Sunday, March 29, 2009
questions anyone?
if you have a music related question you would like to ask me please feel free to email me at joel@shinypiano.com, you're probably not the only one who will benefit from the answer :)
Thursday, March 26, 2009
unto the Lord
back when i was in music college i used to feel intimidated by others who seemed to play better than i. music wasn't offered at my high school so when i arrived at college and decided to specialize in music i was definitely behind the eight ball.
there was one other piano student in my year; for one of her recitals she chose to learn and play a piece called 'maple leaf rag' (an amazing piano piece). in the end she was able to master this really difficult piano piece. unfortunately, she had an arrogant attitude about her. i, on the other hand, was learning other piano pieces that appeared to be less complicated. during this time in my life i learned a valuable lesson. God taught me that the level of difficulty of the piece i played was not as important as the attitude/state of heart i played it with.
my peer could play really well but it went to waste because she was self centered; when she played it was for her benefit and her glory (as i perceived it). when i played i could play the simplest tune or chord progression on my piano at home and offer it up to God as an offering of praise to him and could feel His great pleasure as he enjoyed my song.
yes we should work hard, yes we should do our best in whatever we do but one question should remain constant in the forefront of our minds...who are we doing it for?
when we're truly surrendered to God and are weak He delights in making us strong and using us for his glory.
there was one other piano student in my year; for one of her recitals she chose to learn and play a piece called 'maple leaf rag' (an amazing piano piece). in the end she was able to master this really difficult piano piece. unfortunately, she had an arrogant attitude about her. i, on the other hand, was learning other piano pieces that appeared to be less complicated. during this time in my life i learned a valuable lesson. God taught me that the level of difficulty of the piece i played was not as important as the attitude/state of heart i played it with.
my peer could play really well but it went to waste because she was self centered; when she played it was for her benefit and her glory (as i perceived it). when i played i could play the simplest tune or chord progression on my piano at home and offer it up to God as an offering of praise to him and could feel His great pleasure as he enjoyed my song.
yes we should work hard, yes we should do our best in whatever we do but one question should remain constant in the forefront of our minds...who are we doing it for?
when we're truly surrendered to God and are weak He delights in making us strong and using us for his glory.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
let's play that with the fast track
if you've ever been in a piano lesson with me you've probably heard me say those exact words..."let's play that with the fast track" or "let's go ahead and play that with the CD."
the CD comes in the books that i teach from; each song has two tracks, and the first one is called a practice track. it plays more slowly and you can hear the piano part to play along. the second track is faster and doesn't have the piano part playing along so you can be the one to add in the piano.
chances are if a student goes on with music they'll decide to play with other musicians on various levels. in order to do that they need to be able to hear what is going on around them as well as maintain what they're playing. this isn't something that happens naturally but like everything else it is a skill that can be developed.
this is where playing with the CD comes in handy; by playing with the CD we have an opportunity to develop our ear and to be listening to what's happening around us. i think you will also find that it makes practice time a lot more enjoyable.
the CD is a useful tool to hear how the song sounds on the practice track, especially outside of piano lessons...it can refresh your memory. it also gives many students a great goal to work up to the fast track.
be careful, though, not to swing too far the other way by developing a dependence on the CD to play. a healthy balance is best.
the CD comes in the books that i teach from; each song has two tracks, and the first one is called a practice track. it plays more slowly and you can hear the piano part to play along. the second track is faster and doesn't have the piano part playing along so you can be the one to add in the piano.
chances are if a student goes on with music they'll decide to play with other musicians on various levels. in order to do that they need to be able to hear what is going on around them as well as maintain what they're playing. this isn't something that happens naturally but like everything else it is a skill that can be developed.
this is where playing with the CD comes in handy; by playing with the CD we have an opportunity to develop our ear and to be listening to what's happening around us. i think you will also find that it makes practice time a lot more enjoyable.
the CD is a useful tool to hear how the song sounds on the practice track, especially outside of piano lessons...it can refresh your memory. it also gives many students a great goal to work up to the fast track.
be careful, though, not to swing too far the other way by developing a dependence on the CD to play. a healthy balance is best.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
count aloud
1, 2, 3, 4, seems easy enough, right? not really according to almost every one of the students i've ever taught. counting to four can be a hassle when it comes to playing a song.
first, the student is trying to play the right notes, the right rhythms, the right dynamics and now the teacher wants her to count aloud at the same time. this is definitely a skill that requires some effort to perfect, the trick is to get to a point where you don't have to think about it (auto pilot as i say) as quickly as possible.
when you don't count you may think you're playing a rhythm correctly, but you could be totally wrong. counting aloud gives you another 'check point' along the way, if what you're playing doesn't line up with what you're saying you will realise that there is a problem and be able to fix it yourself.
when reading the music we have visual confirmation on what the rhythm looks like but by adding in counting it gives us an audible confirmation as well.
it's hard to explain but i'll leave it at this: when you count aloud you will get the rhythm right more often than when you don't....it's a fact!
first, the student is trying to play the right notes, the right rhythms, the right dynamics and now the teacher wants her to count aloud at the same time. this is definitely a skill that requires some effort to perfect, the trick is to get to a point where you don't have to think about it (auto pilot as i say) as quickly as possible.
when you don't count you may think you're playing a rhythm correctly, but you could be totally wrong. counting aloud gives you another 'check point' along the way, if what you're playing doesn't line up with what you're saying you will realise that there is a problem and be able to fix it yourself.
when reading the music we have visual confirmation on what the rhythm looks like but by adding in counting it gives us an audible confirmation as well.
it's hard to explain but i'll leave it at this: when you count aloud you will get the rhythm right more often than when you don't....it's a fact!
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
taken advantage of
i've been thinking lately about how people can get the most out of their money when it comes to piano lessons. here are some tips...
- come well prepared and practiced to piano class. we may not always pass our song or songs, but at least progress has been made.
- when a parent is heavily involved in helping their child at home it frees me up to teach other principles in lesson time like scales and other exercises. we don't need to play through each of our new songs all the time in lessons, instead i can explain any new concepts and demonstrate them and then move on to additional material.
(every lesson varies and every student is different meaning there is no one way to do things; however, a good tag team partnership between parent and teacher is a great asset in the learning process)
- Mum and Dad, ask plenty of questions to help you understand what's being taught.
- Students, review the principles taught from the previous weeks by looking in your note book. This saves time when i don't have to go over it again.
- Students remembering the basics (sitting up straight, holding bubbles, hand positions ready) when they arrive saves time.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
you never know
when i was 8 or 9 years old i was playing with 'star war men' in my room when my mum came in and said, "joel, do you want to take piano lessons?" i looked up and said "ok", and that was the end of that... or should i say the beginning.
i wasn't necessarily interested in music or the piano but it seemed like a good idea at the time. looking back now and seeing how my parents struggled financially to put me through lessons i get great comfort knowing that their investment was worth it.
i don't jump to conclusions when a student doesn't grasp a concept right away, nor do i measure one student's progress against another...why? because they remind me of me! i wasn't exceptionally slow, but i wasn't a prodigy either.
as i learned more about piano and began to mature, my love for the instrument began to flourish; but who would've known that in just a few years i would make such dramatic changes in my approach to my instrument. when someone says "you're so talented" i think that it comes back to loving the instrument. when i allow the piano to be an extension of who i am and a way i can express how i'm feeling i make a much greater investment into it. it's kind of like a fondness toward someone: you want to spend all of your time with them! in short, it's not just about talent; love equals time and time develops knowing.
my goal as a teacher is to maintain a balance between teaching crucial, elementary skills while keeping lessons fun so a student does not wear to the point of quitting. there is a lot of hard work to do when learning an instrument, but if you can persevere hopefully a love for the instrument will be cultivated within you; then, you'll be able to enjoy a life of music and not be an "i used to play once upon a time" casualty.
i wasn't necessarily interested in music or the piano but it seemed like a good idea at the time. looking back now and seeing how my parents struggled financially to put me through lessons i get great comfort knowing that their investment was worth it.
i don't jump to conclusions when a student doesn't grasp a concept right away, nor do i measure one student's progress against another...why? because they remind me of me! i wasn't exceptionally slow, but i wasn't a prodigy either.
as i learned more about piano and began to mature, my love for the instrument began to flourish; but who would've known that in just a few years i would make such dramatic changes in my approach to my instrument. when someone says "you're so talented" i think that it comes back to loving the instrument. when i allow the piano to be an extension of who i am and a way i can express how i'm feeling i make a much greater investment into it. it's kind of like a fondness toward someone: you want to spend all of your time with them! in short, it's not just about talent; love equals time and time develops knowing.
my goal as a teacher is to maintain a balance between teaching crucial, elementary skills while keeping lessons fun so a student does not wear to the point of quitting. there is a lot of hard work to do when learning an instrument, but if you can persevere hopefully a love for the instrument will be cultivated within you; then, you'll be able to enjoy a life of music and not be an "i used to play once upon a time" casualty.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
the 'P' word and parents
after teaching for many years now i've observed what makes a good piano lesson, and it all leads back to the 'P' word...practice.
for starters i know the feeling of being that student that walks in knowing he hasn't practice anything since the last time he sat on the same piano bench in his teachers studio, i was a student once to you know. the question of "can i fake my way through this lesson?" looms in your thoughts.
i think of practice like this...if piano lessons once a week was an all you can eat buffet and you ate all you wanted until you were stuffed but after that you didn't eat anything till the lessons the following week you wouldn't be in very good shape, would you? instead you eat meals everyday to sustain your body, that is like practice. a little everyday is better than once or twice a week.
i want you to know that in my experience the students who do well are the ones whose parents are very much involved in their practice routine. kids usually left to practice on their own rarely make good use of their practice time and most of the time get distracted and don't end up doing what they're suppose to do.
the advantage with my setup as a teacher is that a parent is present at every lesson giving the parents an excellent opportunity to listen in and even be interactive in the lesson, to ask questions so they can understand what's being taught and even to learn enough to be their teacher at home (this is something i recommend that every parent take advantage of).
your child of 6, 8 or 10 may not understand the importance of practice but you can and can be their cheer leader at home to help them eat a good serving of piano everyday.
for starters i know the feeling of being that student that walks in knowing he hasn't practice anything since the last time he sat on the same piano bench in his teachers studio, i was a student once to you know. the question of "can i fake my way through this lesson?" looms in your thoughts.
i think of practice like this...if piano lessons once a week was an all you can eat buffet and you ate all you wanted until you were stuffed but after that you didn't eat anything till the lessons the following week you wouldn't be in very good shape, would you? instead you eat meals everyday to sustain your body, that is like practice. a little everyday is better than once or twice a week.
i want you to know that in my experience the students who do well are the ones whose parents are very much involved in their practice routine. kids usually left to practice on their own rarely make good use of their practice time and most of the time get distracted and don't end up doing what they're suppose to do.
the advantage with my setup as a teacher is that a parent is present at every lesson giving the parents an excellent opportunity to listen in and even be interactive in the lesson, to ask questions so they can understand what's being taught and even to learn enough to be their teacher at home (this is something i recommend that every parent take advantage of).
your child of 6, 8 or 10 may not understand the importance of practice but you can and can be their cheer leader at home to help them eat a good serving of piano everyday.
Friday, March 6, 2009
when buying a piano or keyboard
when you're in the market for a keyboard or piano there are several things you need to keep in mind.
i always advise parents who are getting their children into piano lessons not to invest a lot of money into it straight away, the last thing you want is a $5000 piano that's going to sit in your living room and not be played, however, pianos do make nice pieces of furniture.
the next step up is a keyboard with weighted keys. this means that the keys feel heavier to play mimicking the action of a real piano. on an acoustic piano when you press a key it moves a hammer and strikes the string/s, because of the mechanics, it gives the key a weighted feel. now days keyboards are fairly close to getting the 'feel' right but in my opinion nothing plays the same as an acoustic piano. when you buy weighted keys it will always be touch sensitive.
when purchasing weighted keys you're more than likely buying a 'digital piano'. these are cool because they usually come in a frame with pedals and the appearance of a real piano for about $1000 give or take depending brand and other features. this is a good place to stop and sit for a while if you don't want to jump up to an acoustic piano. the other advantages to a digital piano is that they're easier to move, they never have to be tuned and they have volume control if you need to be quiet. the disadvantage to a student who may be easily distracted is that they come with all these other sounds and additional features which can eat up practice time by playing around if not under the close watch or ear of a parent.
lastly you can buy an acoustic piano, the differences are upright or grand. on an upright the strings inside are sitting vertical meanwhile on a grand the stings are sitting horizontal. up to a certain height on an upright the string length will match a small baby grand but after 5 feet or so the length of the strings on a grand will exceed that of an upright piano.
why is string length important? the longer the strings the more rich and deeper the sound but not necessary rather a luxury.
my last note on buying a piano is don't always think brand new. pianos (depending on the brand) are built to last, it's not uncommon to have a piano that is 30 years old that looks and plays like new after being refurbished by a piano store (not everyone who sells pianos refurbishes them). pianos, even though they may be old may not have seen a lot of playing time and may still be in great shape especially when fixed up by a pro.
when in the market check out rick jones pianos, when you purchase a piano they'll trade in your old piano for what you paid for it towards an upgrade.
for my needs, space and financial limitations as a piano teacher i teach on a 50" Yamaha U2 upright piano. before purchasing an instrument on any level do you homework and talk to a professional (not necessarily the guy trying to sell it to you). piano tuners are a good source because they're the guy's that fix them also you trustworthy piano teacher may have a few ideas :)
i always advise parents who are getting their children into piano lessons not to invest a lot of money into it straight away, the last thing you want is a $5000 piano that's going to sit in your living room and not be played, however, pianos do make nice pieces of furniture.
first off i loosely recommend a keyboard that is in the $100 to $200 range to get them started and to go easy on your bank account. at the very least it should be touch sensitive meaning the harder you play the keys the louder it gets likewise the softer you play the softer the sound. this is an ok place to start when trying to get started but not a good place to stop. you don't want them to develop a bad technique which they will by spending to long on a imitation instrument, once they are showing adequate interest in piano lessons and they're going to keep at it, it's time to invest in an upgrade. if possible skip the keyboard and move straight to a digital piano.
the next step up is a keyboard with weighted keys. this means that the keys feel heavier to play mimicking the action of a real piano. on an acoustic piano when you press a key it moves a hammer and strikes the string/s, because of the mechanics, it gives the key a weighted feel. now days keyboards are fairly close to getting the 'feel' right but in my opinion nothing plays the same as an acoustic piano. when you buy weighted keys it will always be touch sensitive.
when purchasing weighted keys you're more than likely buying a 'digital piano'. these are cool because they usually come in a frame with pedals and the appearance of a real piano for about $1000 give or take depending brand and other features. this is a good place to stop and sit for a while if you don't want to jump up to an acoustic piano. the other advantages to a digital piano is that they're easier to move, they never have to be tuned and they have volume control if you need to be quiet. the disadvantage to a student who may be easily distracted is that they come with all these other sounds and additional features which can eat up practice time by playing around if not under the close watch or ear of a parent.
my last note on buying a piano is don't always think brand new. pianos (depending on the brand) are built to last, it's not uncommon to have a piano that is 30 years old that looks and plays like new after being refurbished by a piano store (not everyone who sells pianos refurbishes them). pianos, even though they may be old may not have seen a lot of playing time and may still be in great shape especially when fixed up by a pro.
when in the market check out rick jones pianos, when you purchase a piano they'll trade in your old piano for what you paid for it towards an upgrade.
for my needs, space and financial limitations as a piano teacher i teach on a 50" Yamaha U2 upright piano. before purchasing an instrument on any level do you homework and talk to a professional (not necessarily the guy trying to sell it to you). piano tuners are a good source because they're the guy's that fix them also you trustworthy piano teacher may have a few ideas :)
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