Change, Change, Change
In my capacity as QOTS (you had to be there- if not, see my Essential Skills Series) I quite often need to be the instigator of radical change in my…
Bright and Shiny Objects, One Speed Ponies, & Time Travel
Pieces have been chosen. Dates have been set. Arrangements have been made. Yep, we are working toward the college Spring Recital and pre-college end of the year piano exams and…
A Feedback Loop for Pianists
Recently, David wrote a post on choosing an instrument, tone quality and the importance of ideal tone. He pointed out the importance of monitoring your connection with the instrument daily-…
Guest Post: Warming Up for Lessons & Practice- Tips for Teachers
Our guest blogger is Maria Rainier, a freelance writer and blog junkie. She is currently a resident blogger at First in Education and performs research surrounding online degrees. In her…
Potholes: Chronic Key Signature & Accidental Disorders
My Dad taught me to drive. He spent many hours on the road in his job and was a demanding teacher. One day we were practicing on a back road…
The Sound of One Leaf Falling: Relativity in Music
Over the holidays, my husband and I took a daytrip to Madera Canyon, near Tucson. We had a very warm fall this year and so, at 5000 plus feet, the…
Ogres Are Like Onions: Listening to Layers
In the middle of a lesson a few weeks ago, I found myself saying, “Music is like onions.” There was no laugh or questioning look. My student simply sat and…
Essential Skills for the Transferring Developing Pianist: Part 3
This just in from QoTS: the third installment of essential skills that most middle intermediate to advanced transfer students would do well to develop. Memory 101 Use theory to help…