Practicing Ideas for Playing Lightly

Anyone who has played a piano sonata (or its smaller cousin, the sonatina) knows that sometimes, it's really difficult to make your left hand play softly. There is the usual practice technique of ghost playing, otherwise known as "air piano".

When that doesn't work, there are a few other ideas. Usually, the first thing I try with students is the Mixed Media Drill. The "offending" (hand that is too loud) plays the notes on a different surface, such as the music desk or one's lap. The other hand plays on the keys normally.

Another thing you can do is change the keyboard surface where the loud hand plays. I placed a scarf on top of the bass note keys and asked my student H to play an excerpt of a song that required balance work. We only met with marginal success.

I was about to pull out some band-aids, but came across my roll of bandage tape. You can see the results of our handiwork in the photo. H played through the excerpt once again.

It's amazing! We subconsciously are more careful when there's a bandage of any sort on our fingers. In this case, there was a noticeable difference between the left hand and right hand. H's melody rang through more clearly, while her left hand played that Alberti bass groove more delicately.

Here's a piano tutorial on the Alberti bass:

Five Free Music Websites to Improve Note Reading

A guide to some free music websites available on the Internet to help music students improve their note reading skills.

Two common challenges faced by beginning music students are note learning and identifying a note's location on their instrument (geography). Until note reading fluency is achieved, this can lead to some frustrating practice sessions at home.

It is important to develop note fluency at an early stage. The process of learning new music will become easier. Sight-reading and sight-playing will be less stressful. Students will be able to read through music more quickly and play more expressively.

Online Note Reading Websites & Note Reading Games

The following list is a compilation of some of the sites available on the Internet to help with practicing and improve note reading.

musictheory.net

Musictheory.net has quite a few music drills. Under the "Trainer" section, click on "Note Trainer". Users can specify whether to be drilled on reading in the treble clef, bass clef, tenor clef and alto clef. Hints are available and Note Trainer keeps score. Users can also do ear training drills, watch flash presentations of various topics of music theory and print off blank manuscript paper. Note that the Note Trainer may be too advanced for young beginners as it tests students' reading of the entire Grand Staff plus ledger lines.

Funbrain.com – The Piano Player

Students drill their note reading and keyboard geography in this online game. Four levels of play are available: Beginner (one octave with labels), Intermediate (one octave, no labels), Expert (four octaves with labels) and Virtuoso (four octaves, no labels).  The Piano Player is best suited for younger piano students (12 and under).

musicards.net

Eight sets of online flashcards are available on Musiccards.net: Note Names, Key Signatures, Intervals, Triads, Piano Note Names, Reading Piano Notes, Guitar Note Names and Reading Guitar Notes. Reading Piano Notes and Reading Guitar Notes are instrument location/geography drills. Students try to identify the note. To get the correct answer, scroll over the card. Several "decks" are available – no ledger lines, staff and ledger lines, naturals and accidentals.

Piano Pedagogy Plus

Online flash games are available on the Games page. Users can practice note reading on all four clefs. The games are timed and points are deducted for each incorrect answer. Students can also practice their interval reading.

emusictheory.com

Five note naming games are available on emusictheory.com: Note Names, Paced Note Names, C-Clef Note Names, Piano Keys and Guitar Frets. The first three are straight note identification exercises while the last two are instrument geography drills.

Online Note Reading Resources – Just the Tip of the Iceberg

Each of these websites listed contain a variety of drills and tools to help music students improve their note reading. There are other sites out there. Explore the many sites available and choose what sites work best for the student and his music practice needs.

For more information on practicing music, read Five Free Music Websites to Improve Ear Training, Free Websites to Help with Music Theory or Rudiments, and Reasons to Practice Daily.

Originally published on Suite101.com on November 22, 2009. Updated March 24, 2013. All rights reserved by Rhona-Mae Arca.

Professional Development for Music Educators

Music educators who teach privately often work in isolation. Continuing education and professional development can re-energize one's teaching and musicianship.

Private music teachers wear a variety of hats in addition to teaching, such as: administrator, guidance counselor, mentor, coach, amateur-psychologist, marketing and salesperson, computer IT troubleshooter, webmaster, bookkeeper, ensemble musician and collaborative pianist.

The private music teacher faces the unique challenge of developing curricula tailored to each student. In addition, the studio music educator needs to learn how to switch gears and approaches quickly. The first student of the day may be a hyper five-year old, but the next student may be a serious 15 year-old, followed by a self-conscious 53 year-old. Each student requires a different approach, teaching and communication style to keep them engaged and progressing at a steady rate.

This rapid pace often leaves little time to practice scales, much less commit to professional development. However, by dedicating time for ongoing professional development, the private music teacher can learn about new techniques, tools and ideas and return to their studios re-energized by a fresh perspective.

Independent Professional Development Ideas for Music Teachers

Establishing personal learning goals for the term is one way music teachers can keep their own musicianship and technical skills in shape. For instance, piano teachers can decide to work through Bach's Inventions one by one or a set of character pieces by an unfamiliar composer. Voice teachers could work through a song cycle by an emerging composer.

All teachers could work their way through the repertoire for the conservatory system(s) they have adopted in their studio (e.g. Royal Conservatory/National Conservatory of Music of America, Conservatory Canada, Canadian National Conservatory of Music, London Conservatory of Music).

In larger city centers, there are community and professional musical clubs such as the Musicians' Support Group or Piano Diploma Association (both in Calgary, Alberta, Canada). These groups meet once a month for members to perform for each other.

Other performing ideas including joining a community ensemble, such as a choir or jazz combo, playing at church, as well as performing at events such as weddings, funerals, social and corporate functions.

Music educators can learn about new techniques and tools by reading professional publications. The American Music Teacher, Canadian Music Teacher, Clavier and Keyboard Companion are examples of print publications.

There are also online discussion forums for music teachers, such as Teachers.net, and the can-pno-ped Group on Yahoo Groups to discuss music pedagogy, studio administration and life/work balance.

Continuing Education Courses for Music Teachers

Studying with a teacher who is more experienced is another way to keep for music teachers to keep growing. Every teacher's training and "pedigree" is unique, making it possible to learn new approaches with each teacher.

Learning a new style from a teacher who is more experienced in a that particular genre can re-energize a music teacher's own playing. It is far easier for a classically-trained musician to teach bossa nova, improvisation and jazz after signing up for some coaching sessions.

Taking up a new instrument as an adult may sound daunting. However, one's overall musicianship stands to benefit from doing so. By learning new technique on the new instrument, music teachers may come to realize where they have been unconsciously storing tension developed from having poor posture or learn how to play more expressively on their primary instrument.

Music teachers can continue their education in their field. Graduate courses for teachers are available in Music Performance, Conducting, Composition and Pedagogy. Some universities, such as the University of Ottawa, offer online education for music teachers. The Royal Conservatory of Music is one of several conservatories worldwide that offers a Licentiate program.

Music teachers can benefit from taking continuing their music education in a related field, such as the Feldenkrais method, the Alexander Technique, general pedagogy or psychology courses. Even learning new software to use when teaching or to improve office processes would be beneficial.

There are numerous workshops, conferences and seminars on music performance, music pedagogy, composition, collaborative music and theory. The Music Pedagogy International Conference, the National Conference on Keyboard Pedagogy, the Music Teachers National Association and the Canadian Federation of Music Teachers' Associations host conferences on an annual or bi-ennial basis.

The Banff Centre for the Arts, the Eastman School of Music, the Calgary Arts Summer School Association and the Heifetz International Music Institute offer courses and workshops annually.

Music educators can also gain new ideas and build a support base by joining a professional network, such as the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA), the Canadian Federation of Music Teachers' Associations (CFMTA), Alberta Piano Teachers' Association (APTA) or the Alberta String Association (ASA).

There is a Japanese proverb that says, "To teach is to learn." Music teachers can re-energize their teaching and develop their own musicianship by dedicating time to professional development. Through independent study projects and reading, music teachers can maintain their own playing skills. Music teachers can keep their performance chops up and stay in tune with the performing challenges their students face by performing regularly.

Through courses and professional associations, music educators can learn about new techniques and tools to incorporate into their studio and build a support base. By getting involved with the musical community, the stresses and frustrations that come from working in isolation can be diminished.

Sources

Canadian Piano Pedagogy

Music Teachers' Helper. "Skill Upgrades for Music Teachers" (October 30, 2009)

Suite101.com. "Teacher Professional and Personal Development" (December 21, 2009)

Originally published on Suite101.com on January 20, 2010. Updated March 24, 2013.

Why Do Music Students Hate Counting?

This is something that I've been grappling with every year. Some students, no matter how hard I try, refuse to count their beats. They are usually the ones who really need to because they are struggling and need help with the rhythm or the tempo.

As far as I can tell, my students fall into five general groups. Perhaps you're in one of them:

1. Students who hope that their rhythmic instability isn't so obvious if they don't count,

2. Students who are self-conscious and don't like to hear their voice,

3. Students who just don't care about whether they are playing the rhythm correctly, and

4. Students who aren't sure how to count beats in their music.

Well students, regardless of whether you count, we music teachers can tell when the timing is off.

For my students who are self-conscious, sometimes, I count out loud with them or bang out the beat on my cajón. You could ask a family member to count with you at home (just ask them to be steady like a clock and then set the metronome to what the tick-tocks should be).

For the students who are apathetic about rhythm, there isn't much that me or your music teacher can do to help you. You've probably heard it before, you just can't help someone who doesn't want help in the first place.

Now for those of you who need a refresher on how to count, I have found these articles and video tutorials:

• Understanding the Basics of Counting Rhythms

• How to Count Rhythms

• How to Count Beats in a Song

From Playing Beethoven to Passing the Bar - The Benefits of Studying Music

“I don’t see what piano has to do with what I want to be when I grow up.”

In a pose of defiance, ten-year old Brittany made this statement at our first lesson together. Intrigued, I asked, “And what do you want to be when you grow up?” Her answer: a lawyer.

Some students study music because their parents want them to; while others are inspired by someone they know or have heard in performance. Regardless of the reason or musical instrument studied, the benefits of music study are the same. Here are just a few benefits, which I described to this aspiring lawyer that day:

Time and Project Management Skills: Whether she knows it or not, Brittany is learning to successfully balance her caseload: homework, extracurricular activities, social life and several aspects of music. By the time she passes the bar, she will be a pro at managing several cases at one time.

Analytical Skills: Students learn to identify patterns in their music and study its various forms. Whether a student grows up to dissect a criminal profile like Brittany or write a doctoral thesis on the translation study of James Joyce’s literary works like a friend of mine, these students will have finely honed their analytical skills.

Improved Academic Performance: Countless studies conclude that students who study music have significantly higher spatial-temporal abilities than their non-musical counterparts. The figure varies from 34% to 80% higher. Not surprisingly, music students shine in mathematics and the sciences. As adults, they excel as doctors, teachers, engineers and lawyers.

Enhanced Communication Skills: Music isa language in its own right, with its own symbols and syntax. According to Alberta Learning, studying a second language enhances a student’s communication skills and vocabulary in their primary language. Music students learn to convey emotions and imagery to audiences unfamiliar with “the language of music.” The result is more eloquent communicators, regardless of their line of work.

Develop Teamwork Skills: When musicians young and old perform with a choir, band or symphony, they learn to play in synch and blend into a cohesive unit. They must polish their listening skills and learn to work with different personalities and working styles. Hmmm…sounds like a typical office, doesn’t it?

One year later, Brittany doesn’t balk as much whenever I draw parallels between her songsand her career aspirations. It’s a complete turnaround from the person who wanted to walk out of our first lesson. These days, she just smiles knowingly and starts to play.

***

Several years have passed since I've taught Brittany. However, the benefits of learning music remain constant. Here are a few more articles that go over other benefits to studying a musical instrument:

Twelve Benefits of Music Education

18 Benefits of Playing a Musical Instrument

Benefits of Music Education

Music "Tones the Brain", Improves Learning

Statistical Support Displaying the Benefits of Studying Music: Part 1 | Part 2

Originally published in the Somerset/Bridlewood Community Newsletter in 2004. Updated on March 28, 2013. All rights reserved by Rhona-Mae Arca.