If you’ve been around here for a while, you know that I’m a huge proponent of using rote teaching with all of my students. Here are a few favorite pieces from this fall: How do you get an energetic 8-year old boy who wants to play everything lightning fast to appreciate playing beautiful musical sounds […]
Videos
A Video Overview of the Destination: GPS Practice Incentive Theme
There are now 19 practice incentive themes in the Music Matters Blog store, and for years I have thought about creating short videos as an overview of what each theme entails. I know for me it often helps to see something in action as opposed to just reading about it. But I’ve never gotten around […]
A Piano Camp Recap Video
Here’s a short video recap with photos, videos, and the students sharing what their favorite thing was at our piano camp – To the Grand Canyon with Grofé and His Suite:
Teaching Piano Technique to Beginning Students
Tim Topham recently wrote a fabulous article that presents 4 Tips for Teaching Beginner Technique to piano students. He outlines the importance of non-legato touch, emphasizes forming a naturally curved hand, discusses naming musical gestures, and describes rotating the wrist. These closely parallel some of the technique principles I’ve discovered over the years and incorporate […]
Piano Camp 2022 – A Highlight Video
Here’s a highlight reel from Piano Camp 2022 – To London with Handel and His Messiah. Read a recap from each day here: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5
Carnival of the Animals Ballet in the Park
Our local Ballet Wichita organization performed a series of ballets in various parks, including one just down the street from us. It was a perfect occasion for an outing with a couple of my nephews (who also happened to be piano camp students who were familiar with the Carnival of the Animals suite!). They loved […]
