If you’re looking for some viewing and listening pleasure this summer, you might enjoy checking out these videos of the finalists and winners from the Seventh Annual Cliburn International Amateur Piano Competition. The first prize winner, audience award winner, and press award winner was 38-year old Thomas Yu, a periodontist from Calgary, Alberta, Canada. It’s […]
Videos
Using Animals to Teach Piano Technique
Sometimes I feel a bit like the odd one out as a piano teacher who isn’t equal parts animal lover. But it’s true. I’d probably rather practice scales than pet your cute little kitten, no matter how soft it is, or how adorable it sounds when it purrs. That said, there’s something different about a […]
Review and Giveaway of Little Gems for Piano
UPDATE: I was just alerted (Thanks, Amy!) that the comments were turned off on this post. Oops! Apparently a setting got changed so that in all new posts comments were not enabled. You should be able to leave comments now! If you’ve been around Music Matters Blog for a while you know that I am […]
A Great Tool for Helping Piano Students Improve Sight Reading and Rhythm Skills
One of my favorite resources to help students develop their rhythm and sight reading skills is the Rhythm and Sight Reading cards from Piano Safari. These are great to use as a supplement even if you don’t use the method books. Levi agreed to demonstrate how we utilize these cards: After tapping the rhythm pattern, […]
Music is in [and on!] the Air!
We’ve had another fun week in the studio polishing up some cool piano pieces… [“Cool Walkin’” by Melody Bober from Grand Solos for Piano, Book 3] …recording important information (in our Mini Music Manuals, of course!)… [It’s exciting to see the new level of ownership students are taking to really know all of their musical […]
Linstead Market – a Fun Piano Ensemble for 5 People!
At the beginning of September I mentioned a cool piano book I had come across called 4 Afro-Caribbean Songs for 5 Right Hands at 1 Piano. After much sweat and many hours of counting I am happy to report that we were able to pull together the lively Linstead Market arrangement. I think everyone is […]
