Please take a look at my new website:
www.timetolearnpiano.co.uk.
It will soon be a really useful tool for teaching, where I will be able to record music for students, send messages and reminders and for students to share their ideas.
If you are interested please register for my newsletter!
Looking forward to hearing from you soon.
Saturday 10 December 2011
Thursday 6 October 2011
piano technique
I've noticed this week that quite a few of my students are slipping into slightly "lazy" habits!
It's really important to sit straight, not more than about half way across the piano stool (that interview, I'm interested and keen position!),measure your arms with clenched fists to check that you can just touch the soundboard, without leaning forwards or backwards... your hands should be quite flat and level with the forearms (in Victorian times they put those old fashioned pennies on the children's hands and they weren't allowed to let them fall off when they played!). Keep fingers in the middle of the keyboard so that you can reach the black notes without moving the hands forward.
It's easy to put right but amazingly, it is so much easier to play when your body and hand position is correct. You're far less likely to damage your back, neck, fingers, shoulders etc and playing music will feel much easier too!
It's really important to sit straight, not more than about half way across the piano stool (that interview, I'm interested and keen position!),measure your arms with clenched fists to check that you can just touch the soundboard, without leaning forwards or backwards... your hands should be quite flat and level with the forearms (in Victorian times they put those old fashioned pennies on the children's hands and they weren't allowed to let them fall off when they played!). Keep fingers in the middle of the keyboard so that you can reach the black notes without moving the hands forward.
It's easy to put right but amazingly, it is so much easier to play when your body and hand position is correct. You're far less likely to damage your back, neck, fingers, shoulders etc and playing music will feel much easier too!
Friday 9 September 2011
welcome to a new year of music!
Welcome back after the summer holidays to another year of music making! I'm delighted to welcome some new students, most of whom haven't learned the piano before! I'm sure you'll all love it and will make amazing progress- we all look forward to seeing you at the Christmas concert in December.
In the meantime, I still have a few slots available before Christmas, in the late afternoon/evening and there is a waiting list for spaces that will be available in January.
I also have some space for adults who are free to study during the day.
Did you see the page about learning piano in Cotswold Family Life? Thanks Nicky and Michelle for such a generous plug!
Here's to another very successful year!
In the meantime, I still have a few slots available before Christmas, in the late afternoon/evening and there is a waiting list for spaces that will be available in January.
I also have some space for adults who are free to study during the day.
Did you see the page about learning piano in Cotswold Family Life? Thanks Nicky and Michelle for such a generous plug!
Here's to another very successful year!
Monday 22 August 2011
Piano tea concert
This was a really successful afternoon- everyone played beautifully, lots of cake got eaten and we raised £50 for charity!
Put in your diaries the next one which will be on Sunday 11th December at Coaley Village hall- a mincepie Christmas extravaganza!
Put in your diaries the next one which will be on Sunday 11th December at Coaley Village hall- a mincepie Christmas extravaganza!
Monday 4 July 2011
End of year concert and tea party
I am delighted that this year we're holding an end of year concert/tea party for all students and their friends and families. The invitation is also extended to those who are thinking of starting to learn the piano and want to see what can be achieved, often in very little time. Many of my students only started learning in September 2010 or even in 2011 and they're all doing so well!
We're going to be asking for donations, firstly to cover the cost of hiring the hall (too many students now to fit in the house!) and to collect to a good cause- Marie Curie Cancer Nurses. There will be lots of scrummy cakes to eat and a chance to have a chat with other students and me so it should be really good fun for all! If you would like to attend please contact me through the usual routes.
The concert is on 17th July at Cam Memorial Hall. For further information please contact me.
We're going to be asking for donations, firstly to cover the cost of hiring the hall (too many students now to fit in the house!) and to collect to a good cause- Marie Curie Cancer Nurses. There will be lots of scrummy cakes to eat and a chance to have a chat with other students and me so it should be really good fun for all! If you would like to attend please contact me through the usual routes.
The concert is on 17th July at Cam Memorial Hall. For further information please contact me.
News!
What a lot has happened since I last got round to blogging. I've been teaching piano in a group at North Nibley- unfortunately most of the group realised that even as a retired or part time working person, learning piano requires commitment of at least 5-10 minutes a day so only one pupil is left! But5 she is doing amazingly well and I'm so proud of her progress!
I'm booked to do some CPD by going to the ABRSM conference again this year. I'm really looking forward to learning some new ideas and sharing them with others at the conference. I'm also hoping to do some training so I can start teaching jazz piano, something I have always wanted to do, and some training with Trinity Guildhall so students can take their exams as well, knowing that I know exactly what they're looking for!
I'm booked to do some CPD by going to the ABRSM conference again this year. I'm really looking forward to learning some new ideas and sharing them with others at the conference. I'm also hoping to do some training so I can start teaching jazz piano, something I have always wanted to do, and some training with Trinity Guildhall so students can take their exams as well, knowing that I know exactly what they're looking for!
Friday 3 December 2010
Fairshares
I'm really pleased to be able to offer piano lessons through my local Fairshares group in Stonehouse and Stroud. So far I have one student but am hoping that more will take up the opportunity to learn piano for free (other than getting music!) It's a great way for everyone, whatever their age, background, or financial position, to learn a new, such rewarding skill.
first concert!
My beginners class at school is preparing for its first concert! The children are very excited about it and had fun last week thinking about the pieces they'd like to play (including some they had composed themselves.) Parents and students who are starting in the new beginners class in January 2011 are also going to attend so they can find out how much they can learn in such a short time. I'll let you know how it goes!
Wednesday 22 September 2010
Music helps with brain development!
Author Philip Sheppard has written about the power of music in a child’s development. He is Professor of Cello at the Royal Academy of Music, London as well as a senior lecturer in Principles of Education.
Below is an extract from his book, ‘Music Makes your Child Smarter’…
Active participation in music assists all forms of personal growth, both mental and physical. It builds many skills essential for everyday life and can aid mental development and learning processes. In fact, it appears that music can encourage the brain physically to alter its very structure as it grows. Involvement in music helps all ages define their own identities, and music can create associations between groups and helps to forge links between people. In other words, music helps children to build essential social skills. Music can create great feelings of self-worth - being creative in an artistic discipline can have a profound effect on the way children perceive themselves, and can even benefit health.
Music can change the shape of your brain
Regular participation in musical activities stimulates the development of the brain and improves mental functions. The very plasticity of the brain, the way it shapes itself, can be positively affected by repeated musical activities. The conduit of information between the two brain hemispheres, the corpus callosum, grows larger as a result of being musically stimulated, and the pathways of communication between areas of the brain are more comprehensively connected together.
Musical activity aids the creation of new synaptic pathways, enabling multi-tasking and general creative thought, and it promotes cognitive development and helps abstract thought processes.
© 2005 Artemis Editions. Reproduced by permission.
This came from the Hofnote.com website which you can use to help improve your aural skills.
Below is an extract from his book, ‘Music Makes your Child Smarter’…
Active participation in music assists all forms of personal growth, both mental and physical. It builds many skills essential for everyday life and can aid mental development and learning processes. In fact, it appears that music can encourage the brain physically to alter its very structure as it grows. Involvement in music helps all ages define their own identities, and music can create associations between groups and helps to forge links between people. In other words, music helps children to build essential social skills. Music can create great feelings of self-worth - being creative in an artistic discipline can have a profound effect on the way children perceive themselves, and can even benefit health.
Music can change the shape of your brain
Regular participation in musical activities stimulates the development of the brain and improves mental functions. The very plasticity of the brain, the way it shapes itself, can be positively affected by repeated musical activities. The conduit of information between the two brain hemispheres, the corpus callosum, grows larger as a result of being musically stimulated, and the pathways of communication between areas of the brain are more comprehensively connected together.
Musical activity aids the creation of new synaptic pathways, enabling multi-tasking and general creative thought, and it promotes cognitive development and helps abstract thought processes.
© 2005 Artemis Editions. Reproduced by permission.
This came from the Hofnote.com website which you can use to help improve your aural skills.
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