Category Archives: piano instruction

Music and Words Revisited in Chopin’s compositions

Posted on September 25, 2016 by

In a lifetime, a few flashing moments of inspiration may guide our musical journey, deepening our understanding of a composer and his music. In this nostalgic universe of enlightenment, I treasure a precious parcel of wisdom imparted by gifted pianist/teacher … Continue reading →

Posted in Chopin, Frederic Chopin, Irina Morozova, piano, piano instruction, The Special Music School | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

A 9-year-old piano student devises a plan to improve her practicing

Posted on September 15, 2016 by

Into her seventh month of music study, Liz has more clearly defined her approach to practicing various pieces by devising a well-written outline of phrase-loving reminders. And though her vocabulary is an understandable offshoot of her teacher’s, with its emphasis … Continue reading →

Posted in piano, piano instruction, piano lessons, piano teaching, Shirley Kirsten, Shirley Smith Kirsten | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Piano Technique: Different Strokes for Different Folks

Posted on August 23, 2016 by

I’ve heard myself say a thousand times over, that each individual piano student deserves a custom designed plan of study. In essence, there’s no instructional METHOD fixed in perpetuity that will fit every musical traveler. In fact, with a diversity … Continue reading →

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A nine-year-old Piano student at the six-month juncture of study

Posted on August 17, 2016 by

It’s hard to believe how far “Liz” has come in her musical journey. With a half year’s exposure to the piano, she composes, transposes, and approaches her practicing draped in the singing tone. In a repertoire-based phase of learning (with … Continue reading →

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The earliest steps in piano learning

Posted on April 5, 2016 by

The earliest dip into piano study includes many ingredients some of which are overlooked or minimized. When mentoring a young child of 6 or 7, or a beginning adult student, sensitivity to tone/touch seems very basic to making music, yet … Continue reading →

Posted in composing, early piano instruction, piano instruction, piano lessons, piano teaching | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

When Upbeats have a new meaning and importance

Posted on March 31, 2016 by

For most piano students, an upbeat is considered a lighter springboard to a more predominant DOWN-beat, as if the UP in music should always be taken LIGHTLY. (except in Jazz framings where syncopations are characteristic of the genre.) *** We … Continue reading →

Posted in Kinderszenen, piano instruction, piano lessons, piano teaching, Robert Schumann, Schumann | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

An adult and child share common goals in playing piano artistically

Posted on March 16, 2016 by

There’s no big ocean of divide in working with children and adult piano students. In fact, today I found common threads running through two lessons: one with a local beginner, age, 8–the other, a seasoned adult. Liz, 8, completed her … Continue reading →

Posted in piano, piano blog, piano instruction, piano pedagogy, piano technique | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments