In this issue
May 2016; Vol. 8, No. 3
How do you teach technique to beginning piano students?
Beginning piano technique: Back to basics "He's just trying it out, so he doesn't need an expert teacher. We'll just go to the most inexpensive teacher…
May 2016; Vol. 8, No. 3
When students quit
I quit piano twice. During my last year of high school, I left my long-time teacher a handwritten note in an envelope on her desk. In…
May 2016; Vol. 8, No. 3
Solutions to common technical problems
We all agree that the best solution to problems is to prevent them before they even begin. However, even with our best intentions, problems sometimes arise.…
May 2016; Vol. 8, No. 3
Pedagogical treasures from Paul Pollei
Paul Pollei (left) and Robin Hancock. Paul Pollei, popularly known as the "ambassador of the piano," passed away in July 2013 in Provo, Utah, leaving behind…
May 2016; Vol. 8, No. 3
What are they thinking? The key to your students’ best performances
The lights are dimmed and a hush comes over the crowd. The atmosphere is charged as your student takes the stage for her recital. She is…
May 2016; Vol. 8, No. 3
I saw Mozart in Motown
You may think that I'm losing my mind—that my elevator no longer stops at all of the floors (and you may be right), but I just…
May 2016; Vol. 8, No. 3
Blues 102—Variations
Having addressed in the last column how to help students compose simple Blues tunes, let's now consider how to help them add on to their creations.…
May 2016; Vol. 8, No. 3
Discover Dianne Goolkasian Rahbee: A window into the contemporary realm
The music of Dianne Goolkasian Rahbee provides a refreshing look into the field of contemporary piano teaching repertoire. Rahbee, born in 1938, is an Armenian-American composer…
May 2016; Vol. 8, No. 3
What jazz contributes to the classical pianist
There is a long tradition of teaching quality classical piano in Canada. There are also a myriad of support systems to teach theory and written scores…
May 2016; Vol. 8, No. 3
Walk a mile in your neighbor’s shoes: Gender issues in piano teaching
Change, learning, and growth are able to happen when conversations begin. Conversations about what I think, and what you think, and how I feel, and how…
May 2016; Vol. 8, No. 3
May 2016: Mind Matters: Less is More
Full disclosure: I have repeatedly tried to write this column for a couple of weeks. I have thought about it for much longer. I usually have…
May 2016; Vol. 8, No. 3
Five income-affecting policy tweaks
As you review and send out your new studio policy for the coming year, it might be wise to re-examine a few important aspects of that…
May 2016; Vol. 8, No. 3
May 2016: Questions and Answers
Q: Is piano study for everyone? Why or why not? A: There's an answer to this question that I WISH were true. And there's another answer…