In this issue
January 2017; Vol. 9, No. 1
Summer Piano Study: Ideas and Inspirations
While routine can be valid and effective for piano students and teachers, sometimes a break from the usual can be refreshing. After nine months of the…
January 2017; Vol. 9, No. 1
Appreciation
I recently had the pleasure of hosting ten high-school girls from Kenya. This was their first trip to the United States, and the girls have been…
January 2017; Vol. 9, No. 1
January 2017: Variations: Being comfortable in your teacher skin
I recently met a passionate young teacher who told me this story: "One of my students came up to me the other day and observed: 'Mrs.…
January 2017; Vol. 9, No. 1
January/February 2017: Poetry Corner
Richard Zimdars, Editor "Opus 28, The Preludes" from Facing the Music by Bruce Berger, Conundrum Press, © 2014. Used by permission of Connundrum Press, a division…
January 2017; Vol. 9, No. 1
Musical News and Notes: January/February 2017
Benjamin Grosvenor awarded new Philharmonic prize Benjamin Grosvenor is the first recipient of the Ronnie and Lawrence Ackman Classical Piano Prize, the newest prize awarded by the New York…
January 2017; Vol. 9, No. 1
January/February 2017: Questions and Answers
Q: The National Conference on Keyboard Pedagogy (NCKP) happens this summer. How is the program shaping up? Can you share some of the highlights? A: I…
January 2017; Vol. 9, No. 1
January/February 2017: Recent Research
So happy together. An upcoming study in the Journal of Organizational Behavior finds that employees showed higher degrees of cooperation and lower degrees of self-interest when…
January 2017; Vol. 9, No. 1
January 2017: Keyboard Kids
To print, use the PDF below. Just click on the black bar at the top and click on the print icon! Alternatively, you can use the…
January 2017; Vol. 9, No. 1
First Looks: Apps for Teaching
Paper leaves a trail, and usually the trail leads to the trash can. For that reason, I prefer to avoid paper and ink and offer virtual…
January 2017; Vol. 9, No. 1
January/February 2017: CD and DVD Reviews
Maurice Ravel Carlo Grante, piano Music & Arts CD-1289 [Total Time 58:05] www.musicandarts.com This album offers unique interpretations of several of Ravel's masterworks on a Bösendorfer…
January 2017; Vol. 9, No. 1
January/February 2017: New Music Reviews
(S3) Preludes to Mastery, Books 1 and 2, by Chrissy Ricker. Chrissy Ricker's two books of preludes provide a fresh and varied assortment of pieces in…
January 2017; Vol. 9, No. 1
First Looks: January/February 2017
Closer Look: (S3-4) Béla Bartók: Ten Easy Pieces, edited by Immanuela Gruenberg. Immanuela Gruenberg creates a real gem for teachers and students alike in her study…
January 2017; Vol. 9, No. 1
January 2017: Mind Matters: Retirement: A Response
In the September/October issue of Clavier Companion, my wife, Julie Jaffee Nagel, wrote an eloquent column entitled "Retirement." When it appeared, she showed me the article…
January 2017; Vol. 9, No. 1
Making money, making space: Are your marketing strategies deep enough?
While we frequently discuss the advantages and disadvantages of certain types of piano lesson marketing, we often stop short of asking deeper questions that can make…
January 2017; Vol. 9, No. 1
Perspectives: Diversity in the teaching studio
Walk a mile in your neighbor's shoes: Diversity in the teaching studio by Rachel Kramer and Bennyce Hamilton Music is the universal language. This phrase has…
January 2017; Vol. 9, No. 1
Perspectives: Managing performance anxiety
Mastering the inner game: Three "mind coaches" onmanaging performance anxiety by Ali Snow "Don't be nervous! You'll do fine!" "Take a few deep breaths and it'll…
January 2017; Vol. 9, No. 1
Repertoire: West Coast Youth Ragtime Competition
Preparing for the West Coast Youth Ragtime Competition We were languishing in the summer doldrums when Ryan, my fourteen-year-old piano student, reminded me of the upcoming…
January 2017; Vol. 9, No. 1
January 2017: Pupil Saver
A cheerful and dependable flower by Adrienne E. Wiley I love finding new pieces for my students! One of my pupils is ready for character pieces; she…
January 2017; Vol. 9, No. 1
Repertoire: Bach’s Two-Part Inventions
Affect in J.S. Bach's Two-Part Inventions Bach's oldest son, Wilhelm Friedemann, was born in 1710 when Bach was twenty-five years old. By the time Wilhelm was…
January 2017; Vol. 9, No. 1
January 2017: Create and Motivate: Learning and Teaching
Rhythm boxes, Part II by Bradley Sowash The last column introduced placing Xs in "rhythm boxes" to represent well-known tunes. Here are more ideas to enhance…
January 2017; Vol. 9, No. 1
Learning & Teaching: Improving coordination
Piano technique: Improving coordination When we consider what makes a pianist good or even great, we usually think of her mastery of the basic aspects of…
January 2017; Vol. 9, No. 1
On the Value of Art Music Today
As a promoter of the arts and arts education, in Alberta, Canada (as founder and director of Alberta Pianofest, a summer festival of concerts and piano master…
January 2017; Vol. 9, No. 1
Piano Teaching Programs Reviewed: Simply Piano
OVERVIEW: Three subscription options: 1 Month - $14.99 3 Months - $29.99 1 Year - $89.99 Compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Requires iOS 9.0…
January 2017; Vol. 9, No. 1
Piano Teaching Programs Reviewed: eNovative Piano
Overview: Subscription-based; there are a range of price plans for individual students, individual teachers, and institutions Technology required—Internet- connected computer, phone, tablet, PDF reader, Adobe Flash …