What are the Foundational Reasons for Having a Policy?
January 2018; Vol. 10, No. 1
Sometimes it is easy to get into a tizzy about making policy changes when something pushes us to our limits. Conversely, some teachers “set it and forget it,” to the detriment of not making policy changes when needed, or not revising policies to keep up...
January 2018: Mind Matters: Stage Fright and Symptoms: Cause or Effect?
January 2018; Vol. 10, No. 1
When you think about your stage fright, what are two or three fears or anxieties that come into your mind? When musicians contact me about this painful problem, I typically hear two prominent complaints among many others. These are anxiety about having (1) memory slips...
January 2018: First Looks: New Music Reviews
January 2018; Vol. 10, No. 1
(S1-2) 24 Short and Easy Pieces, Op. 1, Alexander Reinagle. Highly Recommended Teachers and students enjoy Reinagle’s pieces both for their charming writing and their accessibility to elementary students. Reinagle’s biography, moreover, is a fun and interesting one that connects traditions of European classical music to...
January 2018: First Looks: Recordings
January 2018; Vol. 10, No. 1
Nyman: Complete Piano Music Jeroen van Veen, piano Brilliant Classics 95112 [Total Time 1:50:45] brilliantclassics.com Prolific Dutch pianist-composer Jeroen van Veen presents all of Michael Nyman’s existing solo piano music. Many will recognize Nyman (b. 1944) as composer of the soundtrack for the 1993 award-winning...
An American Family’s Musical Journey Through Cuba
Car Urban Cuba Auto Havana City Buildings As the iron door into Cuba slowly creaks open, Americans have been eager to learn more about life in this decades-long isolated country. Once a tropical vacation destination for a quarter of a million tourists each year, the...
Class Piano Connections: A Brazil-U.S. Group Piano Project
Collaboration between two foreigncountries can be fraught with deadly secrets, dangers, and mysterious politics. Fortunately, in the case of piano classes in Brazil and the United States, these were not the circumstances. In fact, our collaboration fostered creativity and relationships among the students in both...
¿Por qué no?
Upon completing my master’s degree, I considered various ideas as to where and how to continue my education. Although pursuing a doctoral degree is essential for musicians who wish to achieve careers in academia, the time commitment and financial investment did not feel right for...
East Meets West: Connecting with Chinese Students
Currently, an estimated 40 million students are learning piano in China, and the number continues to grow. In this age of the China boom, there is also a burgeoning interest in the West, leading more Chinese to study abroad than ever before. Now practically any...
January 2018: Questions and Answers
January 2018; Vol. 10, No. 1
This is Part 2 of a response that began in the Nov/Dec 2017 issue of Clavier Companion. Q. This is the time of year when high school students are considering college and preparing for auditions. As a music administrator, do you have any suggestions for...
Parents Attending Lessons: Rewards and Challenges
January 2018; Vol. 10, No. 1
Why would teachers want to encourage parents to attend lessons? Although some teachers—Suzuki, Yamaha, or preschool, for example—routinely invite parents, not all music teachers find that children or their guardians benefit from a shared experience. The following is an overview of some of the rewards...
January 2018: Variations: A Nickel for Every Mistake
January 2018; Vol. 10, No. 1
Seven-year-old Serena’s mother describes her daughter’s first piano practice of every week. “We always have tears! If she makes even one mistake, she is ready to give up. She expects herself to be able to the play the piece perfectly the first time. No matter...
Piano Method Review: Carol Matz’s Interactive Piano Method
January 2018; Vol. 10, No. 1
by Rebecca Grooms Johnson This method offers a flexible combination of lesson books and web-based materials. The four core lesson books (Levels 1A, 1B, 2A, and 2B) can be purchased as hard copies (which are mailed to the home address) or as downloadable PDFs. The...
2017 Clavier Companion Collegiate Writing Contest Runner-Up: Developing Confident Performers: The Teacher’s Role in Combating Anxiety
January 2018; Vol. 10, No. 1
In the Spring of 2017, Clavier Companion sponsored its ninth annual Collegiate Writing Contest, inviting college students from around the world to submit 1,500 word essays on a pedagogical topic of their choice. We extend our sincere thanks to professors Gail Berenson, Pamela Pike, and Suzanne Schons...
2017 Clavier Companion Collegiate Writing Contest Winner: The Actual Children’s Corner: Making Impressionistic Music Accessible to Elementary and Intermediate Piano Students
January 2018; Vol. 10, No. 1
In the Spring of 2017, Clavier Companion sponsored its ninth annual Collegiate Writing Contest, inviting college students from around the world to submit 1,500 word essays on a pedagogical topic of their choice. We extend our sincere thanks to professors Gail Berenson, Pamela Pike, and...
2017 Clavier Companion Collegiate Writing Contest Runner-Up: Ironic Processes of Mental Control: Implications for Musicians
January 2018; Vol. 10, No. 1
In the Spring of 2017, Clavier Companion sponsored its ninth annual Collegiate Writing Contest, inviting college students from around the world to submit 1,500 word essays on a pedagogical topic of their choice. We extend our sincere thanks to professors Gail Berenson, Pamela Pike, and Suzanne...