I don’t normally post on Saturdays, but I’m so close to having all my conference notes posted that I decided to finish up today with the last one rather than wait until Monday! Whew, thanks for bearing with me through the long haul! Lucky for us, the last one is a good one. :) I’ve [...]
If you’ve never heard of the TED talks, please take a moment to check out this link! According to the “About” page on their website… “TED is a non-profit devoted to “Ideas Worth Spreading.” It started out (in 1984) as a conference bringing together people from three worlds: Technology, Entertainment, Design. Since then its scope has [...]
In my last post, I mentioned the MiniMusic kit by Paula Manwaring (Kjos Publishing) that I purchased while I was at the NCKP conference. The photos and description of this curriculum on the Kjos Publishing website do not do it justice! So I decided to show you some photos I took myself. I think many [...]
Each morning and afternoon at the NCKP, there are publisher showcases to choose from where you can learn about method books or supplementary materials. Often, you will receive free books at these showcases, as you’ve already seen in my first NCKP post showing off my “loot!” Below is more about four of the showcases I [...]
More conference notes! This was a fascinating session about Horowitz. During this session, we also had the privilege of hearing the World Premiere of a Ballade that Horowitz wrote, performed by Louis Nagel! The Unknown Horowitz: New Insights into the Man & his Music, by Sherrill Martin. Th @ 3:30pm. Horowitz studied piano with his mother and [...]
Your Student Recitals, Live on the Internet! by Mario Ajero, Shana Kirk, George Litterst, and Stella Sick. Th @ 2:15pm. During this session, the presenters told us all about the benefits, feasibility, and equipment needed to broadcast your student recitals live on the internet. Streaming your student recitals online can allow you to reach distant [...]
Why Didn’t I Think of That? by Dennis Alexander. Th @ 11:15am. This session covered a variety of commonly asked questions from teachers that Mr. Alexander has received over the years. There is a lot of good information here for teachers! Q: Is it dangerous to play new pieces for beginners? Won’t they learn the [...]
Liszt and the Keyboard: The Wizard Casts his Spells, by Alan Walker. Th @ 9:30am. On Thursday morning, we heard a wonderful session by Alan Walker, an author of many books and is a specialist on Romantic Era composers and music. Mr. Walker is a highly intelligent man and a gifted speaker — it was [...]
The pre-conference seminar track “Students & Young Professionals” finished with this session: The Entrepreneurial Musician: YOU, Inc., by Angela Beeching. W @ 8:00pm. Angela Beeching is the author of a book called Beyond Talent. She provides counseling to musicians to help them succeed in their careers. She gave us a wonderful session about being an [...]
Next up during the pre-conference seminar called “Students and Young Professionals,” we heard a dynamic session about writing a business plan for your studio business! Got Money? How to Write a Business Plan that Gets You Thousands! by Kathleen Theisen & Kristin K. Yost. W @ 5:15pm. You may recognize Kathleen and Kristin’s names from [...]
In continuation of my notes from the pre-conference track “Students & Young Professionals:” Community Music Schools: Finding Your Niche in a Vibrant Arts Community, by Melissa Falb. W @ 4:30pm. Melissa Falb is a piano instructor and Director of Group Instruction at the MacPhail Center for Music in Minneapolis. After graduation, students with an interest [...]
Here’s some notes from another session during the pre-conference seminar track “Student & Young Professionals:” Viable Video: Basic Principles of an Effective Portfolio, by Pete Jutras. W @ 4:00pm Dr. Jutras divided his session into two sections: Content & Technique. 1. CONTENT Some tips: The quality of the teaching shown in the video trumps all. [...]
Joy is a pianist and teacher in Ohio with great passion for helping students experience the wonders of music making!
