Category Archives: Studio News
With distractions this time
Performance Classes were held in my studio this week as preparation for the year-end recital. As usual, students were grouped roughly by age and level, although scheduling issues sometimes ended up taking precedence. After the first run-through of the recital … Continue reading
Posted in Performance Classes, Piano pedagogy, Studio News
Tagged Piano Lessons, piano teachers, Piano teaching
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Step back from the panic
Exams start in two weeks. Some students will be ready. Some will not. I’m in a state of panic. And not quite sure why some students are not experiencing the same. I have to look back on the last few … Continue reading
Posted in General, Piano pedagogy, Studio News
Tagged Claude Debussy, Les Préludes, Piano Lessons, piano practice, piano teachers, Piano teaching
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Tweak … tweak … tweak
Record store owner and employees upon seeing a recording artist enter their store: “What did you tell her about the shop for?” I ask the others. “I didn’t know it was classified information,” says Barry. “I mean, I know we … Continue reading
Connections
This started as a blog intended for other piano teachers. Then expanded to include just as many followers who are music-lovers but in different professions. The connections across the globe still astound me. Along the way I’ve made a couple of … Continue reading
Posted in Business of Teaching, Studio News
Tagged Piano, piano blogs, Piano pedagogy, piano teachers, teaching piano
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Good and positive and full of love
The year is winding down in a couple of months. Registrations and intentions are being collected for the new year starting in September. Music lessons are a long haul. Long-term thinking and planning happen every week. Students can stay with … Continue reading
Posted in Business of Teaching, Inspirational, Studio News
Tagged integrity, music lessons, Piano Lessons, Piano teaching
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In the Technique Box – part 2
Intermediate technique books sitting on my shelf. May or may not ever be used … 1. Technic is Fun, Books One and Two (compiled, edited and arranged by David Hirschberg, pub. Alfred). Classic studies that cover a wide range of … Continue reading
Protect Your Piano
Yesterday was glorious. A warm spring day. I sat on the front porch with a good book, soaking up the warmth and light. Today it’s snowing. Again. Calgary, Alberta (Canada) is particularly bad for temperature and humidity swings. It can … Continue reading
Posted in Pianos, Studio News, Uncategorized
Tagged Calgary, Dampp-Chaser, Dehumidifier, Humidity, Piano
7 Comments
In the Technique Box* (part 1)
There are three boxes of technique books sitting on the shelf, organized according to the level: Elementary, Intermediate, and Advanced. These are used books. Stuff that I pull out for students as needed. My beginner and elementary students use the … Continue reading
Posted in Method Books, Piano pedagogy, Practice Tips, Rhythm, Studio News, Technic
Tagged Alfred, Finger exercises, Music, Pianist, Piano, Piano Adventures, piano teachers, Piano teaching, piano technic, Piano Technique
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Yes. They have their place.
I should be careful about making big, bold, never-ever statements. They generally come back to bite me. For years I gave electric, then digital pianos no thought. Spoke out against them. Memories of trying to accompany choirs in awkward places … Continue reading
Posted in General, Pianos, Studio News
Tagged Digital piano, Franz Liszt, Keyboard, Piano, Yamaha Corporation
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Tears on the bench
This time it wasn’t my fault. Earlier this week one of my students waited quietly on the sofa for her lesson, then sat down on the piano bench and promptly burst into tears. I quickly shooed the previous student out … Continue reading
Posted in General, Performance, Studio News
Tagged piano lesson, piano teachers, Piano teaching
3 Comments
