Category: piano lessons and parental support

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The come and go, passing through Age of piano study

arioso7: Shirley Kirsten

It’s always nice to blog about a devoted cadre of piano students who show up each week prepared for their lessons, wanting to grow and develop in creative directions. Such a pleasing landscape had been presented in REACHING BEYOND, a film tribute to Irena Orlov’s remarkably inspired piano teaching. Her students couldn’t wait to go… Continue reading The come and go, passing through Age of piano study

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Piano Lesson: Rina, 4, learns about “Long and Short sounds meeting High and Low Sounds,” Chapter 15, Tales of a Musical Journey (Videos)

arioso7: Shirley Kirsten

Today was Rina's 14th piano lesson and she's moving right along. Her hand position is greatly improved and she has a nice appreciation of the singing tone. Irina Gorin's instruction is laid out in such a way that a student takes no short cuts in learning piano. The physical approach to creating a beautiful tone,… Continue reading Piano Lesson: Rina, 4, learns about “Long and Short sounds meeting High and Low Sounds,” Chapter 15, Tales of a Musical Journey (Videos)

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Is there a short cut route to learning piano?

arioso7: Shirley Kirsten

Promises abound on the Internet about playing piano in a flash. Short cut promoters claim thousands of dollars are wasted on "traditional" piano lessons. A teacher in the Southwest advertises software that speeds up note reading. Children as young as two are glued to a computer that's attached to an electronic keyboard with far fewer… Continue reading Is there a short cut route to learning piano?

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Rina, 4, has her 6th piano lesson: Learning about short and long sounds using black and white circles (“Tales of a Musical Journey”) 4 Videos

arioso7: Shirley Kirsten

Rina reached another landmark, entering the universe of long and short sounds. She drew on a collection of black and white cardboard circles that came nicely packaged with Tales of a Musical Journey, and embarked upon a hands-on rhythm framed adventure. After floating through her "Harmony of the Angels" relaxation opener, she perched herself at… Continue reading Rina, 4, has her 6th piano lesson: Learning about short and long sounds using black and white circles (“Tales of a Musical Journey”) 4 Videos

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The nitty gritty reasons why piano students drop out: Two staunchly different opinions

arioso7: Shirley Kirsten

The current rage on the Internet surrounds a Facebook posting that claims a 95% dropout rate among piano students. The nitty gritty reasons cited by the poster are contained in what I view as a tirade against what he terms "standard lessons." He insists that the "music teaching industry" uses a "status quo method that… Continue reading The nitty gritty reasons why piano students drop out: Two staunchly different opinions

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Rina, age 4, has her THIRD piano lesson using Irina Gorin’s “Tales of a Musical Journey” (Videos in 6 parts)

arioso7: Shirley Kirsten

I enjoyed today's musical adventure with Rina but not all lesson segments are reproduced in completion in order to control length. In instances where my student used her Right Hand, we continued the activity with her Left Hand which is an important component of Irina Gorin's "Musical Journey" through the kingdom of sounds. Every video… Continue reading Rina, age 4, has her THIRD piano lesson using Irina Gorin’s “Tales of a Musical Journey” (Videos in 6 parts)

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My New Piano Studio in El Cerrito, California, and panoramic views taken from Amtrak 711 and 712 along the Bay route

arioso7: Shirley Kirsten

*** After my arrival in El Cerrito, I walked to my new location in a very old, established neighborhood with mature shade trees and lush foliage. It had to be the perfect paradise for teaching piano. *** Photos down below were taken at the Bart station looking down from the platform, and then along the… Continue reading My New Piano Studio in El Cerrito, California, and panoramic views taken from Amtrak 711 and 712 along the Bay route

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Piano Study and the value of SINGING against a cultural backdrop of vocal inhibition

arioso7: Shirley Kirsten

Singing has always been a basic, if not primitive form of communication between parent and infant. A tender melody often lulls a colicky baby into blissful sleep along with rhythmic rocking motions. As the tyke eventually babbles and coos high-pitched sounds that prime his vocal cords, mom or dad will respond in the same squeaky voice… Continue reading Piano Study and the value of SINGING against a cultural backdrop of vocal inhibition

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Piano Lessons for young children: Once or twice a week?

arioso7: Shirley Kirsten

I’ve slowly but surely come to the conclusion that once per week lessons are insufficient for the very young beginner. Not having taught a fledgling below the age of 7 until 4-year old Rina came along in August, 2011, as my experiment-in-progress, it became crystal clear that short, quality exposures to piano instruction were more… Continue reading Piano Lessons for young children: Once or twice a week?

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Piano Lessons: Starting Rina, a 4-year old, using Irina Gorin’s “Tales of a Musical Journey” Book 1 (Videos in 5 parts)

arioso7: Shirley Kirsten

Lesson # 1, 8/4/2011 (I will be extracting excerpts from all of Rina's subsequent lessons with commentary, suggestions) Today was a musical adventure for myself and a delicate, world-traveled, 4-year old child who had significant exposure to Music Together classes. Having observed her in this group setting, and knowing her parents' love for the arts,… Continue reading Piano Lessons: Starting Rina, a 4-year old, using Irina Gorin’s “Tales of a Musical Journey” Book 1 (Videos in 5 parts)