In this issue
July 2017; Vol. 9, No. 4
Method Reviews Return! A Review of Piano Safari
Method reviews return! In 2009, Clavier Companion began a series of reviews exploring all of the major piano methods published at that time. Two years later, the series…
July 2017; Vol. 9, No. 4
Expanding Your Vocabulary of Chords
Do you think Johann Pachelbel knew how popular his Canon in D would become? When I discovered the same chord progression in a few familiar songs, my search…
July 2017; Vol. 9, No. 4
Teaching with Backing Tracks
Backing tracks (pre-recorded or automated instrumental accompaniments) are inherently motivational. Why? Because playing with a snazzy drum groove is simply more compelling than practicing with a metronome. Here…
July 2017; Vol. 9, No. 4
William Gillock: A Centennial Retrospective
"To provide a musically thrilling experience."--Willam Gillock, on the purpose of student piano literature I often ask my piano pedagogy students to take a few moments to reflect on…
July 2017; Vol. 9, No. 4
The Teaching of Enrique Granados
In addition to being a great composer, Enrique Granados was also a dedicated and innovative teacher whose pedagogical approach has been explored only recently. Many of his…
July 2017; Vol. 9, No. 4
Enrique Granados’s Musical Postcards
The centennial of Enrique Granados's death in 2016 and the sesquicentennial of his birth in 2017 allow musicians an opportunity to celebrate the piano worksof the…
July 2017; Vol. 9, No. 4
July 2017: Pupil Saver: Mendelssohn Song without Words, Op. 30, No. 6
Stress reduction at the piano It's exciting to see a student advance after years of diligent work, but often the thought of moving on to larger works is…
July 2017; Vol. 9, No. 4
Putting It All Together: Creating A Great Lesson
I've recently been inspired to think about the essential elements of a successful lesson, prompted in part by Pete Jutras's column "Quality Ingredients" (Clavier Companion, July/August 2015)…
July 2017; Vol. 9, No. 4
How to Get Paid on Time
If you have successfully moved from a per-lesson payment system to a tuition-based structure,1 you may still be left with the challenge of parents paying on time.…
July 2017; Vol. 9, No. 4
Reflections on Music’s Life Lessons
I imagine that, in one way or another, you are caught up in the drama of politics these days. My feelings have been impassioned and vocal around…
July 2017; Vol. 9, No. 4
July 2017: Closer Look: Grade by Grade Piano
A bonanza for creative teachers and students A teacher places a spanking-new repertoire book in front of a student. "We're going to learn a contemporary piece,"…
July 2017; Vol. 9, No. 4
July/August 2017: New Music Reviews
Bastien New Traditions All-in-one Piano Course by Lisa, Lori, and Jane Bastien James Bastien's series Bastien Piano Basics has been a beloved staple in many piano studios for…
July 2017; Vol. 9, No. 4
July 2017: Book Review: Piano Duet Repertoire
First published in 1981, Cameron McGraw's useful Piano Duet Repertoire is an invaluable resource for teachers and ensemble pianists. In this second edition, duo-pianists Christopher and Katherine Fisher…
July 2017; Vol. 9, No. 4
July/August 2017: CD Reviews
David Rakowski Etudes, Vol 4 Amy Briggs, piano, toy piano and celestaBridge 9477Total Time [87:20]www.bridgerecrords.com This is the fourth volume of Briggs's survey of the staggering…
July 2017; Vol. 9, No. 4
July 2017: Apps for Teaching: Acing Theory Tests Without Theory Books
Much to my pleasure (and astonishment!), a number of my students signed up to take theory tests at the National Federation of Music Clubs (NFMC) local festival. None…
July 2017; Vol. 9, No. 4
July/August 2017: Questions and Answers
QUESTION: I've read that Frances Clark often used classics, literature, and social sciences that don't seem related to piano teaching in her pedagogy classes. Would you…
July 2017; Vol. 9, No. 4
The Art of Practicing: Broad Principles
Have you ever thought that, from a young student's viewpoint, practicing is counterintuitive? Think about other skills you learned as a child: tying your shoes, for example.…
July 2017; Vol. 9, No. 4
Piano Teaching Programs Reviewed: ArtistWorks and Meludia
ArtistWorks OVERVIEW: Equipment needed: Computer, phone, or tablet with video recording capability; internet connection. Mac and Windows are supported. Pricing: Packages are $105 for 3 months, $179 for…
July 2017; Vol. 9, No. 4
Who Will Save the Guitar?
In recent years, there's been a lot of discussion about the state of the piano teaching industry. We know that piano sales have declined dramatically, but…
July 2017; Vol. 9, No. 4
July 2017: Winds of Change
Pianists are blessed with an incredibly rich, diverse repertoire. I have thought a lot recently about how one chooses a recital program—so much to learn, so little…
July 2017; Vol. 9, No. 4
July/August 2017: Recent Research
Musicians react faster A new study suggests that professional musicians react more quickly than non-musicians when exposed to audio, tactile, and a combination of audio-tactile stimulations. According…
July 2017; Vol. 9, No. 4
News and Notes: July/August 2017
Building pianos in Rwanda Kigali Keys is working to build the first piano in Rwanda. If successful, this group of three entrepreneurs will become the first piano…
July 2017; Vol. 9, No. 4
July/August 2017: Poetry Corner
The Quartet Crowd Scarce-breathing sphinxes, row on stonefaced row Glued to the plush as if some mesmerist Had stunned them, while onstage the four with fiddles…
July 2017; Vol. 9, No. 4
July 2017: Keyboard Kids
Did you know? There has long been a fascination with the connection between the universe and music.In a theory known as the "Harmony of the Spheres," the…