piano teaching – Page 20 – Color In My Piano

This is what it looks like outside our house today:

Much of the U.S. is currently experiencing a “polar vortex.” Here in Ohio, there is around 8 inches of snow on the ground and the wind chill has been around -35 degrees Fahrenheit during the daytime. Local schools and universities have cancelled classes yesterday and today. Our county has declared a Level 3 Snow Emergency, which means people are not allowed to travel on the roads unless it is an emergency (or else risk a fine or arrest).

What to do about piano lessons? Continue reading “In Snowy Weather…Teaching Via FaceTime/Skype” →

Announcements, Professional Development

New Year’s Thoughts for Piano Teachers

3 January 20143 January 2014 Joy Morin

I am not usually a person to make New Year’s resolutions, but for me the New Year is definitely a time of reflection on the past year and future.

Looking Back

Here are some big things that happened in 2013 that I’m especially thankful for:

I’m thankful for a full studio of 35 students! It took 2.5 years to fill my schedule after moving to our current town.
I’m thankful that my husband, Paul, finished his second Master’s degree in May and that he found a great job the following month. Hooray for financial stability and health insurance! It couldn’t have come at a better time because my health insurance under my parents also expired in June.

Looking Forward

A few times this week, this article discussing the distinction between goal-setting and habit-setting came through my facebook newsfeed. The article suggests that success is found in creating a system or process for reaching goal, rather than in setting the goal itself. This may seem obvious, but sometimes we make the mistake of setting a goal without thinking about what it will really take to make the goal happen.

I’d like to go a step further and suggest that in order to increase the chances of success, the goal being set should be process-oriented. Continue reading “New Year’s Thoughts for Piano Teachers” →

Motivation

Christmas Paper Chain Fun

13 December 201317 November 2014 Joy Morin

I saw this wonderful idea in one of the wonderful facebook groups for piano teachers (this one). I am not sure who to credit with the original idea — I suppose it has been done many times by teachers in the past.

The idea is that when a student learns a Christmas piece, they get to add a paper strip to the chain.

I just started the chain this week with my students. I love how this is a collaborative (instead of competitive) project that allows the entire studio to participate. Our chain already reaches across the entryway of my studio!

It will be fun to see how long the chain gets by the time Christmas is over!

Giveaways

Clavier Companion Magazine’s Recent Redesign (Giveaway)

10 December 2013 Joy Morin

Clavier Companion is my favorite magazine ever, hands down. Each magazine features a great variety of articles about pianists, piano teaching, new resources, the latest trends, and much more. I have been a subscriber for a couple of years and I love receiving the issues in the mail!

The November/December issue of Clavier Companion introduced a fresh new look and design.

Continue reading “Clavier Companion Magazine’s Recent Redesign (Giveaway)” →

Announcements, repertoire / methods, Technique

The Technique Exercises of the Piano Safari method

5 November 201326 February 2022 Joy Morin

On Friday, my local MTNA chapter held a workshop given by Katherine Fisher and Dr. Julie Knerr, co-authors of the Piano Safari method. Piano Safari has been on my radar for quite some time, although I have not yet used the method books with a student. I have, however, been experimenting with the technique exercises they have developed.

Continue reading “The Technique Exercises of the Piano Safari method” →

General

Freebie: Piano Finger Bling worksheets

31 October 20136 November 2019 Joy Morin

Today, I have a couple of fun freebies for you. 🙂

First, here is a printable worksheet for beginner piano students. Their task is to label each hand as RH or LH and then label the finger with the ring as #1, 2, 3, 4, or 5. My beginners love completing this quick worksheet!

As I was making this worksheet, it occurred to me that it would be fun to get a plastic diamond ring to use when quizzing students on their finger numbers. Fun little props can add a lot of fun to drills. 🙂

Then, I decided to make a digital version of this worksheet to use on my iPad with the GoodNotes app. Students can draw on each page in order to label the hand and finger. It’s a quick little activity that can be completed during the lesson.

To download the printable worksheet, visit the Printables > Worksheets page and scroll down to “Piano Finger Bling worksheet.”

Piano Finger Bling worksheet (204.0 KiB, 16,804 hits)

To download the digital PDF worksheet, visit the Printables > For iPad page and look for “Piano Finger Bling.”

Piano Finger Bling (794.3 KiB, 5,401 hits)

Enjoy!

Composition, Teaching Piano

Now Available: Composition & Improvisation Prompts for Piano eBook

21 October 201321 April 2020 Joy Morin

Last week, I wrote a blog post here describing how I help my students compose their own pieces. Today, I am officially announcing the release of a new e-book resource called: Composition & Improvisation Prompts for Piano!

Prompts for Piano - ebook cover 950x629

Continue reading “Now Available: Composition & Improvisation Prompts for Piano eBook” →

Technique

Freebie: 2008 Technical Requirements Charts for RCM/MDP Practical Exams

20 September 201319 July 2022 Joy Morin

UPDATE: Please visit this post for the latest 2022 RCM Piano Syllabus version.

Today, I’m sharing a project that I have been working on extensively for the past three weeks. I am very excited to have this project complete and be able to share it with you!

For the last two years, I have entered a couple of students in the Royal Conservatory’s Music Development Program (previously known as The Achievement Program and the National Music Certificate Program in the U.S.). It is an excellent program that I hope to continue to use with my students. Preparing for the practical exams has been a positive experience for my students.

As a newcomer to the MDP, I found it challenging to keep track of the technical requirements with my students. I found myself pulling out the MDP Piano Syllabus at every single lesson in order to clarify something or check if we were doing things right. And writing out the technical requirements on my students’ assignment sheets each week was time consuming, especially since I expected my students to review each previous weeks’ material. Continue reading “Freebie: 2008 Technical Requirements Charts for RCM/MDP Practical Exams” →

repertoire / methods, Reviews

Review: The Music of Jon George

12 September 201312 September 2013 Joy Morin

Having lived in my town for just over 2 years now, my studio is comprised mostly of beginner and elementary level students. A few months ago, I felt that a handful of my beginners were ready for some early elementary level supplemental books — things that would get them moving around the keyboard more and help prevent them from becoming too “method-ized.” (You know what I mean, right? I don’t like my students to become overly Faber-ized, Alfred-ized, Bastien-ized, or whatever). 🙂

Two years ago at the National Conference on Keyboard Pedagogy, I attended an Exhibitor Session for Willis Music led by Glenda Austin. Most of the session was about composer William Gillock (no longer living) and his wonderful compositions for students. I remember that Glenda introduced the session by stating that many experienced teachers are well aware of Gillock’s extensive output of music for students, but that many younger teachers might not be familiar with his music. I enjoyed that session so much — it was great to learn more about Gillock and his music that has stood the test of time.

Jon George is another composer who has left behind a huge output of wonderful pieces for students. While I am relatively new to his music, no doubt many of you have made great use of Jon George’s music over the years! A few months ago, I decided to order a few of Jon George’s early- and mid- elementary level books to use with my students. I’m so glad I did, because I am thrilled with what I found!

Kaleidoscope Solos – Book 1, by Jon George

Early Elementary.

I love this book. It is very difficult to find such good writing for beginner students. This book contains some of the best writing for the early elementary level that I have ever encountered.

The pieces in this book require students to play with their hands starting at different places on the keyboard, which helps prevent students from getting “locked” into positions such as the Middle C position.

As a teacher, I do my best to encourage students to shape phrases and play musically even when they are beginners and these pieces make it easy to do so! These melodic pieces are inspiring to students and appealing to the ear. The student of mine who received this book is thriving with these pieces. I will be utilizing this series much more in the future.

There are 4 more books available in this series, progressing to an intermediate level. Continue reading “Review: The Music of Jon George” →

Reviews

Sheet Music Review: Madge’s Notebook by Rebekah Maxner

29 August 201329 August 2013 Joy Morin

This summer, Canadian composer Rebekah Maxner has released a new book, “Madge’s Notebook: A Piano Tribute to The Hunger Games.” When Rebekah emailed me to ask if I’d be willing to review her book, I told her I wasn’t sure if she would want me to review it since I have not yet read the popular “Hunger Games” books. (I know, am I out-of-the-loop or what?) 🙂 She replied that she nonetheless would like to me to review the books — after all, the music should be able to stand on its own. I’m glad Rebekah felt that way, because I enjoyed checking out her music!

“Madge’s Notebook” is intended to be a book of music that will appeal to intermediate students — in particular, tweens, teens, and adults. Rebekah states that the purpose of the book is to meet today’s piano students where they are and to use their interest in book literature to foster interest in piano literature.

This book is one that Rebekah imagines the characters from “The Hunger Games” would have on their piano. The passage in “The Hunger Games” series that inspired Madge’s Notebook is found in the second book of the series, “Catching Fire.”

“Madge’s Notebook” is 28 pages long and contains 11 pieces. The Table of Contents divides the pieces into three sections: (1) Folk Music of District 12, (2) Classics from a Time before Panem, and (3) Piano Music by Madge for Katniss.

Many of the pieces are original compositions, but there are also some interesting pieces inspired by famous piano pieces. Although at first I thought they might be “simplified arrangements,” I think it is more suitable to think of the pieces as “inspired by” famous piano works. The pieces seem to evoke the original classical work, rather than exist merely as a simplified version. Very creative! Continue reading “Sheet Music Review: Madge’s Notebook by Rebekah Maxner” →

repertoire / methods

New Collaborative Project: Repertoire Lists for Piano Teachers

27 August 201327 August 2013 Joy Morin

There are a number of really wonderful facebook groups for piano teachers (the Art of Piano Pedagogy and Professional Piano Teachers come to mind). These groups are a great place to share ideas with other teachers and ask questions.

In particular, I have observed a number of threads asking for repertoire suggestions for a particular student/situation and have been amazed at the collective knowledge and experience shared by the teachers who respond! It is unfortunate that these threads get lost and forgotten over time among the ever-growing number of threads that take place in these facebook groups. Wouldn’t it be great to have a more permanent place where teachers can share their favorite pieces of repertoire for various situations?

Well, now there is! I’ve created a public Google Spreadsheet containing a few different lists:

Motivational Repertoire — Please share only your top hits and your best pupil savers. In the “comments” space, please share why this piece was so great for your student.
Piano Ensemble — Please add any of your favorite piano duets, duos, trios, and quartets.
Concertos — Share any piano concertos that you think are especially valuable and effective for students.
For One Hand — Have you ever had a student injure or break an arm? Please feel free to browse or add repertoire suggestions composed for right or left hand only.
For Small Hands — Do have advancing students with a very small reach? The repertoire suggestions on this list even list the maximum handspan required in each piece.

CLICK HERE to learn more about this spreadsheet. Please take the time to add a piece or two to the list, and please feel free to share about this project with your piano teaching colleagues across the world. The more the merrier!

Tag: piano teaching

In Snowy Weather…Teaching Via FaceTime/Skype