Musicality, Pedaling, Technique
Difficulty playing slowly
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
Introducing dynamics
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
Hand position on blues chords
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
Fur Elise Level 7 LH fingering on repeated notes
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
Student is learning Fur Elise from keyboard with incorrect fingering
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
Pedaling for smaller students
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
Student sings off-key
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
Addressing poor technique
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
When to introduce pedaling
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
Strengthening fingers
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