This article is for teachers who are working with students on phrase shaping for the first time. It’s a concept that can be introduced early in piano study—usually after crescendos and diminuendos are covered. The topic of phrase shaping is quite broad, so please note that this article focuses in on the first steps for
This article details a way teachers can help beginning level piano students keep their eyes on the music and avoid looking at their hands to improve music reading continuity. For beginning piano students, keeping your eyes on the music is a difficult challenge, but necessary to build note reading ability and continuity. For teachers,
This article covers basic concepts for intermediate to early advanced piano students in their first accompanying endeavor. Thoughts shared here assist in establishing the role of the pianist when accompanying and how this differs from solo playing. Piano Accompanying Is An Art As a piano teacher, I’m very excited to have several students studying
Motivating Piano Students through Repertoire Options – Piano Music This article provides insights on how teachers can motivate students by letting them have control over certain portions of their weekly and long-term assignments. For private piano teachers, one of the challenges we meet, especially with students who are working through the first several years
This article is for piano teachers looking for ways to introduce improvisation into their students’ lessons and make the experience fun and successful. This week, I was very fortunate to be able to attend a program on the “Art of Improvisation” conducted by Jeffrey Chappell—a true expert on the subject. As a piano teacher who
This article has quick tips for piano students of any level to assess their posture at the piano and establish a sitting position at the instrument that encourages good technique. Piano Posture When I think back on elements of good posture at the piano, I remember many important tips given to me by different instructors,
Piano Recital Preparation – Three Bullet Points for a Better Performance This article is geared towards students who are preparing for a performance. However, instead of focusing on advance preparation, this article details some ways to have a great mindset in the moments before the performance actually occurs. In preparing my students for
This article explores using different recordings of the same piano work to supplement study of a piece. Intermediate to advanced piano students studying classical repertoire will find great benefit from adding this component to their weekly practice. When classical piano students get to a point where they are out of method books and at
Clocks And Piano Don’t Always Play Well Together In a previous article I outlined why we should use Repetitive Practice constructively rather then watching a clock. This article details the application of constructive piano practice and gets students away from looking at the clock and more involved in constructive repetitions and efficient practice. Applying Constructive
Stop Timing Your Piano Practice! This article details an effective music instrument practice methodology, constructive repetitions, that gets piano students away from looking at the clock and more involved in constructive repetitions and efficient practice. Piano Teacher As a piano teacher, it’s difficult not to tell students, “You should practice x number of minutes per
