7 October 2015 The Elements Of Teaching Piano: From Buying A Piano To Teaching Students

The Elements Of Teaching Piano: From Buying A Piano To Teaching Students

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Teaching piano involves a variety of things. Yes, it starts by knowing how to play the piano; a good teacher has to be good at playing. But a good piano doesn’t necessarily have to be a concert pianist. A good teacher must appreciate and enjoy the challenges of helping their students learn how to master the piano. They have to be able to give their students an appreciation and love of the instrument.The Elements Of Teaching Piano: From Buying A Piano To Teaching Students

In most cases, when a parent looks to find a piano teacher for their child, they have a few goals in mind. They rarely say “I would like my child to become a concert pianist”. Instead, they simply want to give their child the benefits of having a deeper appreciation for music, for the arts, and a way of relaxing after a long day of activities.

The most obvious place to start is with purchasing a piano. In order to give your students every advantage of loving to play and loving to learn, the quality they play on has to be top notch. Why do you play the piano you do? What qualities do you look for in a piano? Many students and their parents will look to you for guidance in selecting their own piano.

From there, every music teacher has a different approach to teaching, depending on the style and methods they learned with. To appreciate music, a student must learn a variety of things.

  • Keyboard and Fingering – simple exercises can help students learn keys and patterns. This is where scales become valuable. It helps a student learn majors and minors and how they sound when played together.
  • Music Reading – a good method book can help a student sight-read music. Care should be taken so a student doesn’t switch to memorization or playing by ear, and truly learns to read music.
  • Learning and Memorization – playing the piano well means practicing again and again. There is a skill to memorization; teachers can help them develop the skill and use it for concerts and recitals.
  • Music Theory – usually for more advanced students that are thinking of making music a career, theory can help develop an appreciation for developing their own music. It can help reinforce music and playing, things they should already love.

If you’re ready to inspire your kids for a lifetime love of music, introduce them to the art of piano playing today.

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1 October 2015 The Life Lessons You’ll Learn From Piano Lessons

The Life Lessons You’ll Learn From Piano Lessons

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I was watching an interview from a man who was approaching his 100th birthday. When someone lives that long, the most logical questions to ask are things like:

What is the secret to living so long?The Life Lessons You’ll Learn From Piano Lessons
What have you learned along the way?

And while his answers were inspirational, they were also very simple. Living a good life doesn’t have to be complicated, in fact it’s usually just the opposite. There are a lot of things you can learn just by being an active participant. But then again, its like that with many things.

I’ve played the piano for decades, and along the way I’ve discovered that learning the piano can teach you a lot about living life. If you play the piano, chances are you have had many years of piano lessons, even if you are simply learning on your own. That’s the beauty of playing the piano, there’s always something more to learn. And you can do so whether you are 10 or 100, and it will all help you grow and become just a little bit more.

Wishing doesn’t make it so

Remember all those New Year’s resolutions you’ve made over the years, promising yourself you’ll accomplish more and do new things? How well did that work for you? Wishing doesn’t make it so. The only way to make it so is to put action behind it. If you’ve had a lifelong desire to play the piano, to become better at creating music, the only way to get there is to do it. Buy a piano. Invest in piano lessons. Put in regular practice. No matter what your ability, no matter what your age.

We cannot change anything if we cannot change our thoughts

How many people have sat down to play the piano and have thought, “I’m not very good”. Yep, and you’ll never be any good as long as you continue to think that way. Who defines what good is? Good can mean many things. You don’t have to play at Carnegie Hall to prove your playability. Playing for your enjoyment can be good enough.

Sometimes your instincts tell you to do something, something that may seem crazy and unbelievable. Follow your instincts.

If a small child wants to learn to play the piano, it’s our jobs to give them the chance. And when they dream big, it’s our job to give them more of a fighting chance to turn it into a reality. That’s where the greatest piano players of our time are created. It doesn’t matter that only a select few will ever be at the top of the business. There are many ways to develop a talent into a lifelong love. What is important is to follow through on the things that bring us the greatest joy.

What are your favorite life lessons?

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19 September 2015 Do Piano Teachers Recommend Acoustic or Digital Pianos?

Do Piano Teachers Recommend Acoustic or Digital Pianos?

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Shopping for a piano for your child to learn on? As you look at your options, and do a little research online, you’ll quickly find that there are many things to consider.

Should you choose a more traditional acoustic piano? Or should you opt for a digital piano, bringing today’s technology into use?Do Piano Teachers Recommend Acoustic or Digital Pianos?

While the decision is personal at best, a great place to look for advice is to ask piano teachers what they prefer. Yet even that can lead you down a difficult path. Ask a handful of different piano teachers and you’ll likely get an equal amount of differing opinions. They’ll say things like:

  • “You have to learn on an acoustic piano to truly understand how to play piano.”
  • “Either is okay; the important thing is to get your child to play.”
  • “Digital is a great learning tool because of the many features they offer. Digital can inspire a student to play longer.”

And of course everything in between.

As a piano buyer, what should you do? Which piano will be the right choice for your family?

First of all, a student should have an instrument they want to play. The piano should inspire them, not become a chore they have to do because it’s on their to-do list. They should enjoy playing it, love making music with it.

What does your child think? If they are too young to understand the difference, they may do well sitting at a more traditional piano. But if they are approaching middle or even high school, they may have a mind of their own when it comes to what they desire. Don’t fight their wishes; embrace them to inspire them to create music every day.

Then talk with a handful of piano teachers to find out their recommendations. Some teach from a more traditional style. Some mix it up, preferring to teach a variety of sounds … from classical to jazz to pop. Some may even teach on a variety of instruments, and can offer different opportunities for both group and individual lessons.

Use their recommendations to determine the best choice for your family.

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26 August 2015 7 Benefits To Playing The Piano

7 Benefits To Playing The Piano

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Plato said it best:

“Music is a moral law. It gives soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and charm and gaiety to life and to everything.”

What would the world be like without music?7 Benefits To Playing The Piano

Luckily, we can easily bring music into our lives at any point in time. And no matter how young or old you are, there are many benefits to learning how to play the piano at any age.

Increases your memory capacity – research continually shows that learning to play an instrument changes both the shape and the power of the brain. Music is being used in therapy to improve cognitive skills. And  and motor skills in children from a very young age.

Refines time management and organizational skills – good practicing skills won’t just make you a better piano player, they’ll make you a more organized person as well. A good musician quickly picks up that quality practice is more valuable than quantity. And by organizing and using different challenges in each session, music talent can increase rapidly.

Boosts team skills – playing the piano isn’t an individual activity, it can be used in many ways. Lessons are important to give more skills to an individual – how to interact with an instructor and take advice, how to join in with others to create harmony and melody, and how to be both active and a participant in the music playing process.

Betters your math skills – reading music requires counting notes and rhythms, which helps put math skills together in your brain. Studies continually show that students that play an instrument are better prepared in math and achieve higher grades overall.

Improves reading and comprehension – while reading music helps you become better at math, it also helps your reading and comprehension skills. Reading music involves reading and comprehension of both the black and white notes on a page, recognizing the note, translating it to your finger tips in order to create the note on the piano.

Improves your concentration – playing a piece of music requires you to focus on things like pitch, rhythm, tempo, notes, and quality of sound. You must concentrate not only what you’re playing and the sound you are producing, but also be able to listen to all other sounds around you in order to play in harmony with the rest of the group.

It relieves stress – a piano is there for you to play any time you choose. You can play any type of music, and play it with any kind of emotion you choose. It’s a great way of relieving stress, and has been used in all kinds of therapies in treating autism, depression and other cognitive disorders.

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8 August 2015 Taking Up The Piano At Any Age Can Be Beneficial For Your Brain

Taking Up The Piano At Any Age Can Be Beneficial For Your Brain

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As a parent, we want to expose our children to the right activities. We want to set them up for success with everything they do. We want to expand their knowledge, try a little of everything, then help them make the right selections to carry with them for the rest of their lives.

The power of a music background is obvious almost from the moment you hear of it. We’ve all heard of theories like The Mozart Effect. Yet pushing a child into something that may be a little different from the norm can sometimes be difficult. If “the gang” is all hanging out on the soccer field, what motivation does a child have for sitting in front of a piano?Taking Up The Piano At Any Age Can Be Beneficial For Your Brain

Yet piano playing isn’t just for kids; that’s what extends its power throughout a person’s life. The more scientific research is performed, the more is discovered about the benefits it can have from childhood through old age.

Health benefits are numerous and include things like:

  • auditory improvement
  • increased cognitive skills
  • improved coordination

The therapeutic value in not only included in playing the piano, it can be equally as valuable to listen to piano music.

  • It has a pacifying affect which helps reduce stress
  • It can maintain a level of mental engagement
  • It can improve language skills, including listening, reading, verbal fluency and memory

And as an afterschool activity, it can give your child the extra stamina they need to do even better in school. Piano playing has been shown to increase test scores, improve SAT scores, even help with both reading and math related technical skills. Yes, music majors are often highest in their class when it comes to moving into pre-med related studies.

Its not just a passive exercise, it is an interactive experience.

For all of these reasons, playing the piano provides a wealth of benefits, no matter what age each member is in your family. It all starts with owning a piano, and having it available to play and practice at any time. Take some time today to visit and find the perfect instrument for you.

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13 May 2015 Why Are There Black and White Keys On A Piano?

Why Are There Black and White Keys On A Piano?

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Some of the questions we receive about pianos surprise us. Yes, we expect the questions about choosing between a new and a used piano. Or how often a piano really needs to be tuned. Yet it’s certain questions that are unexpected, and the more we think about them, the more we realize how complex they really are. Take this one for instance.

Why are there black and white keys on a piano?Why Are There Black and White Keys On A Piano?

At first glance, one of the easiest answers would be that by combining the two keys, it makes the keyboard more functional. If there were only white keys, you would have to start at the bottom and count up to find the keys needed to begin and play a song. By adding the black keys, it gives you a visual cue or repeating patterns to help you stay on track as you play.

But that’s a simple answer. And as it turns out, there is a more complex, historic answer as well.

When you look at the keyboard, by combining the black and white keys, they are laid out in a repeating pattern of groups of two black keys and groups of three black keys. When played, the white keys form a C major scale in a series of half steps – two keys together, one key between. When you play the scale from C to C, you’ll have a perfect set of twelve pitches – all half steps – that create the perfect pattern for most of the music we listen to today.

If you use only the white keys, it gives you all of the notes of the diatonic scale, which means that by transposing to C major, you can play any major key melody using only the white keys. And in fact, if you head back to the 13th century, you will find that most keyboards were white key only, with no “black keys” at all. Most religious music of the time only used C major scale pitches, so it was easy to compose on these keyboards.

Music changed when it began separating from the church, and music became more improvisational in the process. Different scales were run, and experimentation begun, which started creating faster pieces of music that became impossible to ignore the key signature sharps or flats. When people began valuing having a perfectly tuned chromatic notes that could easily be played at higher speeds, the keyboard changed in order to keep up with the demands of the music being created. While experimentation has continued throughout the centuries, this became the perfect – or the standard – in all keyboards, and it’s what we still use today.

Have any other questions about how the piano works? We’d love to hear from you.

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6 May 2015 Best Apps To Use As A Piano Teacher

Best Apps To Use As A Piano Teacher

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In today’s world, very few of us can live without our electronic gadgets. iPads, iPhones – it’s revolutionized the way we do pretty much everything. We store files, read newspapers and magazines, watch our favorite shows, even play games all from the touch of a button. But how much are you relying on your technology to help you become a better piano teacher?Best Apps To Use As A Piano Teacher

forScore

When was the last time you wanted a piece of music, known you had the sheet music for it around somewhere, only to spend hours looking for it? Problem solved with forScore. forScore allows you to organize and download a new piece of music in seconds. You can annotate and save changes and notes, re-order pages, even print sheet music when you desire. It even allows you to perform half page turns, so you can transition easily from the bottom half of one page to the top half of another. You can draw or edit the pages with adjustable formatting, and send your files to friends via email, Bluetooth, AirDrop, or simply print them out.

 

Tempo

Tempo is an accurate metronome that will help you and your students keep the beat. Although you can find a variety of other apps that will do the same, this one has always ranked well in the iTunes store and continues to be a teaching favorite. It plays every conceivable irregular meter, and can save personal patterns for quick access.

 

Rhythm Lab

With Rhythm Lab, you can copy, save and share any rhythm pattern as an image. No more drawing it out on paper or on a whiteboard, which makes it easier to pull up detailed drawings for all of your students. It also allows a student to tap on the screen and get instant feedback.

 

Flashnote Derby

Who says kids can’t learn things while playing games? This is one homework assignment kids can really get into. Flashnote Derby allows kids to learn and practice identifying music notes by name as they run each timed race. The faster they get with recognition, the faster their horse will travel. This game is fully customizable for and desired notes or ranges, meaning it gives a young musician a reason to move forward and learn even more.

 

Piano Notes Pro

For a more sophisticated note learning tool, choose Piano Notes pro. It has a wide range of level control, and provides an interesting game that will keep beginners as well as advanced piano players wanting to strive for more. It’s highly customizable and easy to use, which means it’s perfect for all ages of piano players.

Music Teachers Helper

Want an easy way to manage your studio? This tool can help you with all aspects of running a piano teaching business. From scheduling and billing, to helping you calendar out your lesson plans, this can quickly become one of the best tools you’ve ever used to grow your business.

Have any favorites yourself? We’d love to hear what apps you are using on a regular basis.

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18 April 2015 Is Piano Easier To Learn Than Other Instruments?

Is Piano Easier To Learn Than Other Instruments?

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As a parent, it’s important to expose your child to many different things. And for many reasons, introducing them to the art of creating music should be at the top of the list. But what instrument is best for a young learner? Is piano easier to learn than other instruments? Or should you introduce guitar or violin early on, and wait for more complexity later?Is Piano Easier To Learn Than Other Instruments?

There are many thoughts and rules on when to introduce an instrument. And in a lot of cases it does come down to personal choice. If a child has her heart on being a great piano player, that alone can give her the motivation to become one. It works the same with any instrument out there.

But if you had to pick one instrument to begin with, one to learn on, is piano the “easiest” choice?

In general, the piano makes a great starter instrument for a number of reasons.

Overall, a piano is an easier instrument to play for young children when compared to its string counterparts. To make a sound on a piano, you simply have to press a key. On a guitar, you have to strum at a string (often holding a pick) and simultaneously press down on a string with your other hand. Similar functionality occurs with other string instruments, such as a violin. This two handed coordination can be difficult for some children, and can allow them to become frustrated early on. Which means in many cases they quit long before they realize the fun in producing music.

When kids start playing, they imagine themselves on stage like their favorite pop star, or strumming out a tune in a similar manner to the gaming world. When it doesn’t happen as quickly as they anticipate, they can lose interest. To make those sounds on a guitar, a person has to learn chords and lead techniques that won’t come in the first little bit of practice. And in fact, it can be very difficult for little hands to master these techniques early on. With a piano, even complex songs can be simplified so a beginner can play tunes they recognize, which can provide them more motivation to carry forward.

The piano is more comprehensive for learning music. Piano music involves both treble and bass clefs, and allows you to play both melody and accompaniment. Instruments like guitar only use the treble clef, and trumpets or flutes will only express melodies. If a child decides to take their music skills to the next level, and pursues music in college, most will have to take some piano because of the complexity involved. The piano provides for a more comprehensive view of how music works. And many students express that they wish they had pursued piano from an earlier age, to help them with a more thorough understanding as they grew.

So is piano easier to learn on then other instruments? While it could be debated, it is true that piano overall will give them a more comprehensive appreciation for the music they make. And isn’t that the goal anyway?

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15 April 2015 Why Piano Is The Best First Instrument To Play

Why Piano Is The Best First Instrument To Play

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Why is the piano often thought of as the best first instrument to play?

Pianos make playing easy
To play a piano, you simply have to press a piano key. It doesn’t get any simpler than that. And because even small children can learn how to pick through notes and create songs they are familiar with, piano allows them to feel like they are creating music much earlier than other instruments.

Pianos sound good from the startWhy Piano Is The Best First Instrument To Play
Chances are you’ve heard the sounds a brand new trumpet, flute or violin player make. Not very pleasing. In fact, it takes practice to make musical sounds at all, and may take very long periods of time for a student to learn the skills needed to have great tonal quality and produce a good, pleasing sound. With a piano, when you press a key a note comes out, and its always on key (providing the piano is properly tuned). You can’t miss creating the right sound when playing the piano; practice simply perfects the way the notes come together.

Pianos offer a great sense of pitch
The piano has the most complex pitch of any instrument, from the lowest to the highest of notes. Because of this, music is written in both treble and bass clef, which allows a person to learn to read both clefs with ease. If and when they choose, they can move to another instrument and learn to play it faster. A well tuned piano will always create the perfect sound when a note is played, which helps a player develop a keen sense of pitch from the beginning.

Pianos play both melody and accompaniment
The piano is one of few instruments that allow you to play both the melody and accompaniment. As an early beginner, a piano player can play simple melodies they can hear and recognize. As they advance, they can begin to add chords to change the tunes and make them more complex. This helps develop a high sense of music theory, teaching how music comes together in complex ways.

Pianos develop a stronger sense of music theory
The piano provides a straightforward approach to music. The low notes are on the left, the high notes on the right. The white keys are interlaced with the black keys making sharps and flats easy to learn. And when translating music to the keyboard, lines and spacing are easy to translate from music to instrument.

Piano makes a great foundation
Because the piano is such a versatile instrument, it can provide enjoyment throughout a person’s lifetime. If they choose to continue music into college, it’s a great foundation for providing skills that will transfer easily to other instruments, or even allow a student to do better in math or sciences. Some of the most successful medical school candidates are music majors; music theory has its benefits. For whatever reason a person chooses to move forward with music, if you are looking for the perfect instrument to begin with, look no further than a piano.

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21 March 2015 How To Get The Most Out Of Your Piano Practice

How To Get The Most Out Of Your Piano Practice

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The big day is fast approaching. The moment you’ve waited for is finally here. And you know you have to be on top of your game; the best you’ve ever been in order to come out on top.

No, I’m not talking about the World Cup or the Superbowl. Its your moment to shine as you showcase your piano playing talents in front of an audience. No matter how large or small of a group you perform in front of, it can be nerveracking, especially if you aren’t comfortable with your performance. Yet the best way to be prepared is to know the music inside and out – practice will ensure you’ve achieved all you can.How To Get The Most Out Of Your Piano Practice

But just like there’s an art form to perfect practice for an athlete, there’s also a routing for perfect practice for a piano player. Have you put these ideas into your practice routine?

Commitment
The key to improving your skills as a piano player is to routinely practice without letting other things get in the way. Small bursts every day will benefit you far more than spending long periods of time one day of the week. Build it into your schedule and stick with it, no matter what.

Stay Organized
Keep your space organized and free of noise and disruption. Leave your phone in another room. Group your practice into sections – focus on scales, technical work, sight reading, specific sections of music, etc. Keep a log of how well you do each day, and try and stick with the same routine every day.

Set Goals
If you will be playing at a music festival on a certain date, your goal becomes easy to see. Yet if you don’t have specifics lined up, goals can be harder to stick with. Goals give us motivation and drive to move forward. You can create short term goals – what you want to accomplish in a session. And you can create long term goals – perfecting certain songs by an end date. Make sure you stick with your time periods and reward yourself with your accomplishments.

Spend Time On Problem Areas
As songs become more difficult and complex, you’ll have parts that come and easy, and parts … well, not so much. When you sit down to practice, it doesn’t mean you have to start at the beginning and work your way through the song in its completion over and over again. Instead, mark with a pencil those areas that are giving you trouble. Start there and work through your difficulties. Its much easier to put your focus on a few lines than an entire piece. As you feel more comfortable with the line, then play the entire song and see how well you do at fitting trouble spots in. Continue in this manner until you’re comfortable playing the entire piece.

Practice With Full Concentration
Its hard to do anything the right way if several other things are going through your mind. If you have things that require your immediate attention – taking something out of the oven for instance – complete that task before you sit down to practice. Five minutes of concentrated practice is far more effective than spending thirty minutes of up and down practice. Because of the different skills it takes to fully engage in practicing, having an active mind will allow you to full connect with the music, and help you become better each day.

You Don’t Need A Piano To Study
Piano playing is a skill you can work on even when you’re not sitting down in front of one. When was the last time you took in the symphony? Head out to a concert and listen for each note. How does the music come together? Piano practice makes you more aware of the different parts of music; by tuning in to how music is created, you can improve your own piano playing ability. You can also analyze music you are currently practicing by reviewing each line, seeing it in your mind, even humming it again and again.

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