My Winter Break 2013 Reading List

Christmas Break. Now, that my final concert review for 2013 has been put to bed and playing at Christmas services has been completed, I can breathe a sigh of relief and relax for a few days.

Aside from spending time with family and friends, I do hope to make a dent in my book reading list. I’d love to add more, but I think I’ll just start with these.

Here is my musician’s Christmas reading list with links to my affiliates:

• The Inner Game of Music by Barry Green (with W. Timothy Gallwey)

• Flawless Consulting: A Guide to Getting Your Expertise Used, 3rd edition by Peter Block

• Consulting Fees: A Guide For Independent Consultants (Consultant Journal Guides) by Andrea Coutu

• Higgledy Piggledy Jazz by Elena V. Cobb

• blue riverby Elena Cobb

• Complete Works for Solo Keyboard by Jean-Philippe Rameau

• Collected Studies for Piano, op. 100, 105, 109by J.F. Burgmüller

The nice thing about adding a bunch of music scores to my reading list is that I can practice my sight-reading. I can also leisurely pick a couple of pieces to work on for 2014.

I am not sure if I am going to get through all of the books. If I can get through half of them over the Christmas Break, I’ll be happy. I can always save the rest of my musician’s reading list for my Reading Week.

Reducing Hand and Wrist Tension at the Piano

Lately, I have been harping on my students about their wrist technique. Some are playing with locked wrists or excess hand tension, even with us working on it during their lessons. The bottom line is that we teachers can only help you so much in a lesson, the rest comes down to how you practice at home.

Here are a few videos by some of my esteemed colleagues on hand and wrist technique:

Irina Gorin and Wrist Relaxation Exercises:

I showed this to an intermediate student. He started to make some progress after viewing this. Irina has more useful videos on her YouTube Channel.

Josh Wright on Reducing Hand Tension

Although he still has some tension (those pesky octaves!), Josh does have some good points. Let's chalk it up to the fact that he's showing you a section that he is working on, so it's a work in progress.

Robert Estrin on Wrist Technique with Octaves:

Robert Estrin has a treasure chest of wonderful piano tutorials on his website. Every pianists should bookmark his site.

The Allan Fraser Institute's Lecture-Demonstration on Hand Tension and Proper Arm Weight Technique

Thanks to Brian Riker for sharing this one.

I promised my students that I would send them some clips to help them play with more relaxed wrists and a less hand tension.

Sometime during Christmas break, I will record some videos in which I deconstruct my piano technique. When I mentioned this to my students, they immediately asked if we could use the GoPro POV camera and the other cameras to film them as well. What a great way to analyze your basic piano technique!

I think I will start using an elastic band. Up to this point, I've either had my students put their hand on mine (or my forearm) to feel the arm weight and tension I use to play their trouble spots. Or, I'll hold their forearm and won't let go until I sense they have relaxed sufficiently.

We've been using imagery a lot too. That's something you might want to try if your teacher hasn't asked you to yet.

Last night, I asked a student to imagine that he was in a pool and he was dragging his arm back and forth in the water. Then, I asked him to imagine that his arms were made of air and that gravity was pulling his hand down towards the keys.

Make sure you stretch regularly to reduce hand tension and prevent musician injuries. Finally, I will leave you with something I say regularly to my students: Spongy wrists, firm fingertips.

Gift Ideas for Older Dogs

Looking for gift ideas for your senior dog? Here are seven Christmas gift or birthday gift ideas that Maestro and I recommend for the older dog in your family:

Snoozer Scalloped Pet Stairs for Canine Arthritis

Available on Amazon.ca, the Snoozer Scalloped Pet Stairs is at the top of our list ($57.50 CAD and up). Maestro used to have the Pet Gear Easy Step II Pet Stair ($37.56 CAD and up), but once he was diagnosed with canine arthritis and I.V.D.D, the stairs had to go. The impact was too hard on his joints.

Maestro's old stairs had to go once he was diagnosed with Inter-vertebral Disc Disease. Photo by R-M Arca.

The Snoozers are so soft (yet firm). It's much easier on his joints:

This Snoozer Scalloped Pet Ramp is easier on Maestro's joints. Photo by R-M Arca.

A Dog Ramp to Ease Joint Pain in Dogs

If you are crafty, you could make your own dog ramp. Just make sure the angle isn't too steep.

If we didn't have the Snoozers, we would have purchased Mr. Herzher's Smart Ramp Jr ($72.99 USD at PetSmart). There is a full-sized version of Mr. Herzher's Smart Ramp  on Amazon as well as PetSmart ($143.99 USD and up).

If you need a pet ramp for your vehicle, check out the Pet Gear Full Length Tri-Fold Pet Ramp. It's also available on both Amazon and PetSmart ($129.99 USD).

A Dog Jacket or Sweater

Just like us, older dogs have achy joints. Keeping them warm helps immensely!

When we experienced that cold snap a few weeks ago, Maestro refused to let me remove his plaid Bailey & Bella jacket from Pet Valu:

Maestro really loves this dog jacket by Bailey & Bella. Photo by R-M Arca.

Believe it or not, I had to go back to Pet Valu to order him a second jacket. The first one is currently in the wash.

A Therapeutic Dog Bed to Soothe Aching Joints in Dogs

When he was younger, Maestro loved his dog crate. Now, he needs more room to get settled and a softer, warmer surface.

If money were no object, I'm sure Maestro would love an infrared Thermotex Therapeutic Dog Bed. It retails between $178 to $238.80 CAD. In the summer, I bought us a Thermotex Infrared Therapy pad. Sure, it costs more money ($249 CAD), but at least we both can use it:

There are alternative therapeutic dog beds. At PetSmart, you can check out the Precision Pet SnooZZy Round OrthoAir Mattress Dog Bed ($99 USD) and Canine Cushion Orthopedic Fabric and Fleece Dog Bed  ($20 USD).

Amazon has a variety of therapeutic dog beds. They range between $32,85 to $86.06 CAD.

Enzymatic Oral Hygiene Chews for Dogs

Gum disease is common in older dogs. Bottom line, they need to clean their teeth, but the treats must be gentle on their sensitive gums.

Maestro really likes his lamb pizzles from Pet Valu. His second favourite go-to dental chew are his enzymatic oral hygiene chews that we get at the vet. You can also find them on Amazon.

Wheat-free biscuits for Arthritic Dogs

Wheat is bad for dogs with arthritis. Lately, Maestro has been enjoying think!dog Crawfish Dog Biscuits:

He gets his fruits and veggies too. Our usual go-to wheat-free dog cookies are Fruitables Crunchy Dog Treats and Nutro Natural Choice Crunchy Dog Treats. Really, any dog cookie that is wheat free is fine for the older dog in your family.

Paw Protection for All Dogs

If you live in a cold climate, paw protection goes a long way at preserving your furry buddy's paw pads. All the dogs in our family own a set of Muttluks:

They retail for $50 CAD and above. The major pet stores in Canada sell them, although you can also find them online at Amazon or PetSmart.

Recently, I picked up a FouFou Pet Fou Stick Paw Balm for Pets. If Maestro isn't out for too long, it's a lot easier to slap on the paw palm than it is to put on his dog booties!

Whether your are shopping for Christmas gifts or birthday gifts for you older dog, we hope this list gives you a few ideas to check out. How about you? Do you have any gift ideas for older dogs that you'd recommend for Maestro to try out?

Diggin' the Laser Therapy

Maestro laser.jpg

After six months of laser therapy for his canine arthritis and I.V.D.D., Maestro is still enjoying the benefits of this non-invasive treatment.

Snow Day Activities and Reflections

After attending Otafest Aurora last weekend, I went to visit with family in High River and to pick up Maestro. The roads were fine at the time, but everyone knew that a storm was on its way.

Sunday night, we watched the snowstorm roll in. The swirling wind hid the landscape from view.

By morning, I was faced with either braving the treacherous roads back into the city (and the roads were equally horrendous in Calgary) or declare a Snow Day and reschedule music lessons to a non-blizzard day. I chose the latter.

What does one do with a Snow Day? The following is a short list of snow activities for adults that I came up with:

• read

• clean the house

• reorganize a room, drawer, closet

• cooking or baking

• call or write family or friends

• play a game

• office work

• sleep

• spend time with family

• hobby

• watch a TV show or movie

• pray/meditate

• start your Christmas cards and letters

• put up the Christmas tree

For my Snow Day, I wound up interviewing attendees so I could complete my reviews of Otafest on Examiner.com and my J-Blog. I also did a bit of tabletop gaming, trying out Castle Panic and Ticket to Ride. It was also a good day to take lots of naps, too. It was a great day.

Have I left anything out? What are some snow day activities that you have tried (or would like to try)?