Category Archives: musings

Thoughts for the New Year

By joy (admin) | Published: 23 December 2011

The new year always brings about a time of reflection for me.  I find myself thinking back over the past year and looking forward to the future, wondering what the new year might bring. This year was a time of great change for my husband and me.  In May, I graduated with my Master of [...]

Also posted in improving as a teacher, what I'm up to | Tagged , , , | 9 Comments

9 Tips for Teaching Piano To Young Ages

By joy (admin) | Published: 7 November 2011

As piano teachers, we wear many hats.  School teachers often teach only one age group, or a few age groups.  Piano teachers are usually expected to be able to teach from age 5 to 95!  But as we all know, teaching a 5-year-old is much different from teaching a 15-year-old, or a 55-year-old.  :) In [...]

Also posted in beginners / elementary Level, by student's level, early childhood music, improving as a teacher, motivation, private lessons, professional development | Tagged , , , | 7 Comments

Rethinking The Student’s First Lesson

By joy (admin) | Published: 21 April 2011

Okay, so I’ve been thinking about this topic for a few weeks now, and today I’m spilling all!   Sorry about the length. =) Don’t Make My Mistake! When I first began teaching, I created a mental list of all the things I felt were essential for a new student should know.  I thought very [...]

Also posted in beginners / elementary Level, improving as a teacher, motivation, private lessons, settings:, studio business | Tagged , , , , | 10 Comments

Thoughts on the Teaching Philosophy

By joy (admin) | Published: 6 January 2011

Reasons why you if you don’t have a written teaching philosophy, you should write one — and if you are using the one you wrote in college, you should consider updating it regularly.

Also posted in improving as a teacher, studio business | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

End-Of-The-Year Update

By joy (admin) | Published: 30 December 2010

Hello Readers, I hope this post finds you all well and enjoying this blessed season with your family and friends.  I’ve been enjoying some time off from both school and blogging in order to visit and spend time with my family.  I hope you’ve missed me while I was away.  =)  Although the blogger inside [...]

Also posted in current events, what I'm up to | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Go For the Sound

By joy (admin) | Published: 1 October 2010

Some teaching thoughts about keeping students focused on the sound they are creating, rather than becoming too sight-oriented with what’s written on the page. Music is, after all, an art form chiefly for the ears, so students should be learning to use their ears!

Also posted in improving as a teacher, interpretation | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Developing a Good Sense of Rhythm

By joy (admin) | Published: 14 September 2010
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Developing a good sense of rhythm is one of the most challenging parts of being a piano teacher.  It’s not something that arrives overnight, and it’s something that must be maintained as the student advances to music with more advanced rhythms and time signatures.  It truly is something that must be developed. I’d like to [...]

Also posted in early childhood music, improving as a teacher, rhythm, studio class / group lessons | Tagged , , , , , , , | 14 Comments

Leave It Behind and Just Play

By joy (admin) | Published: 9 September 2010

What happens when you have to give a performance but your mind is preoccupied with all sorts of crazy stuff going on in your life? In working with a vocalist whom I accompany for this week, we had a conversation about the necessity of leaving life’s problems outside the performance hall.  Of course, it’s easier [...]

Also posted in improving as a teacher | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Rallentando & Ritardando: What’s the Difference?

By joy (admin) | Published: 3 September 2010

This post discusses the difference between the Italian musical terms “ritardando” and “rallentando.” After consulting an Italian-English Dictionary, a subtle but important distinction is proposed.

Also posted in music theory, what I'm up to | Tagged , , , , , , | 17 Comments

Tension and Piano Playing

By joy (admin) | Published: 26 August 2010

A brief discussion about issues with tension in piano playing.

Also posted in advanced level, technique, what I'm up to | Tagged , , | 1 Comment
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