"Why Teach a Variety of Keyboard Skills?"- A True Story
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"
Nervous When You Perform?
Improvisation: A Lifesaver for Nick
Chording and Worship Music: Hannah's Story
The Next Big Thing: Encouraging Creativity
For Listening House Studios' third annual Next Big Thing event, we're changing the requirements a little. For the last two years, students could play any genre, including classical and popular. This year, we're asking for popular only. We're also encouraging creativity.
Most contests ask students to play exactly what's written. Judges hold a copy of the music and scrupulously compare what they see to what they hear.
This contest is different because we'd like our students to think outside the box: to arrange the chording on a piece, to improvise, to play an original composition, to exercise their creativity in some way.
Creativity is not required, but for those who'll take the challenge, we think it will make the NBT more fun.
The Next Big Thing. . . Really Is!
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.
Fun Facts About George Gershwin
My students are currently learning about 20th century composer George Gershwin, and here are some fun, additional facts.*
1. Gershwin dropped out of school at age 15 to work for a music publisher, playing songs.
2. Gershwin never attended a music conservatory. He did take lessons from private teachers, though, for five years, and studied music theory and piano throughout his lifetime.
3. Both George and his brother Ira became excellent painters.
4. Gershwin's outstanding opera Porgy and Bess, when first performed in 1935, was a flop.
5. Gershwin never married. He said he was "too busy," but he did enjoy dating a lot.
6. Gershwin died young, at 38, of a brain tumor.
Want to learn more? Check out:
* the highly entertaining children's series: Getting to Know the World's Greatest Composers: Gershwin by Mike Venezia. I use this book with my students as we study four great composers each school year.
* for video links and more, see: http://www.cmuse.org/most-interesting-facts-about-george-gershwin/
The Value Of A Great Teacher
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
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
Spring Classical Recital: Celebrating 400 Years Of Music History
Three Ways To Keep Your Student Practicing
Mom, I Want To Quit Piano: When To Let Them Stop Piano
Next Big Thing Piano Festival and Competition
Listening House Studios is starting this year called the Next Big Thing (aka NBT). We had originally envisioned this as a competitive contest. However, some parents have voiced concerns and would prefer their children receive a non-competitive evaluation instead.
Because your opinion is very important to Rhonda and I, we’ve modified the event to include both aspects. Though we still have lots of details to decide, here’s how we think it will work:
Name: Next Big Thing Piano Festival and Competition
Date: Saturday, April 27, 2013, from 8 am until noon
Place: Trinity Church, 3515 Shackleford Rd, Florissant, MO 63031
(Note: The church has graciously allowed us to use their facilities, but this is not a religious event.)
Pre-NBT prep: Piano students choose to play either a popular song or a classical one. They prepare and polish it to perfection.
Stage 1 of the NBT: From 8 am till 10 am, two qualified judges will listen to all students perform in two rooms that allow audience members. Classical performers will play for one judge and popular performers for another. Judges will write suggestions for improvement and also praise for strong points on evaluation sheets for each student. After their performances, students have the option to leave. (They will receive the written feedback plus a certificate in their next lessons.)
Stage 2 of the NBT: Each judge will choose the top three players in the K-5 grade group and three in the 6-12 grade group for both classical and popular performers. 12 students, total, will be invited to participate in a competitive late-morning recital. If a student refuses or has gone home, then the invitation goes to an alternate choice.
Stage 3 of the NBT: 12 students will perform in the church sanctuary for the judges and audience members. The judges will decide on the two top performers, one for each style of music. Audience members will also vote on their two favorite performers. Judges get 60% of the voting decision and audience members, 40%. We’ll tally the results and announce the winners to end the day.
This is our answer to some of the problems we see with other festivals that have huge amounts of paper work, restrictions on the kinds of pieces played, student performers isolated from audiences, high costs, etc. We are very excited about the possibilities! There will be a fee, but it should be minimal. Please mark your calendars. . . and watch for more details soon.
October 27th Coffeehouse Concert FAQ
The coffeehouse concert is fast approaching, and here's what you need to know about it:
When should my student get there?
We're asking all of our students to arrive early, around 1:30 PM to warm up.
When should my family members get there?
Family members are welcome to come around 10 minutes before 2 PM, when the concert begins.
What's the attire?
Casual dress- this recital is very informal, so dress appropriately.
Can I leave after my student is done playing?
We ask all members to wait until the end of the recital to leave, but if you have an unavoidable scheduling conflict, it's perfectly fine to exit early.
Can I invite extended family and friends?
Yes! Please invite as many friends and family as you like. We simply ask that you give them each a ticket (they're free) so we have an estimate of how many people are coming.
What's the address?
3821 McClay Road
Saint Peters MO 63376
Anything else I should know?
They have lots of wonderful food and drink at St. Charles Coffeehouse, so be sure to come prepared. Also, we'll be taking tips for students in the tip jar, so be sure to bring extra cash.