When and How Does the Suzuki Method Introduce Reading?
Keyboard Companion Autumn 2001; Vol. 12, No. 3
by Craig Sale There is no doubt that the introduction of Suzuki piano instruction in the 1970’s made dramatic changes in the piano teaching landscape, not just in the US, but worldwide. In this issue, our department’s contributors represent the international scope of Suzuki instruction—Dorothy...
5 Ways to Provide Student-Centered Feedback
Discovery homeSign up for email updatessubmit a question In his Summer 2023 article “Breaking Out of the House of Corrections,” Craig Sale gave practical advice about how to develop independent learners and motivated students. Here are five tips for providing student-centered feedback from his article....
The Legacy of James Lyke (1932-2023): Celebrating His Life and Work
Like many others, I had the good fortune to have Jim Lyke as a piano pedagogy professor and mentor. I credit him with starting me on my rewarding journey in this profession. As a graduate student in his pedagogy class, I was able to watch...
Breaking Out of the House of Corrections
Summer 2023; Vol. 15, No. 2
By Craig Sale I will always remember Frances Clark stating that our lessons should not be a “house of corrections.” Instead, she felt we should do all we can to ensure a week of successful practice so that the student returns the next week prepared...
Celebrating our Colleague, Bruce Berr
May 2018; Vol. 10, No. 3
We are blessed in our profession to have opportunities to interact with the best in our field—the best teachers, colleagues, friends. Such has been the case for teachers across the country with our colleague, Bruce Berr. Bruce had been an Associate Editor with Keyboard Companion and Clavier Companion since...
LIVING IN TECHNICOLOR—An Interview with Sara Davis Buechner
Spring 2023; Vol. 15, No. 1
By Craig Sale Sara Davis Buechner, award-winning pianist, and teacher, is more than an amazing pianist. She is a trailblazer in the realm of human rights as it impacts our musical profession. For almost thirty years, she has lived her life fully as a transgender...
Elvina Truman Pearce: Short Tributes
Autumn 2022; Vol. 14. No. 3
After John and Elvina Pearce moved to Naperville in 1965, I became a piano student of Mrs. Pearce and studied with her for six years. Elvina had a wonderful sense of how young people learn. In her distinctive script, she outlined practice steps and goals—working...
What Do You Do With Transfer Students Whose Reading Level is Far Below Their Performance Level?
Keyboard Companion Winter 2004; Vol. 15, No. 4
from the series: Independence Day: Music Reading Craig Sale, Editor Before enrolling any student, I always conduct a pre-enrollment interview. I think that this first meeting is especially important if the student is a transfer student. When this is the case, over the years I have...
How do you handle reversals in reading?
Keyboard Companion Summer 2008; Vol. 19, No. 2
from the series: Independence Day: Music Reading Craig Sale, Editor When you stop and think about it, what we often ask a young student to do at their first lesson is completely unreasonable. They sit at a huge keyboard, barely able (if at all) to reach...
What are your favorite teaching aids for music reading?
Keyboard Companion Summer 2007; Vol. 18, No. 2
Whenever I visit the exhibit hall at MTNA and other music teacher conventions or browse through the advertisements in publications for teachers, I am always a bit overwhelmed at the number of teaching aids available. For me the bottom line is whether or not the...
What common pitfalls occur in the teaching of rhythmic subdivisions?
Keyboard Companion Spring 2008; Vol. 19, No. 1
from the series: The Heart of the Matter: Rhythm Bruce Berr, Editor My colleague Craig Sale and I have swapped departments this issue by each contributing an article in the other’s subject area. Both essays deal with avoiding common teaching pitfalls. It has been stimulating for us...
What common pitfalls occur in the teaching of music reading?
Keyboard Companion Spring 2008; Vol. 19, No. 1
from the series: Independence Day: Music Reading Craig Sale, Editor For this issue my colleague Bruce Berr and I wanted to share our thoughts on common pitfalls that occur in teaching music reading and in teaching rhythmic subdivisions. Having dealt with these issues in our own...
How is Teaching Adults to Read Music Different Than Teaching Children?
Keyboard Companion Spring 2004; Vol. 15, No. 1
from the series: Independence Day: Music Reading Adult beginners seem to challenge everything we think we know about teaching. From the books used to the rate of skill development, adult learners are different from children. One thing we can do to understand our adult learners is...
From notes to beauty: When, why and how?
Keyboard Companion Autumn 2008; Vol. 19, No. 3
from the series: Independence Day: Music Reading Craig Sale, Editor This department generally focuses on the teaching of secure music reading. Although our regular consideration of how to successfully teach students to play correct notes and rhythms is important, we also need to widen our view...
How does ‘experience before definition’ apply to your teaching of reading concepts?
Keyboard Companion Autumn 2007; Vol. 18, No. 3
The natural order of learning1 , as described by Piaget and specifically applied to music learning by Frances Clark2 , begins with the child hearing, feeling, and seeing a concept before it is presented (i.e. sound-feel-sign-name). Experiencing a concept before learning its name and symbol, is...