St. Charles Piano Lessons

Summer Time. . . And the Living is Easy. . .

Summer is just around the corner, and with it comes a change of pace at Listening House Studios. We like to offer our students a break in the usual routine while also sharpening their skills. 

 

A couple of years ago, Eric devised a list of study options for summer. I did the same, and here are a sample of what some of my students studied:

 

*Mallory learned a selection of "hymns through the ages."

*Ashlyn studied the blues.

*Tori composed her own Taylor Swift-style song, then sang and played and recorded it.

*Matthew continued lessons as usual.

*Jason worked on a crazy-hard piece by Chopin.

*Phillip focused on worship music arrangements, chording, and lead sheets.

 

During summer lessons, the living is easy and the lessons are especially fun.

"The Show Must Go On"

"The Show Must Go On"

What happens when a serious crisis happens in the middle of a performance? Whether playing classical or popular music, the answer is the same: keep going. Do your best to make the mistake look like it was planned. Smile. 

Nervous When You Perform?

Nervous When You Perform?

Some people get very nervous when they perform. I'm one of them. My hands usually sweat a little, and often shake. My stomach churns. Two hours before the performance, I start asking myself why the heck I ever decided to play publicly, especially for all my students and their parents. 

Improvisation: A Lifesaver for Nick

Improvisation: A Lifesaver for Nick

My former student Nick is a talented actor. He performed in several plays growing up, and he knows how to improvise his way through onstage catastrophes such as missed lines, malfunctioning props and wardrobe, and unexpected disasters.

To Improvise, Or Not To Improvise

To Improvise, Or Not To Improvise

Listening House Studios believes in teaching a wide variety of music and music techniques. In November and December, for example, I concentrate on playing lead sheets. Our students learn to read a melody line written as notes, with their right hands, and play chords from chord symbols with their left hands. Eric focuses on this throughout the year.

The Value Of A Great Teacher

The Value Of A Great Teacher

A few blogs ago, I mentioned my perfectionist college piano teacher, Leonora Suppan. I may have given the impression that I didn’t like her. In reality, she was one of my mentors and a great inspiration.

Why Classical Matters

Why Classical Matters

Years ago, a friend told us a true story about a young woman (I’ll call her Ann) who student-taught music in a tiny, rural school in northeast Missouri. Ann wanted to expose the children to classical music, so one day she passed out a list of the great composers to a high school class and asked students to check the ones whose names they recognized.

 

Building A Body Of Music

Building A Body Of Music

After graduating, I moved on to a demanding college piano professor, an Austrian-born perfectionist who played professionally with a symphony and A string trio. She had little sympathy for my sloppy training. Ms. Suppan demanded that I work on pieces until they met her high standards. This new music was then added to my ongoing repertoire, which she expected me to be able to play up to snuff whenever she asked for it.

A Tale Of Two Performances

A Tale Of Two Performances

Many of you know that for years Eric has “played out” around town: with a variety of bands, his own jazz trio, and as a soloist. (I used to do some performing, too, in my younger days before lights started causing seizures.)