On Time, Ahead of Time & Yet Outta Time

When I asked as student how his week has been going, he replied, "Average." He had tests and assignments - the usual. It hasn't been an average week for me. Yesterday, two students swapped lesson times for the week and today, two simply didn't show for their lessons while two anounced that they will be leaving. Lesson swapping is a great system but in this case, I had to jump into the fray since this student was having challenges finding someone available to trade with. No-shows do happen from time to time. However, we teachers do appreciate the heads up beforehand so we can re-adjust our schedule. Though, the nice thing about running a private studio is that I can get some office work (or housework) done when a student doesn't show. I got quite a bit of ARMTA work done. Just about set for Monday's general meeting. I even managed to catalogue some new music I recently purchased for the studio library.

I am sad to see the two students leave but I understand that sometimes, life's demands don't leave room for one to do music.

My students' piano recital is this Sunday. Getting the signs and Certificates of Achievement done was a nice brainless task, unlike the recital programme, which took at least three drafts (I stopped counting). It's amazing how many changes were made with people changing songs or saying that a schedule conflict has come up and they can no longer attend. Well, I've printed off over 100 programmes. Any other changes will have to be made from the stage.

Now all that's left to finalize are the post-recital reception supplies, figure out the most efficient way to get through the programme, pick up the church key (would you believe it takes 74 minutes to get to the church by city transit?) and put together my Recital Box/Bag (tape, footstool, etc.). Perhaps I'll get the students to sit up front in their performance order and get everyone to follow the programme instead of having an MC introduce them. The MC is a nice touch, but I'm really trying to keep the running time within an hour. With students playing more than one song and exam students running through their programme, timing is a challenge.

This round, the students who are playing more than one songwill perform each song at different points in the programme. I read somewhere that it gives parents and students something to look forward to as family are concerned with three only things - "When is Johnny playing? When does he play next? When is this over?" From a performer's standpoint, it gives them a chance to regroup. We'll see how it works on Sunday.

Alas, I am outta time. I thought I had ample time to drop off a job application (I'm looking for a PT job to help with the bills - especially in the summer drought) and to get all my bookkeeping done. I was three months behind on the personal side. I finally updated my personal chequebook (still pathetic looking) and will have to tackle the business side tomorrow (er...later today).

Off to practice. I still have some problem spots in my song that need to be ironed out before Sunday and a wedding music consultation on Saturday. Time to dust off those wedding songs. Hopefully, I can squeeze in a good practice, get enough sleep AND catch the 9:10 bus on time in the morning...

(c) 2006 by Musespeak(tm), Calgary, AB, Canada. All rights reserved.

Fun Music Ideas

Around this time, it's a big push to keep students focussed and motivated to practice. Several of my students are exploring other genres to keep their interest or to simply give them a break from their main pieces. Here are just a few, which may serve as ideas for other musicians:

look inside

Very Best Of John Williams By John Williams. By John Williams. Edited by Carol Cuellar. Arranged by Dan Coates. Artist/Personality; Piano - Easy Piano Collection; Piano Supplemental. Piano arrangement mixed folio (Easy piano). Easy Piano. Movies. Songbook (softcover). With chord names. 104 pages. Alfred Music #0656B. Published by Alfred Music (HL.321939).

look inside

Lord of the Rings for Easy Piano Music from the Motion Pictures Arranged for Easy Piano. Composed by Howard Shore. Edited by Jeannette DeLisa and Zoby Perez. Arranged by Dan Coates. Piano - Easy Piano Collection; Piano Supplemental. Piano arrangement mixed folio (Easy piano). Movies. Songbook. With black & white photos and chord names. 56 pages. Alfred Music #00-AFM0408. Published by Alfred Music (AP.AFM0408).

look inside

The Lord of the Rings Trilogy Music from the Motion Pictures Arranged for Solo Piano. Composed by Howard Shore. This edition: Piano/Vocal. Piano Collection; Piano Supplemental. Movie. Book. 104 pages. Alfred Music #00-32034. Published by Alfred Music (AP.32034).

look inside

Microlatin 20 Pieces Based on Latin Rhythms for the Beginner Pianist. Composed by Christopher Norton. BH Piano. Educational, Latin. Softcover with CD. 36 pages. Boosey & Hawkes #M060119651. Published by Boosey & Hawkes (HL.48019809).

look inside

Harry Potter -- Sheet Music from the Complete Film Series Easy Piano. Composed by John Williams, Patrick Doyle, Alexandre Desplat (1961-), and Nicholas Hooper. Arranged by Dan Coates. This edition: Easy Piano. Piano - Easy Piano Collection; Piano Supplemental. Movie. Book. 140 pages. Alfred Music #00-39075. Published by Alfred Music (AP.39075).

look inside

Corpse Bride - Main Titles By La Sposa Cadavere (Corpse Bride). Arranged by GC. Individual Part. 5 pages. Published by Giuseppe Cataldi (H0.622575-SC001203006).

look inside

The Best in Movie Sheet Music Composed by Dan Coates. Piano - Easy Piano Collection; Piano Supplemental. Movie. Book. 88 pages. Alfred Music #00-AF9760A. Published by Alfred Music (AP.AF9760A).

look inside

The Disney Collection Composed by Various. Easy Piano Songbook. Children, Disney, Movies. Softcover. 304 pages. Published by Hal Leonard (HL.119716).

Visit your local music store or explore my affiliate links for some gems:

Sheet Music on Amazon

Happy exploring!

(c) 2006 by Musespeak(tm), Calgary, AB, Canada. All rights reserved.

Piano Paperwork Musings

This past weekend, Maestro and I processed all the student registrations submitted during the Early Registration period. Maestro lounged on his bed as I inputted the student's registration information into my teaching schedule, Palm Pilot, e-mail groups, birthday lists, my website administration site and Quickbooks.Quickbooks and my Palm Pilot are already programmed to enter the monthly invoices (Quickbooks) or beep before each piano lesson next year (Palm Pilot). Maestro would shoot up out of bed as soon as he heard the stapler, paper slicer and hole punch - all of which he guards zealously. He vascillated from watching my every move intently to make sure I use all tools properly, to lunging for them. The latter leads to him being hip-checked. Why he thinks they are toys is beyond me.

(c) 2006 by Musespeak(tm), Calgary, AB Canada. All rights reserved.

Website Searches of Note

My marketing friend, Andrea Coutu, recommended a while back that I track visits to my website. There have been some interesting searches conducted which lead people to my site. Here are just a few of the more interesting or common searches done for Musings:

1. Piano pedagogy certificate program

2. Musikgarten

3. Musical ear

4. Piano Practice Excuses

5. APTA Festival + Calgary

6. RSI Iaido

7. Iaido Calgary

8. Creative Practicing

9. How to Cheat on RCM Exams

10. Benefits of Music

11. Summer pedagogy programs

12. Summer Piano Programs

Number 9 was a surprise. That particular blog had "rhythm cheat sheet" and a reference to my students taking an RCM examination. I know that students have tried time and time again to cheat on theory exams, employing similar techniques used for other school tests. However, cheating on a piano exam isn't heard of too often. There was an incident a couple of years back, in which three piano teachers and one RCM Examination Representative were suspended for obtaining and giving the actual sight reading and ear training exam questions to students in advance of their exams.

Here are some of the more colourful/common searches done for Musespeak(tm)'s site:

1. Lakeland Terrier

2. Music Background

3. Writing Background

4. Music images

5. RCM Exams

6. Music Lessons Calgary

7. Voice Lessons Calgary

8. Guitar Lessons Okotoks

9. Music Theory

10. Accompanying Policies

Who would have thought that Maestro would be searched for?

(c) 2006 by Musespeak(tm), Calgary, AB, Canada. All rights reserved.

Friday Fun Link #26

Hi all, This week's fun link is theory related (a tribute to all theory students writing exams this weekend). It's Something's Fishy About These Scales. Enjoy!

(c) 2006 by Musespeak(tm), Calgary, AB, Canada. All rights reserved.