What Kind of Counting Do You Use With Beginners . . . and Why?
Keyboard Companion Spring 1991; Vol. 2, No. 1
Marvin Blickenstaff, Editor by Marvin Blickenstaff Aren’t you terribly curious about what really transpires in other teachers’ studios? How do our colleagues across the country teach a particular aspect of theory, or technique? What “facilitations” do they use for teaching certain hurdles in familiar pieces...
Spring 2024: Questions and Answers
Spring 2024; Vol. 16, No. 1
ANSWER: This is an important question, for playing musically is the essence of our work with our students. There are several approaches which have been useful in my teaching, moving from general to specific. 1. Start working on a piece from the “known.” Does the...
How has keyboard pedagogy changed over the last 20-30 years? Part two
Keyboard Companion Autumn 2005; Vol. 16, No. 3
Rebecca Johnson, Editor In this issue, we conclude our look at the conception and evolution of keyboard pedagogy. No movement develops such a vital presence without strong and visionary leaders at the forefront. In the Summer 2005 issue, Frances Larimer gave an excellent history of...
How Do You Cultivate Your Students’ Understanding of Theory Through the Repertoire They Play?
Keyboard Companion Autumn 2001; Vol. 12, No. 3
by Marvin Blickenstaff We often find ourselves writing mental notes to our students. “I forgot to mention in yesterday’s lesson that …” “Remember to include in each day’s practice …” One note that I often wish to write my students reads something like this: Dear...
How Do You Introduce New Pieces to Students?
Keyboard Companion Autumn 2000; Vol. 11, No. 2
by Marvin Blickenstaff Some of the best news to hit the piano teaching world this past summer was the revival of Keyboard Companion. When news spread that the magazine would not continue publication without Editor Richard Chronister, many teacher friends commented … “but it is...
When and How Do You Introduce Rubato?
Keyboard Companion Autumn 2000; Vol. 11, No. 2
by Bruce Berr As piano teachers, we are constantly called upon to be master jugglers: precision and romance, agenda and spontaneity, structure and color, work and play, creativity and consolidation, professional concerns and business necessities, hands on and hands off. The list could continue. In...
Q&A with Marvin Blickenstaff: Part Two
Discovery homeSign up for email updatessubmit a question This past May, we invited our followers to submit questions for Marvin Blickenstaff about all things teaching in honor of his birthday (May 19). We hope you enjoy reading his answers below. You can read Part One...
Q&A with Marvin Blickenstaff: Part One
Discovery homeSign up for email updatessubmit a question This past May, we invited our followers to submit questions for Marvin Blickenstaff about all things teaching in honor of his birthday (May 19). We hope you enjoy reading his answers below. This week, Marvin is touring...
Q&A with Marvin Blickenstaff: Part Two
Discovery homeSign up for email updatessubmit a question We invited our followers to submit questions for Marvin Blickenstaff about all things teaching. In honor of his birthday (May 19), we are posting his answers! You can read Part One here.Join us on social media for...
Q&A with Marvin Blickenstaff: Part One
Discovery homeSign up for email updatessubmit a question We invited our followers to submit questions for Marvin Blickenstaff about all things teaching. In honor of his birthday today (May 19), we are posting his answers!Join us on social media for the opportunity to have your...
The Benefits of NCKP: The Piano Conference and Why You Should Attend
Discovery homeSign up for email updatessubmit a question Register for NCKP: 2023! Click here to register. Marvin Blickenstaff at NCKP 2019. The list of sessions for the upcoming NCKP 2023: The Piano Conference has been posted, and it looks to be a best-ever conference. I...
Reflections on My Piano Teacher | Honoring Fern Davidson
Discovery homeSign up for email updatessubmit a question We at the Frances Clark Center believe passionately that piano teachers change the world through their dedication to students and communities. Our Power of a Piano Teacher campaign shares personal tributes to document the extraordinary contributions of piano teachers. We welcome you...
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...
How Do You Practice Rhythm? – A Student Survey
In a recent faculty seminar our resource person was an educator whose research expertise focuses on teaching effectiveness. During the seminar he showed video-tapes of effective classroom procedures and outlined ways in which we could improve our own teaching techniques. He mentioned that, although there is much...
How Do You Teach Downbeats?
To teach or not to teach downbeats is really not the question. We all realize that a sense of meter is dependent on the student’s feeling of emphasis on the first beat of each measure. Just how one teaches downbeats varies from teacher to teacher,...