Very Inspiring Blogger Award

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A very warm Thank You to LaDona at ladonasmusicstudio.com for nominating me for the Very Inspiring Blogger Award. I thoroughly enjoy her posts about what she’s doing in her music studio and in her life. Be sure to check out her blog!

To accept the award, the rules are:

  1. Link back to the person who nominated you
  2. Post the award image to your page
  3. Tell seven facts about yourself
  4. Nominate 10 other blogs
  5. Let them know they are nominated

So, here goes…

7 Facts About Dana Rice:

1. Earlier this year, I auditioned for The TV Show, X Factor… but I didn’t get chosen to be a contestant on the show – bummer!

2. 10 days after I met my husband, he proposed to me and I accepted! We’ve been married 17 years now.

3. My favorite word is “Immediately” – Do you have to ask why?

4. When I was a little girl, I wanted to grow up to be the Bionic Woman – anybody remember that TV show?

5. I am an ordained minister.

6. I am an Apple Products addict.

7. I like to write songs.

10 Bloggers That I Nominate for the Very Inspiring Blogger Award:

1.Laura at lauralamere.com

2. Andrea and Trevor at teachpianotoday.com/blog

3. Anne at pianoanne.blogspot.com

4. Natalie at musicmattersblog.com

5. Jennifer at foxxpianostudio.blogspot.com

6. Amaryah at missamaryah.com

7. Jenny at theteachingstudio.blogspot.com

8. Lesley at lesleycarter.wordpress.com

9. Jeana at singanewsongmusic.blogspot.com

10. Talin at talinorfali.wordpress.com

Tool To Help Students Considering Music As A Career

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Majoringinmusic.com offers articles, advice, and links on choosing a music school, majoring in music, and building a successful music career. Listed in the most recent issue of American Music Teacher Magazine, a publication of the Music Teacher’s National Association, the site has a wealth of useful information that teachers can use as they help students develop the technical skills necessary for further study. There are articles for parents and students with practical real world implications of a career in music from financing your education and your life to honing your skills as well.

I might even do a studio wide project on becoming a professional musician using this site.  Any ideas? Share them in a comment!

Book Review: Note By Note, A Celebration of the Piano Lesson by Tricia Tunstall

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If you’re looking for a bit of inspiration to start the school year, Tricia Tunstall’s book, Note By Note is a must read! This book is truly a celebration of the piano lesson – with all it’s joys and frustrations, twists, turns, and challenges. As I read the book  – in one day – I was uplifted, renewed, and validated as a piano teacher. Her chapter titles are succinct yet intriguing – “Beginnings”, “The Pull of Pop”, “The Lure of Elise”, “Emerging”, “Mastery”, “Recital”, and finally “My Last Piano Teacher”. In my opinion, this book is a love story that will capture the heart of  anyone who teaches piano, has taken piano lessons and refused to quit, has quit piano lessons and lived to regret it, and even those who always wished to have piano lessons.  My favorite quote about this book is from author Reeve Lindbergh who said,

“Note by Note is simply a joy of a book. Tricia Tunstall combines a lifetime’s love of music with respect and affection for the children who are her students. She writes with clarity, grace, and a delightful sense of humor. This will be every reader’s favorite piano lesson.”

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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!

Drdiva2u's avatarclassroomoperatunities

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!