Piano Technique: When scale notes go off the radar screen

One of my Skype students is practicing the D Major scale in contrary motion. (Her thumbs at Middle D) We start slow triplets to 16ths, to 32nds (Legato/Staccato/Forte/piano) The snag occurs at the third and final octave out, where most students think the notes are off the radar--but in truth peripheral vision and/or rolling eyeballs…

Piano Lesson: What I learned from an adult student about Bach Invention 4 in D minor (VIDEOS)

Today was an ear-opener, though I admit to having had a set of preconceived ideas about this Bach composition. (in two-part counterpoint) Just from having studied it myself, parceling out each separate voice in a step-wise, layered approach, I could impart what I learned as a self-delivered lecture. But the ingredient, of adding a student…

Piano Lesson: Teaching “GAME” by Kabalevsky, Op. 39 Children’s Pieces (Videos)

Vibrant musical miniatures are learning enticements for piano students. In this spirit, Dimitry Kabalevsky, a Twentieth Century Russian composer, shines in his collection of Children's Pieces (Op.39) that run the gamut of emotions, from sad expressions of human nature, "Waltz" (in d minor) to ebullient centerpieces, such as "Clowns," and "Galop." (spelled with one L)…

The C Major Scale universe: metric and muscle memory; shaping and tapering

The C Major scale is more than meets the "I," if you're the one practicing it!

No Skimming the surface in piano warm-ups and a Chopin exchange with a sixth-grader

Lucy started piano about four years ago in El Cerrito, a short Bart ride from Berkeley, my current residence. A transfer student, she'd been immersed in Bastien primers and hand-outs of various patriotic pieces. Note-reading skills were minimal. Over time, as our musical relationship unfolded, Lucy played scales, arpeggios, and through her patient efforts performed…

From Pop to Bach, A 9-yr old makes it over easy

Fritz, a sparkling kid who loves football, soccer, and video games especially where he's devising offensive field strategies, comes to the piano with bundles of energy. These can be channeled into a piece he's gung ho to learn, like "Hall of Fame" by Sheehan, O'Dononghue, Adams, and Barry. As it played out, Fritz's mom, downloaded…

Two Adult Piano Students explore an undulating wrist motion (Videos)

In the first video, I introduce C Major, 4-note arpeggios rolling through positions or "inversions" in preparation for my lesson with an adult student in El Cerrito, California. C E G C---E G C E---G C E G-- C E G C, and then a turnaround and descent without repeating the highest note. http://youtu.be/TQPXIq6wsNQ Excerpt…

A Well-known Haydn Piano Sonata is pinned!

I don't mean to inject pins into this post, but it amply introduces Haydn's vibrant Sonata no. 35 in C Major. Yesterday, as I diligently embarked upon learning this masterpiece, I had to deal with basic housekeeping matters: How to practice the pages-long first movement without breaks in continuity? My short-term solution: http://youtu.be/g7vP3mqg8WM Harpsichordist, *Elaine…

Piano Technique: Sports analogies weave in and out of Five-Finger positions (Videos)

Piano warm-ups are filled with vibrant, athletic energy!

An Adult Piano Student’s Epiphany

Yesterday, I was greeted by the following riveting e mail: "I'm so excited that I'm beginning to understand scale degrees. "Can't wait to be back at the piano to practice. Return late tonight." The adult student, into her 4th year of formal study with me, had decided to buckle down and integrate her theory knowledge…