I don’t know why, but students absolutely love these Iwako hedgehog erasers! They actually come apart into five pieces. I thought I would share how the many different ways I use these cute erasers in piano class. When teaching beginners, have them put an eraser on specific piano keys, eg. all the C’s. all the F’s. First […]
Creative Ways to Learn Theory With Iwako Erasers Read More »
In an earlier post, I offered several tips for buying a used keyboard. Now, here are some more for you. So little Joey wants to take piano lessons. You need a keyboard. What to do and buy? If you can afford it, aim to buy a used digital piano with weighted keys, such as a
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Over the twenty-eight years I have been teaching piano, I have met many children who were scheduled in never-ending activities. So when I read “An Open Letter From An Overscheduled Child”, it resonated strongly with me. Children need unscheduled time. They need unrushed time, time without looking at a clock. Is it my
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“Twinkle twinkle little star” …. Yes, it is possible to learn to play that song fairly quickly! Pianos, real live pianos, are available, either free or for low prices, on used websites. I would never buy a used piano off Kijiji or other used website without first having a piano technician look at it. Buyer
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There are so many incredible piano teachers on the web who generously share the awesome games they have made. Many of those teachers also have blogs about teaching piano. There is a lot of wisdom and experience in those blogs. They give great ideas and tips. I am going to share some of the websites
Piano Games, Blogs and Music Read More »
“Mrs. Sue, last week you said we could play with the ball at our next piano lesson.” A brother and sister were bouncing eagerly (no pun intended, but it’s a good one!) in front of me, looking hopeful. I grabbed a ball (smaller than a beach ball, bigger than a soccer ball, one of those
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A keyboard is NOT a piano. They are a financially-affordable way to see if you love piano lessons, and are committed long-term to putting the time into learning how to play the piano. At some point, you will need to upgrade to a real, live piano. Why? It’s all about the touch of the piano,
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What can you do at home with your children related to music? Sing! Sing a special song when you are waking your children in the morning; sing a song or series of songs when they go to bed. Sing in the car; it makes a trip go faster. Sing to them to get them to
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What I love about students learning to play piano is that they can take what they have learned and apply it to other instruments. They will have to learn how to physically make the sounds on the new instrument, but will already know how to count, read music, understand phrasing and what I call
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On the Boomwhackers! website, their subtitle is “Music for the fun of it!”. These tuned percussion tubes just make making music fun! They can be used in so many ways. Educators use them in school settings with children, facilitators organize interactive events ranging from workshops for children to team building with professional development sessions