Monthly Archives: January 2011
Canadian Source for Artistry Books
Before Christmas I placed a few orders for Artistry at the Piano materials directly from the Artistry online ordering service. I had no problems, but had to wait a couple of weeks and once had to pay duty. There is … Continue reading
Beethoven. Terrified.
“The amount of money one needs is terrifying…” ~Ludwig van Beethoven Image: Musical Musings
Posted in Beethoven, Business of Teaching, Inspirational, Quotes
Tagged Composers, Ludwig van Beethoven, music quotes, quotes
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Ornamentation
I have found two helpful resources to use in teaching ornamentation. The first is Ornamentation – A Question & Answer Manual by Valery Lloyd-Watts and Carole L. Bigler, published by Alfred. This is an informative book, written in a Q … Continue reading
Mozart’s Letters, Mozart’s Life
I haven’t read many biographies of composers. I’ve start a lot, but finished very few. Robert Spaethling’s Mozart’s Life, Mozart’s Letters kept me spellbound. Not once did I get bored or bogged down in the details; I couldn’t put it … Continue reading
Posted in Books about Music, General, Inspirational, Mozart, Performance
Tagged Composers, Mozart, Mozart bio, Mozart's Letters, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
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Work to gain mastery
“If people knew how hard I have to work to gain my mastery, it would not seem wonderful at all.” ~Michelangelo Image: bitter witch
Binder Covers
My students have binders that bring to each lesson, divided into various sections for such things as weekly assignments, sight-reading, technique, rhythm drills, and other age- and level-appropriate pages.
Perfect Pitch… and then it’s gone.
I have perfect pitch. At least, I used to. One of the things they don’t tell you in music school is that it fades with age. Of course, “they” probably didn’t know this. One of my professors was utterly fascinated … Continue reading
Posted in General, Inspirational, Studio News
Tagged Absolute pitch, Perfect Pitch, relative pitch
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Patterns for Piano by Jon George
While searching the Artistry at the Piano website, I saw this book that was also available. Based strictly on the title, I ordered it. It came in the mail; I read through it and immediately ordered 5 more copies. It … Continue reading
… to affect the soul.
“The end of all good music is to affect the soul.” ~Claudio Monteverdi Image: Je vis pour la musique
Posted in Inspirational, Quotes
Tagged anne sophie mutter, Claudio Monteverdi, inspiration, inspirational quotes, Music, music quotes, quotes, violin, violinist
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A Solution
My own post last week on Posture at the Piano prompted me to take more immediate action on the height-of-the-bench issue. I had been having students sit on a book, but I know that’s uncomfortable. So I went on a … Continue reading
Posted in General, Piano pedagogy, Studio News
Tagged Piano pedagogy, piano studios, Piano teaching
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No Time for Theory
One of the disadvantages of our Canadian exam system (more about that in an upcoming post) is that because Theory is not required until Grade 5, it is easy to not make it a priority in the early years.
Dancing metronomes
“Has anyone every heard a metronome that made you want to dance?” – Trevor Tomkins (drummer) Image: via Mobbad
Posted in Quotes, Rhythm
Tagged metronome, music quotes, quotes, Rhythm, Rhythm Drills, Trevor Tomkins
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