Musicality, Pedaling, Technique

I have a private student, an adult with no previous piano lessons of any kind, who is learning even a lot faster than what I am used to seeing. As an artist, she also loves improvising. I teach her one of the F1 songs and…

• Last updated 7 years ago
• controlling the events, CTE, dynamics, fast moving student, playing too fast, practicing slowly, slowing down

When are dynamics introduced? By the end of Level 1 I’m having students work through “how to play” songs they know pretty well. We discuss telling the story of each song with expression. I think it is a conversation you can start having in context…

• Last updated 7 years ago
• adding expression, dynamics, expression, how to play

A student asked me if it is okay for her to pull her hand back a bit when switching between chords. She’s learning Alma Mater Blues. Is this a technique no-no, or is it okay? This is on CAGE chords and also on the shift…

• Last updated 7 years ago
• Alma Mater Blues, bishop street blues, blues, blues chords, CAGE chords, F2, Foundation 2, moving hand out on keys

Regarding LH fingering in Fur Elise Level 7: I recall a training session with Nancy Reese in which she advised against using the 3 2 1 fingering. But I don’t fully trust my memory and I don’t remember enough about why. I’m about to teach…

• Last updated 7 years ago
• F7, fingering, fingering repeated notes, Foundation 7, Fur Elise, Gordon Harvey, Level 7, LH repeated notes

I’m teaching Fur Elise to a group of boys in Foundation 1. One came in today talking about his keyboard: “It has all of Fur Elise. It’s a really long song! We’re only learning a little bit of it”. Apparently it has lights or sounds…

• Last updated 7 years ago
• claiming territory, fingering, learning songs from keyboard, playing-based

How do you teachers do the pedaling for smaller students at a concert, without sitting in the way? I don’t want the audience to be looking at me, just because I’m sitting at the top end of the piano to do their pedal – and…

• Last updated 7 years ago
• helping students pedal, pedal, pedaling, pedaling for small students

I have an adult student who loves to sign but who sings very off-key. She knows it, and she asked me if I teach how to sing. I don’t. I’ve taken some singing lessons, but that’s about it. And while I’m not the best singer,…

• Last updated 7 years ago
• singing in class, singing off key

Coming from a traditional background, I still cringe when I see kids playing with flat fingers, stiff wrists, etc. I know we’re not supposed to focus on these issues because they tend to work themselves out with time. Please reassure me that this is true!…

• Last updated 7 years ago
• addressing poor technique, Laurie Richards, poor technique, stiff fingers, technique

I have some students who just started level 2 who like using the pedal, but they don’t like the muddy sound of holding it down. As a result, they’ve begun developing some bad habits with it. My question is, what’s the earliest I can introduce…

• Last updated 7 years ago
• bad pedal technique, introducing pedal, Laurie Richards, pedal, pedal technique, pedaling, pedalling

Does anyone have any students that have trouble with finger strength? I worked with this particular student on some finger and wrist stretches to get him loosened up, and am wondering if you have had any experience/suggestions for this. My youngest (6 years at the…

• Last updated 7 years ago
• finger exercises, finger strength, strengthening fingers