Even from the beginning, the pieces in most modern piano method books require the student to move around the keyboard quite a bit. Older piano methods (at least, the ones that utilize the Middle C reading approach) require the student to stay around the middle of the piano during the entire first level, or even [...]
When I was a 5-year-old beginner piano student, I remember being re-assigned one-/two-line method book pieces when the only thing lacking was dynamic contrast. And I remember being frustrated with this. My frustration was partly due to the fact that I was bored with the music I was playing; I wanted to be reading staff [...]
Irina Gorin recently started a facebook group called The Art of Piano Pedagogy. There are some great discussions going on over there, and I highly recommend joining the group and check it out! Here’s the link. Happy weekend, all!
Here is a phrase I find myself use more and more lately with my students: “I think you are ready for…” Imagine me saying it with plenty of enthusiasm. This phrase comes in handy in a number of circumstances, such as: “Wow, you’ve got all your 5-finger patterns learned, so I think you are [...]
Here’s another session given by the well-loved pedagogue Marvin Blickenstaff from the 2011 OhioMTA Conference: Piano Pedagogy 101: Reviewing the Basics Mr. Blickenstaff introduced this session by commenting that at conferences and workshops, we often hear ideas for teaching intermediate and advanced students, but we don’t very often hear ideas for teaching beginners during that [...]
Joy is a pianist and teacher in Ohio with great passion for helping students experience the wonders of music making!
