Metronome Fail Fix and Yes, It’s Backwards
Have you ever known someone who just couldn’t play with a metronome no matter the tempo? Sorry. That's definitely a DUH question. It's a frustrating problem to have no matter…
When Being a Contrary Pianist is a Good Thing
Do you have contrary elementary level students? I do. I encourage them. It’s not what you think. Contrary motion at the piano trains the ear to perceive 2 voices moving…
Baroque Dolphins vs. Sharks
My 7 year old student, Gini, grinned at me as she neared the end of Dolphins Play Everyday. She suddenly played a huge handful of low bass keys and wiggled…
The Anti-Masterclass: Refresh
Antimatter: Any substance that, when combined with an equal amount of matter, results in the complete and direct conversion of all substance to energy. ()Anti-Masterclass: Any masterclass that, when combined…
Vintage PA: My Dog Ate My Minuet
The first time I ever worked on a Bach dance movement I felt like I had encountered an alien landscape. I had grown up on Bach chorales but somehow those…
So Bad It’s Good
You all know I'm all about reverse thinking and using what something isn't to shine a light on what it actually is. I learned something new about this last week…
Vintage PA: Time is Time & Some Cats
In my last post, I talked about how time is a frustration point for me. Thanks to all of you who reassured me that I am not alone in this.…
Vintage PA: Yodeling Puff The Magic Dragon
It started with a performance of a method book piece with the word Yodel in the title. “It sounds weird,” said my young student, “and I don’t understand why that…