Finding the Kinesthetic Feeling of the Keyboard

 Featured, Practicalities  2 Responses »
Dec 032014
 
Finding the Kinesthetic Feeling of the KeyboardThe piano and the pianist have a relationship. It’s different from the violinist who cradles the instrument under his chin or the cellist whose body enfolds the instrument. It’s different from the woodwind or brass player who constantly breathes the life of music through the instrument. It’s certainly different from the singer who is their instrument. read the rest

What I Learned about Teaching Children From Teaching Adults

 Featured, Issues  4 Responses »
Feb 272012
 
What I Learned about Teaching Children From Teaching AdultsWhat I’ve learned from my adult students is that the bruises they suffered in their education as children and young adults interfere with their learning to play the piano much more than any problems of an aging mind or body. What I’ve learned to do for my students who are children is to try to do no harm. read the rest

Practicing, Part 2: Concentration, Mindfulness & Awareness, & Staying Focused

 Featured, Practicalities  2 Responses »
Dec 062004
 
Getting the body settled at the piano is easy compared with getting the mind settled. The mind flies off in all directions when we practice. Concentration, the word used to indicate someone is thinking, is not a word I like. In our youth we heard parents and teachers say: “You’re not concentrating.” “If only you’d concentrate, you could do so much better.” “Don’t let your mind wonder.” “Hello, where are you?” All these experiences give us the feeling that concentration is a moral value. read the rest

Practicing, Part 1: Getting There, Chronic Practice Problems, & Leaving a Teacher

 Featured, Practicalities  3 Responses »
Dec 032004
 
Practicing is the most difficult, day-to-day issue of playing the piano. Like any regular discipline, some people find it easier to practice than others do. Some days are easier to practice than others and sometimes it seems like nothing works, even when the quality of the practice is good. In this chapter, I want to discuss the difficulty of actually getting to the piano in the first place. read the rest