fingers straight. What can I do to get […]
16 Grand Pianos, 1 Stage – Oh Yeah!
This is where seven of my students and I will be headed a week from today… We are so excited to be participating in the Kansas City Music Teachers Association Multi-Piano Concert for the first time!
A Special Piano Solo
I’d Rather Have Jesus has been one of my favorite hymns for many years. Rhea Miller’s beautiful lyrics express the feelings of my own heart. I’ve always wanted to write my own arrangement of this hymn, and after attending The Creative Life conference last summer and launching Project 28 in my studio, that became one […]
Monday Mailbag – Planning a Comprehensive Curriculum for Intermediate Piano Students
I have been thinking a little more about curriculum. My younger students typically work through a method book with additional repertoire and activities added. My older students choose several pieces to work on through the semester/year, discuss theory/musical concepts in their pieces, work through a theory book, and typically do scales or other technical exercises. […]
Free Improvisation Handbook by Richard Grayson
One of my studio moms posted a link to this video on Facebook: I thought it was really cool and started checking more into this amazing pianist/improviser, Richard Grayson. After digging a while, I unearthed a link to his Improvising at the Keyboard handbook, a work in progress that is already an incredibly helpful resource […]
