Fellow Simply Music teacher Shanta Hejmadi is also shortly about to host her studio’s Spring Recital. To help her students get ready for it, she’s just published a blog post with her Top Ten Ways to Prepare for a Performance. The advice she gives there is excellent not only for those preparing for a...
Simply Music recently asked me to contribute to their newsletter/blog “The Playground” by presenting an improvisation project. I created one that combines elements from a few of the projects I do with my own students. You may recognize those elements when you check out the project! The post also includes some general advice to...
Potluck Creative Arts proudly announces the offering of Spring 2013 Simply Music beginner piano workshops through Red Hook Continuing Education, SUNY Ulster Continuing Education, and also direct to you with customized schedules. A great opportunity to experience the revolutionary Simply Music method at a dramatically reduced cost! If you’re looking for something fun and...
I wanted to share some newly updated resources that will help make it easier to learn accompaniment pieces, especially those you choose for yourself outside of Simply Music materials. If you haven’t yet completed the two versions of Danny Boy in the Accompaniment 1 book, you can safely ignore all this, because it’s for...
Potluck Creative Arts proudly announces the offering of Fall 2012 Simply Music beginner piano workshops through Red Hook Continuing Education, SUNY Ulster Continuing Education, and also direct to you with customized schedules. A great opportunity to experience the revolutionary Simply Music method at a dramatically reduced cost! If you’re looking for something fun and...
Heading to the end of the year, here’s a fun video with a baby giving a “lecture” on the benefits of exposing young kids to the piano. Of course, I wouldn’t recommend the Hal Leonard method that she mentions (it’s what I used to teach myself), but I bet that baby Olivia wouldn’t either...
When it comes to the amount of new project work, your teacher always strives to take the Baby Bear approach — not too hot, not too cold, just right. If new assignments seem to be either too much or too little for you, there are options. The first thing you should do is optimize...
Here are two really inspirational videos. The first is of a girl who plays piano with no fingers on her right hand. The second is of an armless man who uses his toes to perform. I bet they spent a lot of time playing slowly and controlling the events! Leave a comment below.
John Cleese is not only a comedy legend, he’s also got an inquiring mind, interested in many things including how the human mind works. Below you’ll find an excellent video of a lecture in which he talks about creativity. One of the things he mentions is the “tortoise mind” and the importance of patiently...
Big news! Simply Music will soon release Play-a-Story, a new piano program for students as young as 4 years old. Though occasionally younger students have begun with the standard Simply Music curriculum, typically age 7-8 has been considered the best time to start. Play-a-Story now provides an ideal entrance to piano lessons for students...
