In this issue
March 2014; Vol. 6, No. 2
An Interview with Randall and Nancy Faber
Whether they reach an elementary student using Piano Adventures, five- or six-year-old playing a composition from My First Piano Adventure for the Young Beginner, or a teacher gleaning information…
March 2014; Vol. 6, No. 2
Living on The Edge: A Piano Prodigy Changes Course
When David Tong was seven, a week before he was scheduled to make his professional debut as a pianist, a boy took his basketball during gym…
March 2014; Vol. 6, No. 2
Hand position basics
When hands are hanging loosely at the sides of the body, the fingers are in a "natural curve," which is a perfect hand position. The finger…
March 2014; Vol. 6, No. 2
Accidental Perspectives
The timing was perfect. Friday night's student recital was a success, my flight early the next morning was on time, and we landed uneventfully in Boston's…
March 2014; Vol. 6, No. 2
Introductions
A good musical introduction creates anticipation for the listener by suggesting the key and style of a tune about to be played. Ready? Go! The easiest way…
March 2014; Vol. 6, No. 2
Bartók’s Rhapsody from For Children
The eight-some pieces in Bartók's For Children, based on Hungarian and Slovakian folk tunes and intended for young learners, cover a considerable range of difficulty. Because finding pieces…
March 2014; Vol. 6, No. 2
Musicnotes.com: Creative arrangements for your students
The importance of incorporating current music into piano lessons is immeasurable—you will be more desirable as a teacher, you will see a spark inside your students…
March 2014; Vol. 6, No. 2
Let’s Order In!
Occasionally I have a student who is reluctant to move past the first method book, or is easily discouraged when things get the least bit challenging.…
March 2014; Vol. 6, No. 2
Changing the tune
We've all had the experience of having a lesson veer into high intensity, whether from an overstressed student, a grumpy teacher, or both. The result? As…
March 2014; Vol. 6, No. 2
The twenty-five year interlude: An amateur returns to the piano
Playing the piano is a marriage of sorts. Just like a traditional marriage, there are three phases. Phase One, "The Honeymoon Phase," is when we are…
March 2014; Vol. 6, No. 2
March 2014: Winds of Change
Time's passage has been much on my mind of late. The winds of change blow on. We rush toward the future, the way paved by technologies…