What Do You Do When Adults Are Determined to Play Repertoire They Can’t Possibly Play Well? Part II: Shift to Transcriptions
In the Spring, 1994 issue of Keyboard Companion, Paul Sheftel and Robert Vandall answered the question, What do you do when adults are determined to play repertoire they can’t possibly play?, by suggesting alternative choices for your students. In this issue, Fred Kern and Phillip Kevern...
How Do You Transfer Students’ Understanding of Theory to Their Understanding of Repertoire?
The color-coordinated, graphic designed, companionable theory books that are packaged with current method books are startling compared to the early workbooks and notespellers. There are many computer theory programs designed to accompany current method books or to be used as a separate course. Theory tests...
What Is the New Monster Concert? Part II
Your response to the question, What is the new monster concert?, in the Summer, 1994, Keyboard Companion, convinces me that many piano teachers are looking for an alternative to what, too often, has become the annual, long, boring, piano recital. I was also reminded that, as music...
What Special Qualities Do Parents of Children Who Succeed at the Piano Share? Part 2
Keyboard Companion Winter 2004; Vol. 15, No. 4
Barbara Kreader, Editor The Magic Triangle: Teacher/Student/Parent Barbara Kreader, Editor For this issue, teacher and composer, Bruce Berr continues this column’s three part overview of the qualities parents of successful piano students share. The Interview by Bruce Berr Isabella recently turned six, and she has been...
A Teacher’s Roundtable on Solutions to Common Practice Problems
Keyboard Companion Winter 2004; Vol. 15, No. 4
from the series: The Other Teacher: Home Practice Elvina Pearce, Editor For our Home Practice column in this issue, we have invited five highly successful teachers to become a roundtable panel and share with us some of their solutions to the most common issues which have to...
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 Teach Weight-Transfer to Early-Level Students?
Keyboard Companion Winter 2004; Vol. 15, No. 4
from the series: Let’s Get Physical: Technique Scott McBride Smith, Editor Who was it that said, “Those who can, do; those who can’t, teach; those who can’t teach, teach gym”? Not a piano teacher, obviously! And probably not a gym teacher, either. It’s not necessary to...
What Is “Shakespearean Counting” And How Do You Use It In Your Teaching?
Keyboard Companion Winter 2004; Vol. 15, No. 4
from the series: The Heart of the Matter: Rhythm Bruce Berr, Editor Last year I had the opportunity to review videotapes of teaching that were submitted to Music Teachers National Association (MTNA). The tapes were to be considered for use at one of the Pedagogy Saturday programs...
How Do You Recharge Your Teaching Batteries?
Keyboard Companion Winter 2004; Vol. 15, No. 4
from the series: Issues and Ideas: Perspectives in Pedagogy Kathleen Murray, Editor Careful readers of Keyboard Companion will realize that this is not the question presented in the Fall for “In the next issue” of this column. Scheduling conflicts made it impossible for our guest writer to respond...
What Do You Do To Promote Learning Outside of The Piano Lessons?
Keyboard Companion Winter 2004; Vol. 15, No. 4
from the series: It’s Never Too Late: Adult Piano Study Brenda Dillon, Editor The challenge for our youth-focused industry is to develop both products and programs designed to attract and serve a vastly underserved older market. Because space was available in the Autumn 2004 issue of...
A Fond Farewell (Für Elise)
Keyboard Companion Winter 2004; Vol. 15, No. 4
Marvin Blickenstaff, Editor from the series: Putting It All Together: Repertoire One of the favorite photos I have hanging in my study is a shot of the original staff of Keyboard Companion. Pictured there is founding editor Richard Chronister and his dear wife Marjore, Elvina Pearce, Brenda...
What’s Your Answer? Teacher Responses to Previous Magic Triangle Questions.
Keyboard Companion Winter 1993; Vol. 4, No. 4
I want to express my deepest appreciation to the many readers who write in to share their ideas and teaching tips with us! Your ideas are always interesting and challenging. Generally, we share these ideas in the Post Box section of each department. However, due to...
As a College Teacher, What Would You Like Your Incoming Freshman Students to Know About How to Practice?
AII of us who have been in college music buildings which house practice rooms are aware of the almost continuous sounds of student practice emanating from within. Those who work in this environment must acquire the ability to tune out much of this round-the-clock piano...
How Do You Teach Fluent Rhythm Reading?
When piano teachers talk about music reading, we tend to think only of note reading. In fact, the questions we have posed for this department of KEYBOARD COMPANION have concentrated on just that one aspect of reading. Likewise, students seem to give note reading first...
What are the most important aspects of technique to cover in the first years of piano study?
Every week, it seems, we hear of another case of pianists’ hand and arm problems. Well-known concert performers, up-and- coming young artists, promising students … the list appears endless, and each pianist’s affliction sounds more debilitating than the last. Are these injuries more frequent in today’s...