Category: music lessons

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Music Teachers, here is a post from a dear friend of mine that will help you find words to describe to help the rest of the world realize the value of what we bring to students. Be Inspired!

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They say that the definition of “crazy” is to continue to do the same things and expect different results. If that is indeed the definition then what does that say about the American educational system? For years we’ve focused all our attention on what will garner better test results but is this really what should be at the focal point of a 21st century education? If I assist students in becoming better test takers, how will that better prepare them for a world that doesn’t offer them “fill in the bubble” choices? Is there a better way to serve not only our students but the world at large? I don’t claim to have all the answers but I do believe that we can’t successfully accomplish our goals for the “now” children who will all too soon become the “now” adults without including the arts. 

As a Teaching Artist, I am…

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Summer Piano Short: Cool Chords

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As promised, here is this week’s Summer Piano Short. This quick piano lesson online will show you how to get a bigger, cooler sound out of a major chord by making one simple addition. Click here to print a copy, and in case you missed the Arpeggio Summer Piano Short check that out as well. It will help you with this one.

This is the 4th and final post in the Summer Piano Short series, but  if you would like to see more Summer Piano Shorts, leave a comment below and I will look into my

BIG BOX of PIANO SECRETS and pull out a few more!

Pinterest Idea of the Week: New Uses for Old Sheet Music

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Source: goawaycomeback.tumblr.com via Dana on Pinterest

It’s amazing how much sheet music can pile up after 30+ years of playing the piano! Not only do I have music that I have purchased, but over the years I have been blessed by many of my elderly friends with their sheet music collections. Most of this music is very much out of date and I will never be able to use it – so I thought until now. I will be using this idea that I found on Pinterest the next time I give out gifts in my studio! I think it’s a great way to honor the memories of my dear friends AND clean out my studio at the same time.

What do you do with old sheet music?

Summer Piano Shorts: Octaves

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Here’s another quick and fun piano exercise piano students can learn on their own! This activity shows how octaves in the left hand can be used to make their songs sound better. Try it out! Print a copy of it here. Come back next Monday for another Summer Piano Short!

Giant Music Mat

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After a Google search for a rug for my group music classroom only turned up results over $150, I decided to make my own. Actually it is a giant mat made out of foam tiles that I purchased from Wal Mart at $5.97 per set of 9. I bought 5 sets. The picture above shows a smaller version of my Giant Music Mat.

To make your own here is what you need:

5 or more sets of foam tiles (depends on the size you want)

a black marker

Directions:

Choose tiles of the same color and arrange them in a square shape

Create a border for the square you’ve made using tiles of different colors. Alternate colors.

Use a black marker to draw a different music symbol on each of the border tiles.

If you plan to use your giant mat to designate where each child should sit during group class, it is important to draw a DIFFERENT music symbol on each tile. Do not repeat symbols.

There are so many ways you can use this mat besides just sitting! As I already stated, it can be used to assign seats. This shortens the time it takes to get kids situated and ready for class to begin. At the beginning of the year or session, assign a unique symbol to each child. This will be their spot. Make sure they know the name of their symbol and what it means. You could even have kids act out the meaning. At a parent presentation, kids could “show and tell” using their symbol. Have them hold up their tile while presenting it.

What other ways can you think of for using the Giant Music Mat?

Great Book: Lang Lang – Journey of A Thousand Miles

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I just finished reading Journey of a Thousand Miles: My Story by Lang Lang with David Ritz. This book literally drew me in from the first to the very last page. I did not want to put it down. When I had to put it down, because life was calling, I wondered what would happen next in this great classical pianist’s story. There was not a moment of disappointment.

As I read of his struggles and the extreme sacrifices his parents made to help him master the piano and the passion he himself has for music I was inspired. Honestly, it made me want to rush to the piano and practice – sincerely practice. And that’s exactly what I did several times in between chapters.

“Hearing” Lang Lang tell his story of being a piano student in China was mind-boggling at times because it is so different from the way we do it in America. There is a different depth to the process of musical learning and commitment to the craft than what I have experienced. It makes me wonder what kind of musician I would be if I had grown up in China. Would I be happy? I’m not sure. Would I be exceptionally skillful? Maybe. Lang Lang points out some wonderful differences that Americans have culturally as well. The freedom to be yourself, to express yourself in unique ways is one thing that Lang Lang speaks of discovering once he came to America. I enjoyed reading between these two worlds through Lang Lang’s eyes.

One of my favorite quotes from the book:

“Remember, it is easy to be a pianist, all you have to do is move your fingers. But to be a great pianist you have to use your mind.”

I think this is a great read for every piano student, piano teacher, and piano parent.

 

A Piano Student’s Thoughts on Playing

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One of the misconceptions about piano lessons is that they are only for girls. This amazes me since most of the very famous composers were men – hello Bach, Beethoven, Mozart, Haydn, etc. Also, most of your top concert pianists and jazz pianists are what? Men. Don’t get me wrong – I know that women can hold their own at the piano. I’m a living breathing example of that! However, this myth that piano lessons are a girl thing to do is far from the truth and it has to be stopped. Listen to what one of my rising 6th grade male students has to say about piano lessons. When I heard this, it made me so proud to be a piano teacher.