Tag Archives: Finger exercises
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
4 Comments
Brain Goals
This is your Brain… on Music. Our studio incentive program for this year is off to a fine (well, slow – my fault) start this year. I have FINALLY got the pages in everyone’s binder. I printed this on 2 … Continue reading
Learning WAY beyond his level
A 14-year-old student brought a copy of Chopin’s Nocturne Opus 9 #2 to the lesson last week and asked if he could learn it. He said he was prepared and willing to take the whole year. You’ll have surmised by … Continue reading
Jaws and Trills
Friday night, with my daughter, I watched Jaws for the first time in my life. It came out when I was in my teens and simply everybody went to see it – standing in line-ups that went around the block … Continue reading
Posted in Piano pedagogy, Practice Tips, Technic, Theory
Tagged Finger exercises, Mozart, Music Humour, Piano pedagogy, Practice Tips, Rhythm Drills, Theory, trill exercise
2 Comments
First Lessons
In 3 hours students arrive. The first 2 are brand new beginners. That first lesson is so important. I’ll never forget Dennis Alexander relating the story of his very first lesson. His teacher told him to come on in, for … Continue reading
Advanced Technique Workshop
The idea of practicing technique gets a bad rap. So why do it? In Canada, where we have a firmly entrenched exam system with required technical elements, the main reason seems to be to pass that component. We might acknowledge … Continue reading
Posted in Piano pedagogy, Technic
Tagged Boris Berlin, Finger exercises, Piano Technique, Practice Tips, RCM exams
1 Comment
And so on back to Beethoven
My Piano Teacher Lineage Theodore Leschetizky is legendary in piano teacher circles. He was a Polish pianist, teacher and composer who lived from 1830-1915. Much has been said about his “method” of teaching, although he was “in principle no friend … Continue reading
Posted in Books about Music, General, Technic
Tagged Finger exercises, music books, Piano method books, Piano pedagogy, Piano Technique
1 Comment
A Dozen A Day
I grew up seeing these Dozen a Day exercise books (by Edna-Mae Burnam) everywhere. My mom was a piano teacher; I probably used them myself; all my siblings also took lessons so they probably had them as well. I’ve used … Continue reading
