One of my students, Harrison, arrived for his lesson last week and confessed he had not had much time to practise. He told me he had "loads of homework!" and extra-curricular activities every day after school, apart from Thursday, the day of his piano lesson ("this is my only day off!" he sighed). In addition… Continue reading Less is More
Tag: piano teaching
Perceptions of independent piano teachers survey
I am researching the perceptions private piano teachers have of their own profession compared with the perceptions of the general public. Please take part in my survey. All responses will be treated in the strictest confidence https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/PZ2PC9M
Mastering the Piano with Lang Lang
“The piano is my passion. Through the Lang Lang Piano Academy I hope to inspire today’s kids to explore the piano and celebrate the wonderful world of music. There are no short cuts to learning the piano and playing it well, but the journey along the way should be imaginative and rewarding as well as… Continue reading Mastering the Piano with Lang Lang
What Are Piano Lessons For?
This is a very personal manifesto about the purpose of piano lessons. You may not agree. You may disagree vehemently. But what you (as a piano teacher or as a parent of a piano student or as a piano student) believe piano lessons are for will affect your level of satisfaction with the piano lessons… Continue reading What Are Piano Lessons For?
At the Piano with Dr Mark Polishook
What is your first memory of the piano? My piano journey began more or less when I was 3 or 4 years old. Movers brought a 1932 5’3” Chickering baby grand to our house. It was a gift from my grandparents. That piano eventually travelled with me from one coast to another in America, which… Continue reading At the Piano with Dr Mark Polishook
Guest post: You Can Teach Jazz
by Elena Cobb I am very grateful to all who took part in the lively discussions on the Facebook piano teachers forums, made suggestions and offered their opinions on this highly interesting and often controversial topic. Special thank you to Snake Davis (UK), Kay Alexander (Canada), Elissa Milne (Australia), Rami Bar-Niv (Israel), Tom Lydon, the editor of the Music Teacher… Continue reading Guest post: You Can Teach Jazz
The Performing Teacher
I meet many piano teachers, at courses, workshops and masterclasses. It is always good to meet other piano teachers, to exchange ideas, and to enjoy a collective grumble about the exigencies of the job. Many of the teachers whom I meet are also performing musicians, professional or otherwise, and many regard performing as a necessary,… Continue reading The Performing Teacher
At the Piano with……Lucinda Mackworth-Young
What is your first memory of the piano? Aged four, coming down the stairs in our house to hear my ten year old sister playing the piano very fast. Then I knew that I wanted to play-the-piano-very-fast! Who or what inspired you to start teaching? The discovery that music, more even than dancing (I had… Continue reading At the Piano with……Lucinda Mackworth-Young
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
At the Piano With……GéNIA
I recently had the privilege of interviewing the Russian pianist, teacher and creator of Piano-Yoga® GéNIA (Evgenia Chudinovich). The interview took place at London's prestigious Steinway Hall and has been edited into six parts, each of which covers different aspects of GéNIA's varied pianistic and teaching life and career. Click on a video to watch… Continue reading At the Piano With……GéNIA
A Piano Teacher Writes... 