Comments for Steps to Technical Success in Piano Mastery http://www.pianostepstosuccess.com/blog Piano Technique and Teaching Sun, 20 Feb 2011 02:42:12 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 Comment on Piano Funny 9 by Joy Morin http://www.pianostepstosuccess.com/blog/?p=447&cpage=1#comment-1101 Joy Morin Sun, 20 Feb 2011 02:42:12 +0000 http://www.pianostepstosuccess.com/blog/?p=447#comment-1101 This is a wonderful student quote! Thanks, Joy This is a wonderful student quote!

Thanks, Joy

]]> Comment on NO Heat by Elizabeth http://www.pianostepstosuccess.com/blog/?p=401&cpage=1#comment-977 Elizabeth Wed, 26 Jan 2011 15:38:20 +0000 http://www.pianostepstosuccess.com/blog/?p=401#comment-977 Bbbrrrrr!!! Bbbrrrrr!!!

]]> Comment on Minor Scales by Gerry http://www.pianostepstosuccess.com/blog/?p=387&cpage=1#comment-816 Gerry Tue, 11 Jan 2011 15:10:56 +0000 http://www.pianostepstosuccess.com/blog/?p=387#comment-816 When I practice, first I do my technical exercises. Can not work on that new piece until the technical work is done so to speak. Work the scales, left and right hand, parallel then contrary, chords, inverse chords working into all key signatures. I split my time about one third Technic then two thirds learning songs. Need to know how to shovel dirt before you can build a house. Just the way I do it.....G When I practice, first I do my technical exercises. Can not work on that new piece until the technical work is done so to speak. Work the scales, left and right hand, parallel then contrary, chords, inverse chords working into all key signatures. I split my time about one third Technic then two thirds learning songs. Need to know how to shovel dirt before you can build a house. Just the way I do it…..G

]]> Comment on Lesson by Gerry http://www.pianostepstosuccess.com/blog/?p=379&cpage=1#comment-680 Gerry Fri, 31 Dec 2010 01:48:41 +0000 http://www.pianostepstosuccess.com/blog/?p=379#comment-680 Thank you for taking the time to work with me today. Just having worked the few years I have with the piano, it does not take long to develop bad habits for one reason or another. The reason I spend so must time with the piano is that I and many others look forward to me sharing my new found and continuing developing talent. Volunteering in the nursing home has brought hours of joy for the residents as well as many conversations for my wife and I after we leave. 'Did you see the look on their face....' etc. Now, getting back to my problem I was asking you to help me with. ( pain in my arms, hands and shoulder after hours of playing )Sometime ago, I had gotten a DVD showing how to relieve tensions. The problem is there are not enough hours in the day and I did not realize the importance of this message. I had started to watch it sometime ago and set it aside... Bad Bad Bad. When I get home I will have get it out and watch it all the way through and take many notes.... Thank you again G. Thank you for taking the time to work with me today. Just having worked the few years I have with the piano, it does not take long to develop bad habits for one reason or another. The reason I spend so must time with the piano is that I and many others look forward to me sharing my new found and continuing developing talent. Volunteering in the nursing home has brought hours of joy for the residents as well as many conversations for my wife and I after we leave. ‘Did you see the look on their face….’ etc. Now, getting back to my problem I was asking you to help me with. ( pain in my arms, hands and shoulder after hours of playing )Sometime ago, I had gotten a DVD showing how to relieve tensions. The problem is there are not enough hours in the day and I did not realize the importance of this message. I had started to watch it sometime ago and set it aside… Bad Bad Bad. When I get home I will have get it out and watch it all the way through and take many notes…. Thank you again G.

]]> Comment on Pop songs by Elizabeth http://www.pianostepstosuccess.com/blog/?p=167&cpage=1#comment-90 Elizabeth Wed, 23 Jun 2010 22:09:18 +0000 http://www.pianostepstosuccess.com/blog/?p=167#comment-90 I think you are right in that the kids today aren't the same, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. Although technique and classical repertoire are crucial, so is having fun and enjoying playing. If that means playing a 'pop' song once in a while, so be it. Plus it's great at party's to sit down and play some "La Bamba". I think you are right in that the kids today aren’t the same, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Although technique and classical repertoire are crucial, so is having fun and enjoying playing. If that means playing a ‘pop’ song once in a while, so be it. Plus it’s great at party’s to sit down and play some “La Bamba”.

]]> Comment on Olympic Fanfare by Alix Jenkins http://www.pianostepstosuccess.com/blog/?p=62&cpage=1#comment-71 Alix Jenkins Thu, 03 Jun 2010 12:00:11 +0000 http://www.pianostepstosuccess.com/blog/?p=62#comment-71 This resonates. Kids can go off and learn on their own when given a simple beginning idea that captures their imagination. This resonates. Kids can go off and learn on their own when given a simple beginning idea that captures their imagination.

]]> Comment on Piano Technique? by admin http://www.pianostepstosuccess.com/blog/?p=92&cpage=1#comment-18 admin Fri, 05 Mar 2010 12:15:36 +0000 http://www.pianostepstosuccess.com/blog/?p=92#comment-18 Yes it is perfectly acceptable to learn the piano using an electric keyboard. There are a few things you need to be aware of however. 1.) The keyboard needs to have 88 FULL SIZE keys 2.) Ideally the keyboard should be touch sensitive. What I mean by that is, that the student should have the capability of playing both LOUD as well as SOFT. 3.) Ideally the keyboard should have a solid base, and/or stand. In addition a matching bench of some sort would more than likely place the student in the right location for developing good piano technique and posture. In some cases, I have the kids use a phone book to raise them up. 4.) a damper pedal is nice as well. Some keyboards do not have a pedal. 5.) having all the sound effects and toots and whistles is fun, but not necessary. I teach every lesson using the baby grand piano, but when a child does something very special, I may take them over to the electric keyboard and turn on the sound affects. We make recordings using the electric keyboard as well. In addition, at Halloween time I let the kids sit at the electric keyboard and try to create spooky sounds etc. This is valuable for their imagination as well as creativity. You can tell when a student is placed correctly by having them place their hands on the piano keys (using a nice curved hand position - like holding an orange in your hand) and then looking at their forearms. If the hands are placed correctly on the piano keys, the forearms should be level. The wrists should not be raised and or lowered......the wrists to elbow should be level. I have about 4 students that have an electric keyboard at home, and the one I was talking about is an EXTREME example. Most of the students are doing well with that one exception. I think the biggest difference I can see in the kids with electric keyboards vs. acoustic pianos is they just do NOT have very strong fingers. They play with such an extremely light touch. It sets them up for weaker fingers, which could affect them in the piano future........and that's another topic! As you say your daughter is 'very eager' to being piano lessons....my adive - SIGN HER UP FOR LESSONS! With a concerned parent such as you, she shouldn't have any problems. Hope this helps. Yes it is perfectly acceptable to learn the piano using an electric keyboard. There are a few things you need to be aware of however. 1.) The keyboard needs to have 88 FULL SIZE keys 2.) Ideally the keyboard should be touch sensitive. What I mean by that is, that the student should have the capability of playing both LOUD as well as SOFT. 3.) Ideally the keyboard should have a solid base, and/or stand. In addition a matching bench of some sort would more than likely place the student in the right location for developing good piano technique and posture. In some cases, I have the kids use a phone book to raise them up.
4.) a damper pedal is nice as well. Some keyboards do not have a pedal. 5.) having all the sound effects and toots and whistles is fun, but not necessary. I teach every lesson using the baby grand piano, but when a child does something very special, I may take them over to the electric keyboard and turn on the sound affects. We make recordings using the electric keyboard as well. In addition, at Halloween time I let the kids sit at the electric keyboard and try to create spooky sounds etc. This is valuable for their imagination as well as creativity.

You can tell when a student is placed correctly by having them place their hands on the piano keys (using a nice curved hand position – like holding an orange in your hand) and then looking at their forearms. If the hands are placed correctly on the piano keys, the forearms should be level. The wrists should not be raised and or lowered……the wrists to elbow should be level.

I have about 4 students that have an electric keyboard at home, and the one I was talking about is an EXTREME example. Most of the students are doing well with that one exception.

I think the biggest difference I can see in the kids with electric keyboards vs. acoustic pianos is they just do NOT have very strong fingers. They play with such an extremely light touch. It sets them up for weaker fingers, which could affect them in the piano future……..and that’s another topic!

As you say your daughter is ‘very eager’ to being piano lessons….my adive – SIGN HER UP FOR LESSONS! With a concerned parent such as you, she shouldn’t have any problems. Hope this helps.

]]> Comment on Piano Technique? by Elizabeth Chavez http://www.pianostepstosuccess.com/blog/?p=92&cpage=1#comment-17 Elizabeth Chavez Fri, 05 Mar 2010 01:23:52 +0000 http://www.pianostepstosuccess.com/blog/?p=92#comment-17 Is it possible to begin piano lessons with a regular electric keyboard? My daughter is very eager to begin piano lessons but we have been waiting until we can get a real piano (digital or acoustic). The keyboard we have has an adjustable stand and an adjustable bench, so she wouldn't be sitting on the floor. Is it possible to begin piano lessons with a regular electric keyboard? My daughter is very eager to begin piano lessons but we have been waiting until we can get a real piano (digital or acoustic).

The keyboard we have has an adjustable stand and an adjustable bench, so she wouldn’t be sitting on the floor.

]]> Comment on Phrasing by admin http://www.pianostepstosuccess.com/blog/?p=58&cpage=1#comment-11 admin Wed, 24 Feb 2010 16:50:18 +0000 http://www.pianostepstosuccess.com/blog/?p=58#comment-11 Here are some more words: This came from a little girl who was creating her own composition..... "The River The River Is going by fast. Why Can't I Why Can't I Get a fish? CRACK" It was about ice fishing of course! Here are some more words: This came from a little girl who was creating her own composition…..
“The River
The River
Is going by fast.

Why Can’t I
Why Can’t I
Get a fish?

CRACK”

It was about ice fishing of course!

]]> Comment on FUN? by admin http://www.pianostepstosuccess.com/blog/?p=15&cpage=1#comment-7 admin Mon, 08 Feb 2010 12:43:13 +0000 http://www.pianostepstosuccess.com/blog/?p=15#comment-7 Well the new fun songs were a hit with some of the kids. I found the Olympic Fanfare in a popular music book and gave it to some of the boys. They were thrilled to play something 'cool'. Well the new fun songs were a hit with some of the kids. I found the Olympic Fanfare in a popular music book and gave it to some of the boys. They were thrilled to play something ‘cool’.

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