My students don't believe me when I tell them there is a book called The Perfect Wrong Note. Nor do they believe me when I tell them that mistakes are good, that mistakes make us better musicians. The desire for perfectionism is all around us in our modern society, from the need to produce a… Continue reading The perfect wrong note
Category: Piano teaching
Are you practising enough?
See this table of practice times: 1 60-minute Practice per Week = 2 Months Progress in 12 Months 1 30-minute Practice per Day = 6 Months Progress in 12 Months 1 45-minute Practice per Day = 12 Months Progress in 12 Months 1 60-minute Practice per Day = 15 Months Progress in 12 Months 1… Continue reading Are you practising enough?
Guest post: Early Years piano teaching
by Rebecca Singerman-Knight Teaching piano to ‘early years’ children (3-4 years’ old) is not a prospect relished by many teachers. Most of them are probably considerably saner than I. Some, by choice, will not take children below a certain age – often 6 or 7. This may be a personal preference in that they would… Continue reading Guest post: Early Years piano teaching
Encouraging curiosity and self-evaluation in practising
Seasoned musicians, students in conservatoire and specialist music schools, and piano teachers know that productive and self-critical practise is the key to progress. Younger piano students often need clear guidance and signposts to enable them to learn how to practise properly. Sally Cathcart, a musician, piano teacher, researcher, and founder/director of the Oxford Piano Group,… Continue reading Encouraging curiosity and self-evaluation in practising
Making the music 3-D
This week Eli, one of my students who has been learning with me for about 4 years, offered a wonderfully simple, yet insightful description of how we play musically, and ways in which we attempt to "tell the story" or "paint the picture" in music. He called it "making the music 3-D". It came up… Continue reading Making the music 3-D
At the Piano With……Frances Wilson
AT THE PIANO WITH……is a series of interviews with piano teachers which is running on my sister blog, The Cross-Eyed Pianist, with occasional posts on this blog. What is your first memory of the piano? My paternal grandfather playing Methodist hymns and excerpts from Bach, Haydn and Beethoven on the Victorian upright piano in the… Continue reading At the Piano With……Frances Wilson
At the Piano With…….Mark Tanner
In an insightful, detailed and honest interview, pianist, writer and teacher, Mark Tanner, shares his thoughts on many aspects of piano teaching. Read the full interview here: At the Piano With.......Mark Tanner
What to look for in a piano teacher
Where to look A Google search will throw up a confusing array of links, to teachers' personal websites, and listings sites such as EPTA, ISM, Music Teachers, Music Teacher Map, Pianist Profiles, and more. A personal recommendation is often the best: if you know people whose children are taking lessons in your neighbourhood, ask them.… Continue reading What to look for in a piano teacher
At the Piano With……Karl Lutchmayer
Karl Lutchmayer What is your first memory of the piano? Actually, and rather embarrassingly, I used to use the spaces between Bb and C# and Eb and F# to park my Dinky cars – and run them along the fronts of the white notes! It always vexed me that the spaces between other black notes… Continue reading At the Piano With……Karl Lutchmayer
Putting the X-Factor into practising
Saturday nights are all about the X-Factor, aren't they? The tv talent show which, after weeks of auditions, boot camps and live performances is now reaching its finale. I expect you know the format: each singer receives comments (often harsh) from four “celebrity” judges, who then vote the act in or out. Usually, it's pretty… Continue reading Putting the X-Factor into practising
A Piano Teacher Writes... 