An excellent blog post by Daniel Coyle, author of "The Talent Code," which I read about three years ago when it first came out.  It is a phenomenal book... completely and permanently revolutionized the way I teach.  The forward is by his editor and he and I both will be the first to say:  this guy knows his stuff.  This post is an excellent resource for parents who may be struggling with the daily practice grind.  Have a look at his article.  And then go read his book.  I promise you won't regret it.

How To Nurture Talent (Without Being a Psycho Parent)

Performance Class Schedule Fall 2012

We've had a beautiful start to the semester already.  As promised, here is the schedule of performance classes this semester.  All performances will be at the Steinway Gallery.  Although attendance at all classes is encouraged, I would like students to attend at least three of the six in order to play in the recital at the end of the semester.

For those of you unfamiliar with the performance class structure, this is an easy way for students to be ushered into the world of performing in a safe, low-key environment.  Performing is an entirely different beast than just practicing at home and therefore, a skill that requires practice in and of itself.  Students choose 2-3 pieces that they know, have been working on, are comfortable with, and like playing and then prepare to play them in front of the other kids in the studio.  Parents are welcome to stay and listen, although I do ask that you sit more towards the back so that class seems more like class and less like a recital.  This is also an opportunity for us to explore some topics in music history and cultivate listening skills in a group setting, allowing me to maximize each student's lesson time more effectively. 

Perf Class:  Saturday, September 8, 10:30 - 11:30 am
Perf Class:  Saturday, September 29, 10:30 - 11:30 am
Perf Class:  Saturday, October 13, 10:30 - 11:30 am
Perf Class:  Saturday, November 3, 10:30 - 11:30 am
Perf Class:  Saturday, November 17, 10:30 - 11:30 am
Perf Class / Dress Rehearsal:  Saturday, December 1, 10:30 - 11:30 am
Recital:  Saturday, December 8, 10:30 am

Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.  See you in lesson!

PIANO

You'll have to excuse my tardiness.  I've been meaning to post this for a while and am just now getting around to it...

A couple of weeks ago I had two of the best lessons I've had all semester with my two Thursday girls.  Awesome is literally the word.  I've had both of these girls for two years... wow:  two years now.  I'm getting old...

My first girl on Thursday afternoons is in eighth grade this year and she's struggled with hand tremors the entire time I've had her as a student.  Her mom told me when we started that she's had them since she was a little girl and the pediatrician had told them they would eventually go away.  And they did in a lot of things, but piano was still lagging, because it requires such fine motor skills and focused coordination.  They've gotten better with time and practice, but recently there has been a marked difference.  Since March, I'd been determined to get them under control after the judge at Federation had made a comment on her score sheet about uneven runs.  So we worked.  We focused a lot on scales and how to work on them:  dotted, backwards dotted, 5-finger scales in contrary motion to practice the LH thumb turn, scale sprints.  And we talked about what goes through her brain when she's working on scales.  I strongly encouraged her to focus during her technical exercises and not just think about homework or what's for dinner.  It's so easy to check out while working on technique... of all people, I know this.

But then during her lesson several weeks ago, she played them with the most control I've ever seen her play them.  There were a few blips... instances where she lost focus, or made a fingering slip, or wasn't thinking about what was next.  But overall, it was pretty amazing to watch.  We talked afterward about how she'd been practicing and what she'd been thinking about.  Long story short?  She'd learned how to literally focus the tremors out.  I find that incredible.  I was so proud of her.  I knew she could do it.  And to be honest, I hadn't really known for sure what would work for her.  I knew where I wanted her to be and I knew what had worked for me in straightening out some of my scalar technique.  I also knew that the fifty billion different ways I gave her to practice her scales would help.  But they were a means to an end (still are!)... the end being learning how to focus and think clearly during an activity that is otherwise difficult, dry, and boring.  Because I mean, who likes practicing scales?  Well, besides my former professor...

My other Thursday girl has made leaps and bounds of progress this semester too, and it really came out in her lesson a few weeks ago.  This year she has struggled in general with anxiety a little and from what I can tell, exhaustion at times too.  Together, I think it has made piano (both performing and practice) difficult in ways that it didn't use to be for her.

But then, she decided to drop tennis.  And her scrapbooking club ended.  And basketball ended.  And all of a sudden, the only activities she was participating in were piano and Girls on the Run (and maybe Girl Scouts?).  Lessons for the last month have been truly delightful because she's been practicing more and therefore, enjoying it.  She is more prepared for our upcoming recital than ever before.  And even though she played through a panic attack last semester and I was so proud of her for working through that insanely difficult thing at such a young age, I really think this is going to be a different kind of positive experience for her.  The other night we were going over recital pieces, one of which will be "Little Bunny Foo Foo," complete with narration and a POOF chord at the end.  I fully expect it to be one of the highlights of the program :)

And as we were ending her lesson that night, she told me that she'd been practicing at school during her music time.  Um, extra practice time?  Yes please!  And then she told me she'd come up with an acronym for piano, based on the things she'd been learning / realizing recently.  If this doesn't kill you with cuteness and profundity, I don't know what will... kids say the most incredible things.

P... prepared
I... independent
A... awesome (lol)
N... (k)nowledge (again... lol)
O... open to new songs (or, for Katie:  Oh snap... that is hilarious and amazing)

Seriously?  I am so. incredibly. lucky :)

the truth about piano lessons

Excellent article concerning the truth about piano lessons.  Find it HERE.

recital date change and etc

Meant to send out an email about this earlier in the week but things have gotten busy and so I didn't get it out as promptly as I would've wished...

A couple of dates / times have changed in our performance schedule this semester.  After realizing that Girls on the Run was going to take out half the girls in the studio on the morning of May 12, I called Steinway and was able to change the date of the recital to hopefully a time that can accommodate more people.  Most performance classes will stay the same, although I was able to change a couple, which are noted.  The big thing is the change of recital date.  So here's what we're looking at for the semester:

Performance Class, Sat Feb. 25 @ Steinway, 6:30 - 7:30 pm (same as before)
Performance Class, Sat Mar. 3 @ Steinway, 10:30 - 11:30 am (same as before)
Federation, Sun Mar. 4 @ SCC Time TBA (same as before)
Performance Class, Fri Mar. 30 @ Steinway, 4 - 5 pm (CHANGED -- April 1 class is now cancelled)
Performance Class, Fri Apr 20 @ Steinway, 5 - 6 pm (same as before)
Dress Rehearsal, Fri May 4 @ Steinway, 4 - 5 pm (CHANGED -- now one hour earlier)
Recital, Wednesday May 16 @ Steinway, 7 pm (CHANGED)

Hopefully this helps.  I tried to pick a night that would avoid most school programs and hopefully most sports will be done or at least practice on a different night than Wednesday.  The good news is that while on the phone with the lady from Steinway, I was able to schedule everything for next fall and we are completely back to normal -- everything on Saturday mornings next semester.  Woohoo!

As always, let me know if you have any questions or concerns.

See you in lesson.

music brains

Fascinating article published by Vanderbilt University that was posted by my mentor here in St. Louis yesterday, as well as an old friend from the music school.

Click HERE to read it.

Confirms what we always knew to be true:  musicians' brains really are different! :)

Nov reminders

Hello everyone!  Thanksgiving is soon upon us!  November is flying by!  Soon we'll be decking the halls and drinking gallons of hot chocolate (if we haven't already haha)...

Wanted to let you know that even though next week is a make-up week for most students (aka no lessons), there WILL be performance class NEXT Saturday, Nov 26 @ Steinway from 10:30 - 11:30 am.  Students are encouraged to come to either this class or the dress rehearsal on Tuesday, Dec 6 from 4-5 pm (or both!) in preparation for the upcoming recital.  Students should plan to play their recital pieces for these last two classes.  Final decisions for recital rep should be made no later than Wed, Nov 23.  We'll also review our understanding of the Baroque and Classical eras and talk about the Romantic some as time allows during these final classes.

Please don't hesitate to encourage your student to play their recital pieces for family and friends as much as possible over the Thanksgiving holiday... a good way to ward off that pesky turkey coma, I always say :)

Thanks so much!  See you in lesson.