Top Tips on Performing Well Under Pressure
(Photo by Sophie Zhai) End of the semester recitals are upon us and with the preparations come nerves. Meet pianist Siqian Li who has some well timed advice for students…
Artist Portrait: Martin Listabarth
(Photo: Theresa Pewal) Meet pianist and composer Martin Listabarth. Martin is a jazz pianist and composer based in Vienna. His music is a true marriage of hand, heart, and head.…
Deep Practice: Inspect Your Piece
My creative juices started flowing when I read this article by Terry Heick of Teach Thought, How to Read a Book (super info-graphic included). Many of the points he makes about reading books…
Dwelling in Possibility: Inspiring Children to Compose
The greatest contribution my own early piano teacher Mr. Ball made to my musical development was to listen to my compositions. Often, after all of my scales, exercises, and pieces…
Backing Up Your Studio Parents: 5 Things You Can Do Now
This year, with so many families simultaneously working and schooling from home, I've needed to go out of my way to communicate more with all my studio parents. I've also…
6 Beginner Piano Improv Exercises to Improve Self-Expression
Improvisation is an important form of self-expression at the piano. Yet, improv at the beginner stages is tricky. It’s tricky not because there aren’t enough options. It’s tricky because there are too…
Beethoven As An Icebreaker?
Do you teach classes or small groups as a part of your studio or music center curriculum? I do. One of the toughest parts of my year is sizing up…
So Not About The Notes
Without question our studio motto is: Not About The Notes (#NATN). Against that little voice inside me, which often screams, “fix-correct-repair,” I remind myself to step back and let students take…