Posted by: clariniano on: November 28, 2011
There are many musicians, especially advanced students and professionals, who try to appear as if they are perfect practicers. Well, I know I am not, though the job still gets done well. Here are some of the things that musicians are “supposed” to do in practice that I don’t. However, these tactics are NOT recommended for [...]
Posted by: clariniano on: November 27, 2011
When is a child ready to begin formal private music lessons on an instrument? When they can perform at least 80% of the skills in the following list. Be able to concentrate on an active task (like doing puzzles or drawing a picture) for at least 10-15 minutes. Know the alphabet from at least A-G. [...]
Posted by: clariniano on: November 27, 2011
They get a good-quality instrument that is in good shape mechanically They don’t quit lessons at the first signs a student says they don’t like their music lessons. They do their best to keep going in lessons even when there are personal or financial aspects that are challenging. They cooperate with the teacher. They take [...]
Posted by: clariniano on: November 16, 2011
A Handful of Keys Dizzy Fingers A few of our favourite things. Music for children (Music by Bartok, Schumann, Debussy) Signature Pieces Big and Little Pieces Moving Music Fantasies and Impromptus An Impromptu Performance Improm-Two Let It Shine! Contrasts A Pair of Shoes: Schumann and Schubert The Colours of Christmas My Funny Christmas (a word [...]
Posted by: clariniano on: November 15, 2011
Best features: Fully weighted keys. So the difference in the feel of the digital is as close as possible to a good acoustic. Recording. So that students can record their own playing and have the teacher evaluate their playing from their practice. Pre-recorded pieces. Especially of pieces that many piano students feel inspired by. Several [...]
Posted by: clariniano on: November 15, 2011
One of the benefits of attending church services with children is that you will likely find a competent or excellent piano teacher, since music directors at most churches have to play the piano extremely well to handle challenging piano parts in choir anthems and piano parts of instrumental soloists. Another musical benefit of attending church [...]
Posted by: clariniano on: November 9, 2011
The so-called final part was getting too long, so here’s one last one to finish up: Fast pieces are harder than slow pieces Many students, especially male students, like playing fast pieces and often ignore or don’t play the slow ones. But students need to remember there are many occasions where slow pieces are much [...]
Posted by: clariniano on: November 7, 2011
Although I rarely travel outside of the city, I almost did travel outside of the country a few years ago (and finally did in May 2012 to Southern California) and would have been required to bring my pair of clarinets (Bb/A) to do clinics and performances at the places I was visiting. However, I did [...]
Posted by: clariniano on: November 6, 2011
While many teachers think that students and parents are often too lazy to travel to student’s homes, I have found that sometimes there are legitimate reasons for students and parents to request for a teacher to come to student’s homes for lessons. Here are a few of them: The student or parent has a physical [...]
