I'm fortunate to be working with five adult students who love the piano and its repertoire. Their enthusiasm is at high volume--keeping the live wire connection between student and teacher bristling with energy. Regardless of busy work schedules, they still manage to connect with the piano often enough to make lessons worthwhile. I met Michael,… Continue reading Profile of a courageous adult piano student (with a video out-take)
Tag: satire
Individualizing Piano Study: How to avoid Method Book dependency
Over decades of teaching, I've come to the conclusion that each student needs a custom designed long-term lesson plan. Method books only go so far. Often they stratify the learning process, keeping students in an interminably drawn out, regressive C Major universe. For the most part, flats and sharps with Letter Name identifications are regarded… Continue reading Individualizing Piano Study: How to avoid Method Book dependency
PULLS AND TUGS: Two sides of the piano student/teacher relationship
There are two sides to every story, so in all fairness I've posited a number of situations that crop up in the piano lesson environment, with an analysis from the Teacher and Student's point of view. In some instances, I've substituted PARENT for STUDENT where I think it applies. RESOLUTIONS of various issues are explored.… Continue reading PULLS AND TUGS: Two sides of the piano student/teacher relationship
The iPhone Invades Piano Lessons
Monday, Jan. 24th, was a first! Esmeralda, a retired attorney, who'd been taking lessons from me for a year, entered my El Cerrito piano studio with a bright red iPhone as a sign of the times. A dangling rectangular prism packed with limitless software had replaced her simple gold cross. This latest "look" included a… Continue reading The iPhone Invades Piano Lessons
Anne Meux, her pianos, and my visit
From the Internet site about the Meux Home that is located in downtown Fresno within walking distance of the Amtrak station: "One of the prime houses in terms of historical and architectural significance is the Meux Family home at the northwest corner of Tulare and R Streets. "The home was built in 1888 by Dr.… Continue reading Anne Meux, her pianos, and my visit
A Battle of two Steinways, a Yamaha, and a spoiler Petrof
A few years ago, I journeyed to the local Fresno piano dealership to make retail price comparisons with used pianos sold in the private party marketplace. The store, located on Ashlan and Fresno Street had an impressive array of Steinways, Boston and Essex pianos, as well as Yamaha studio upright models and other brands. An early… Continue reading A Battle of two Steinways, a Yamaha, and a spoiler Petrof
Cato, his Killer Keyboard, and a round of piano lessons!
Ralph Cato had been scheduled to come for his first piano lesson soon after we had a chance meeting at the Guitar Center in Fresno a few years ago. At the time, he was combing the store in search of a “killer” digital keyboard, as he described it, for his 10 year old daughter. Christmas… Continue reading Cato, his Killer Keyboard, and a round of piano lessons!
Used pianos, estate sales, and Mr. York, the tuner
While on the Internet, I spotted an Oodle alert for an estate sale in Old Fig Garden on North Del Mar, about a mile away from my former home. The e-mail caught my interest because in the list of merchandise, a "Steinway piano" was inserted among original paintings of Rollin Pickford and a Mercedes Benz. The… Continue reading Used pianos, estate sales, and Mr. York, the tuner