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Piano Lesson: Rina, 5, learns to play legato across five fingers from C to G and back

Six months of piano lessons: Rina made a big jump today after having had considerable experience playing single, detached fingers for all notes in the music alphabet. In addition she's been rolling pairs of fingers to create a nice legato from note to note. (2-note slurs) I've prepped her with 1,2 and in reverse, 2… Continue reading Piano Lesson: Rina, 5, learns to play legato across five fingers from C to G and back

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Irina Gorin, creator of Tales of a Musical Journey, shares her thoughts about braving a new piano teaching universe

From Irina Gorin: “An expert is a person who makes all mistakes possible in a very specific field and learns from those mistakes. So I could probably consider myself getting close to being an expert in teaching children. But I hope there are many more mistakes and learning experiences ahead." This riveting quote set in… Continue reading Irina Gorin, creator of Tales of a Musical Journey, shares her thoughts about braving a new piano teaching universe

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Piano Lesson: Rina 5, shuffles rhythms on the music rack and practices Minuet by Reinagle

Rina has completed 6 months of piano study. During this time, Tales of a Musical Journey by Irina Gorin has nicely framed our collective learning process. (The singing tone is the underpinning of this instruction and how to produce it) In the first video, you will note our rhythm shuffling and clapping. Rina sets the… Continue reading Piano Lesson: Rina 5, shuffles rhythms on the music rack and practices Minuet by Reinagle

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Irina Gorin’s piano students shine again! (Videos)

It's a never-ending display of piano-playing children nursed along on Tales of a Musical Journey, Irina Gorin's personal creation. A phrase-spinning magic permeates each and every performance, demonstrating a musical sophistication uncommon to the efforts of beginners and beyond. (And many pupils are Carmel, Indiana Arts Council Showcase winners) The teaching material provides a solid… Continue reading Irina Gorin’s piano students shine again! (Videos)

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Piano Technique: Rina turns 5 and plays two-note Legato slurs (slow motion, soundless replays)

The Good News: Rina just celebrated her big FIFTH birthday, and bestowed a lovely portrait of herself draped in a smile over her precious piano. Thank You for the beautifully framed photo! *** OTHER: Today, technology failed me once again, but this time I outsmarted the devilish, on/off again iMac movie program. So what if… Continue reading Piano Technique: Rina turns 5 and plays two-note Legato slurs (slow motion, soundless replays)

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If this is the Russian Singing Tone School of Piano Teaching, then it’s a Winner! (Videos)

Irina Gorin, a teaching emissary of the Russian pianistic tradition that's produced Richter, Gilels, Ashkenazy and Lugansky to name a few, brings her pedagogical efforts glowingly down to the level of a 4-year old. And it's delightful to watch. Certainly, more entertaining than my cat's bungled keyboard performance last night. Irina would agree that Aiden… Continue reading If this is the Russian Singing Tone School of Piano Teaching, then it’s a Winner! (Videos)

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Rina, 4, played “Frere Jacques” with two hands, adding a bass part in whole notes (Video)

Charming little Rina has made a big leap in progress. Last week we were exploring WHOLE NOTES, and I asked her to practice one whole note per measure in the Bass to support the Treble melody in "Frere Jacques." Today, I enjoyed her lovely reading. (This particular piece is mapped out on paper, with rhythmic… Continue reading Rina, 4, played “Frere Jacques” with two hands, adding a bass part in whole notes (Video)

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The Formative Years of Piano Study and the basic building-blocks of learning (Videos)

Just as a child needs a wholesome diet from birth through adolescence to insure healthy growth and development, a beginning piano student requires the equivalent in musical nourishment. Cocoa Puff pieces that squeeze out whole grain servings of the classics will not in the long term cut the cake. (And I don't rule out compositions… Continue reading The Formative Years of Piano Study and the basic building-blocks of learning (Videos)

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Update on Rina, age 4, and her musical progress at the piano

Rina has lately grown camera shy, but she's still tenderly stroking the ivories on my precious Haddorff console. This piano affords a perfect fit for young ones who otherwise can barely stretch their necks to gaze up at a music book. A small foot stool has been added to support little feet until they grow… Continue reading Update on Rina, age 4, and her musical progress at the piano

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When great piano teaching must be recognized

In my four decades of teaching piano, I never had a student recital quite like this one. Reams of Irina Gorin's pupils ascend the stage in Indiana at what looks like a piano store with a recital hall. (The backdrop is the Meridian Music Company's Munger Hall) There's a Steinway for the children to play… Continue reading When great piano teaching must be recognized