Sometimes when students are preparing for a performance I encourage them to “improvise” when they get stuck or have a memory lapse. Some students understand this, but for others who are younger or more concrete thinkers, I found a very simple phrase this week to help them keep going in a performance. Around 1:27 in […]
Videos
Sacred Christmas Volume 2 – Giveaway #3
Do you have those composers that you love to play? You wait expectantly for their next release? You know that when you sit down to play through their work that it will be a treat for your ears? Even though I am not a fan of hearing Christmas music ad nauseam this time of year, […]
Highlights from Day 5 of Carnival of the Animals Music Camp
Day 5 of our Carnival of the Animals music camp has arrived! We played the ever-popular Guess-It! game as a way of reviewing all that we’ve learned so far this week. The Science of Sound today explores two remarkable instruments – the piano and the glass armonica. Students use their music vocabulary knowledge to attempt […]
Creativity on Heart and Soul
Have you ever had a student come into their lesson thrilled to show you the new song that their friend just taught them? Only to discover that it’s at the top of every piano teacher’s list of Most Disliked Songs? You know which one I’m talking about, don’t you? Yup. Heart and Soul. But, as […]
Introducing…the Shlap!
I love it when my students put their creative juices to work to come up with something innovative! Check out this new musical symbol that Stephanie devised:
Musaic – A New Treasure Trove of Advice from Music Professionals!
As I’ve attended music teacher workshops and conferences over the years, one of the highlights has always been attending master classes. I love watching other teachers interact with students and gleaning insights that I can utilize in my own teaching. Musaic – an initiative of New World Symphony – seeks to bring masterclasses and dozens of […]