Tag Archives: Piano teaching

Where are my glasses?

Posted on June 18, 2013 by

Over the years I’ve honed the whole recital thing logistically. I thought. I even wrote a post about it last year. Things generally go quite smoothly, as they mostly did three days ago. I was getting tougher this year – … Continue reading →

Posted in Business of Teaching, Performance | Tagged , , , , | 7 Comments

Would you rather be doing dishes?

Posted on June 14, 2013 by

If I didn’t actually come up with the idea myself, I certainly perfected it as a teenager. No comment on how one of my siblings feels about this – to this day … See Teach Piano Today for more amusing … Continue reading →

Posted in Music Humour, Practice Tips | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

With distractions this time

Posted on June 7, 2013 by

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 , , | Leave a comment

Tetris, an ugly bump, and sight-reading

Posted on June 3, 2013 by

Thanks to good teaching I’ve never had a problem with tendinitis or any other pain in all the years I’ve been playing the piano. Thanks to Tetris, I have an ugly bump at the base of my thumb, which caused … Continue reading →

Posted in General, Piano pedagogy, Practice Tips, Sight Reading | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Viva la différence!

Posted on May 28, 2013 by

For teachers in Canada, there is a healthy, rich alternative to the ubiquitous exam system. Conservatory Canada is similar in the number of grades, theoretical subjects, general format, and credit in high schools. There are a number of striking differences … Continue reading →

Posted in Canadiana, Examinations, Piano pedagogy | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Step back from the panic

Posted on May 20, 2013 by

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 , , , , , | 4 Comments

Decipher the handwriting. And more.

Posted on May 16, 2013 by

“You have survived this season’s run of music festivals and competitions. You have your certificate. Maybe you even earned an award. Perhaps now you’re asking yourself, “Now what?” Please bring your written adjudication sheet(s) to your next music lesson … Your … Continue reading →

Posted in Examinations, General, Performance, Piano pedagogy | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

… and don’t blame the page-turner

Posted on May 9, 2013 by

“What is it to be musical? You will not be so, if your eyes are fixed on the notes with anxiety and you play your piece laboriously through; you will not be so if, supposing that someone should turn over … Continue reading →

Posted in Practice Tips, Performance, Technic, Quotes, Music History | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

I’m as busy as I want to be

Posted on May 7, 2013 by

I saw a cute snack idea once. Get ice-cream cones (in the middle of December); mix up some cake batter; pour some of the mix into each cone and bake. Then decorate. In a Christmas theme, obviously. Voila! Cute ice-cream … Continue reading →

Posted in Business of Teaching, General | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

30 seconds of terror

Posted on May 1, 2013 by

Time to Sight-Read on the exam. And get an easy 10 marks. Or not. You get about 30 seconds to look over the piece before starting. And once you start, you Just Don’t Stop. Forget about showing the examiner (or … Continue reading →

Posted in Piano pedagogy, Sight Reading, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 6 Comments

Tweak … tweak … tweak

Posted on April 29, 2013 by

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 →

Posted in Business of Teaching, Studio News | Tagged , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Good and positive and full of love

Posted on April 19, 2013 by

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 , , , | 2 Comments