In this issue
March 2016; Vol. 8, No. 2
Using video recording to improve your teaching
Do you remember teaching your very first piano lesson, perhaps facing a "scary" five-year-old boy or girl, not knowing what to do, how to do it,…
March 2016; Vol. 8, No. 2
Always give your maximum: A conversation with Menahem Pressler
Menahem Pressler, best known as the pianist of the unparalleled Beaux Arts Trio for more than fifty years and a revered Distinguished Professor at Indiana University's…
March 2016; Vol. 8, No. 2
A Life among Legends
Richter, Michelangeli, Berman, Arrau, Cziffra, Callas. These are just a few of the legendary artists that Jacques Leiser has worked with in his remarkable career. As an…
March 2016; Vol. 8, No. 2
Powerful patterns
It always makes my day and warms my heart when my students "get it," when they experience an "ah-ha," when understanding dawns, when recognition lights up…
March 2016; Vol. 8, No. 2
Blues 101: Basics
Blues music evolved from its eighteenth-century roots in the work songs and lamentations of enslaved African-Americans to become one of the most identifiable streams in American…
March 2016; Vol. 8, No. 2
Art song and pedaling
I love art songs, and I've recently returned to practicing art song accompaniments on the piano. It's been good for me; I get to practice music…
March 2016; Vol. 8, No. 2
Better together: Chamber music for all levels
What pieces do you remember performing as a young pianist? Were they solo pieces? As pianists, we are lucky to have at our fingertips a seemingly…
March 2016; Vol. 8, No. 2
Six keys to enforcing an effective studio policy
A good studio policy is only effective if it is enforced. And while it is relatively easy to write a policy, it is certainly much harder…
March 2016; Vol. 8, No. 2
March 2016: Mind Matters: The Odd Couple
When I returned to graduate school in psychology, writing papers was a typical assignment. This was often the case in courses dealing with clinical material. I…
March 2016; Vol. 8, No. 2
March 2016: Pupil Saver: Unique; reflective music
Finding interesting late-intermediate literature can be a challenge. In addition to teaching the repertoire standards, I always look for something a bit more out-of- the box,…