Using the Practice Pad
Found in: Playing-Based Methodology, Shared Lessons
Kevin M., California
Hi all, I want to share a few thoughts on the practice pad. I really love it. I can’t tell you how many of my students have benefited from using the pad as a learning tool. Especially if they’re unable to have their video set up right in front of their piano. It will not work for very long to try and pause the video and walk across the room or to another room altogether and try and remember what to do. So putting the song together on the practice pad first, then going to the piano to play the song has really been a life saver for me and some of my students. I have even had students who could not afford a keyboard or piano and learned how to play just using the practice pad for a month or two till they could afford an instrument.
I started a new student today who is a pilot for Southwest Airline. As I was going over how to use the videoand practice pad, he said for him it would be a awesome tool because when he was learning to fly they gave him a paper cut out of the instrument panel/cockpit as a learning tool to use at home to
familiarize himself with and learn the placement and use of the instruments and panels. He also mentioned how he could relate to learning the cockpit and flying as being muscle memory just like our conversation of learning to play the piano. Hope this helps in explaining the importance and use of the practice pad in front of the video player if their keyboard or piano is not directly in line.
Georgia H., Western Australia
After reading Kevin’s email about practice pads, I thought I’d share a story from a Chinese man who came to an FIS earlier this year. He was a child in China during the cultural revolution, where the Government destroyed all forms of art and literature including books and unfortunately musical instruments. Playing music was no longer allowed, and you could be sent to jail for the smallest indiscretion.
He loved his music and drew a keyboard on the planks of his bed, hidden under the mattress. This way he was able to keep playing his pieces without anyone knowing. He was able to play again years later when his family moved to Hong Kong and he had a real piano. He said he played from memory as well because they burnt all his music books. I had heard stories about this happening, and was enthralled to hear his story first hand.
Sheri R., California
I think the practice pad is so fabulous that I tell all my students, regardless of video/piano set-up at home, to learn new pieces without sound, either by turning keyboard off or using keypad. Even if their computer is on top of their piano, they are encouraged to put the pad on top of the closed piano before incorporating sound. This added step I think produces faster and easier and deeper knowing of the songs.
I also regularly in class have students review playlist songs on the keypad with other students trying to be the first to guess what is being “played”. They love when I say “sounds great!” I also ask students to keep their songs alive on the keypad by playing them about once a week at home on the keypad. They write the letter “K” in the box, rather than a check. My own firsthand experience with keypad learning converted me a long time ago–I found I learn faster on the keypad–it forces you to really SEE!