Category: Piano Practice

Insight into piano practice tips, tricks, and methods.

Topics at a First Piano Lesson

Posted on by Heather Brunner

So you’ve signed yourself or your child up for piano lessons.  Now what?  What are you going to learn in that first 30 minutes?  Is it going to be overwhelming or a piece of cake?  How are you going to practice 30 minutes 5 days a week?  Let’s look at a very simple check list of topics that are usually covered in a first piano lesson.

 

1.  How do you sit and the piano and position your hands over the keyboard.

 

2.  The Keys.  There are black keys and white keys.  The black keys are in groups of 2 and 3.  Can you find middle C?

 

3.  If the student is going to begin reading on the musical staff, then the topic of lines and spaces is covered.  How do the treble and bass clef relate to the right and left hand?

 

4.  A musical note.  This could be quarter, half or whole notes.  What does the note look like and what is its value?

 

Believe it or not, it can take 30 minutes to cover those 4 topics with a new student.  I love it when a child comes in and recognizes some of the musical notation from their music school at class.  The student feels so smart and head of the game.

 

Students, be patient with yourselves.  Parents, help the students in any way that you can even if you aren’t a musician.  Read the directions and make sure they are using the correct hand for the piece.

 

Good luck with your piano lessons!

Planning the Academic Year for Piano

Posted on by Heather Brunner

Here in the south the school supply lists are already putting in an appearance.  Last week I was at a Target store here in Charlotte, NC and they were already putting out school supplies.  (On a side note, I did purchase some new markers and folders.)  This is the time of year that students feel like they get to start over with their goals and you might get an influx of new and transfer students.  Many of these students will want to participate in festivals and competitions during the coming academic year.  How do you make sure they are prepared and stay on schedule? 

 

If I am getting to see my students during the summer, then I take part of a summer lesson and we evaluate our goals.  If the student is not taking summer lessons then I try to use the second lesson back to evaluate the situation.  What are we evaluating?  I give the student their options for festival and competitions and we talk about how much music they would need to learn and what could overlap for these events.  For example, if a student wants to participate in NFMC and NCMTA the choice piece for the NFMC festival could be drawn from the NCMTA list.  This bring the required pieces down from 5 to 4.  All 4 pieces could be used for Guild Auditions. 

 

Guild Auditions and the National Achievement Program both have technical requirements.  I use my checklist and have every student go through all of the technical exercises that they should have learned up to this point.  One sheet that I use is found on the Resources page.  This lets me know what we need to review and when compared to the festival levels what we need to accomplish in a set time frame. 

 

I try to give a theory evaluation if there is time.  Otherwise we do this in the next few weeks.  If a student is participating in the National Achievement Program I use a practice test to see how prepared they are for this level of examination.  These exams are quite difficult and it seems that half the battle is reading and following the instructions. 

 

With all of this information, we can plan when to choose the literature and what schedule we need to keep to be prepared with the technical skills.  Students sometime practice a little aimlessly when there isn’t a clear deadline.  This can give them a mini-deadline for every week.  For those high school students who are so busy, it is pretty easy to divide their pieces into sections and set a measures goal for each week.  For example, we need to learn and memorize 10 measures of the Prokofiev this week and 5 measures of the Bach.  It’s amazing how well they will practice when not overwhelmed.

Meet Schubert the Studio Mascot

Posted on by Heather Brunner

IMG_0904  Schubert would like to say hello to everyone.  Schubert is Brunner Studios mascot.  He loves to play the piano and has his own concert bench.  This fall Schubert will be starting his own newsletter for the studio.  So be on the look out for our first edition. 

 

*Mama made me go to the groomer’s.  Don’t I look cute?

What is the Best Time of Year to Begin Piano Lessons?

Posted on by Heather Brunner

What is the best time of year to begin piano lessons?  Often we think about the age the student is but not about what else might be going on in their lives.  As a teacher who likes to pay her bills, I say that any time is a good time to begin piano lessons.  Smile  However, there are some times during the year that the transition can be a little smoother.

 

1.  The weeks leading up to school starting.  This is my personal favorite.  The students begin to build good practice habits and are not overwhelmed with so much new material from school and piano lessons.

2.  The weeks after school starts.  You are building your schedule for the year and can get the time that works best for you. 

3.  Right after the new year.  The student got a keyboard or piano for Christmas.  The school year is getting back into the swing of things and the newness of the gift is still there.

4.  Summer break.  Everyone’s schedules are more flexible and there is less homework.  You can even schedule multiple lessons per week to really get a great start.

5.  Late Spring.  This is my least favorite.  Everyone is so busy with end of the year tasks that sometimes it is hard to establish those good practice habits.

 

As we are approaching mid-summer and fall isn’t so far away, go ahead and give some piano teachers a call and see what their schedule openings are like.  Piano lesson are for all ages!

Piano Assignment Sheets Update

Posted on by Heather Brunner

Today I added a Beginner Piano Assignment Sheet to the Resources Page. 

 

Also on the Resources page you will find the Piano Assignment Sheet and the Technique Assignment Sheet.

 

Please feel free to use these in your own studio.

 

Should Piano Lessons Be Fun?

Posted on by Heather Brunner

Almost every parent that contacts me says that they want piano lessons to be fun.  Should piano lessons be fun?  The unequivocal answer to that is YES!  However, how we can accomplish that is dependent on the student and the teacher.

 

As  a teacher with a degree in piano and with over 10 years of experience, I know lots of ways to make piano lessons fun.  Obviously the first way is with literature that the student looks forward to playing.  This doesn’t mean though that occasionally the student doesn’t have to play something they aren’t thrilled with from the get go.  Usually even those pieces that the student is iffy about in the beginning end up being great fun after learning the first few pages. 

 

With little kids, I like to get up and use movement in lessons.  Marching, singing and dancing are great ways to break up a 30 min. lesson and let those wiggles out.  Did you know the Hokey-Pokey is an effective teaching tool?  Color is important for all levels as it brings information to our attention.

 

I can do everything and stand on my head if necessary to try to make piano lessons fun.  However, there is a contingency.

 

The student has to want to learn and to be prepared.  A large part of having fun in piano lessons is getting to learn new music.  This hinges on the student practicing and be prepared for lessons.  That doesn’t mean that it might not take repetition of pieces, but that they should be showing marked improvement week by week. 

 

I like to think that it is a 50/50 split on who is responsible for fun piano lessons.  If the student keeps practicing and the teacher strives to incorporate new and creative information then the lessons should be a success.

Supplies for Piano Lessons

Posted on by Heather Brunner

What supplies does a student need to help make taking piano lessons easier and to make practice at home run more smoothly?

 

1.  Assignment Book- Every teacher has their own method of tracking assignments.  Some teachers write the date on the page, other use a pre-printed book that goes with a method book series, a spiral notebook is always effective, or a 3 ring binder.  I have my students use a 3 ring-binder.  Every week I print out assignment sheets that are customized to the lesson with the listening and music history assignment printed in.

 

2.  Music Bag-  Most kids have a clumsy streak and go through phases of forgetfulness.  A music bag is a quick way to keep track of everything.  Pack it up the night before a lesson so that the student doesn’t forget any books. 

 

3.  Pencils-  keep a few sharpened pencils with good erasers at the piano for use during practice.  I like to have my students make notes of any questions they have during the week.  Also, theory should always be done in pencil.  Would you do your math homework in pen?

 

4.  Metronome- Counting is essential to playing music correctly.  A metronome can aid in this process.  My students usually begin learning to use one quite early on in the process.  The sooner they have the hang of using the metronome the better.

 

5.  Timer-  Kids are forever asking if they have practiced long enough.  Forestall this questions by equipping them with a timer that is easy to set.

 

These are just a few things that help students succeed in piano lessons.  A prepared student makes for a happy piano teacher.  

How to Find a Piano Teacher- Part 2

Posted on by Heather Brunner

On Friday, we talked about how to find a piano teacher.  The first thing you need is a name.  What were our steps?

1.  Ask your neighbors

2.  Google your area

3.  Visit reputable teacher websites

 

Now that you have a few names in hand what is the next step?  You need to interview teachers and interview with teachers.  The best of mode of communication really depends on the teacher.  Let’s face it, most piano teachers are stereo typed as old ladies with cats.  So yes, you will find teachers who don’t communicate by email.  You will definitely have to call these teachers to get information and to feel out what their personalities are.

 

If you do find teachers who are more technologically savvy, don’t hesitate to email them with a request for them to call you.  My reasoning on this is simple.  I teach from around 1:00 to 8:00 Monday thru Thursday.  I do not answer phone calls while I’m teaching. I don’t want you to think that I’m ignoring you or not getting back to you.  I can however, send you a quick email that I received your inquiry and will contact you back as soon as I have a break or am done teaching.  If you want to include details in your email or questions, this is a great idea.  Any info that the potential teacher has to help answer questions or address concerns is appreciated.

 

What questions should you ask a potential piano teacher about beginning lessons in their studio?

 

1.  What is your training?

2.  What opportunities do your students have for performances and festivals?

3.  Do you have a policy sheet?

4.  Are lessons customized for the student’s learning style?

5.  What is your availability?

6.  What do lessons cost and are their additional fees?

 

The answers that the teacher gives you should give you a feel if you would like to continue to the next step of scheduling a trial lesson or signing up for lessons.  Follow your instincts.  Not every teacher is suited for every student.  Be honest with yourself when looking at the type of teacher you want.  Taking piano lessons is a big commitment.  You are learning another language.  Find the teacher that is best suited for your educational needs. 

Educational Expectations for Summer Piano Lessons

Posted on by Heather Brunner

Today my students will begin having their last lessons before the summer session starts.  Many of them will be taking summer lessons but not on a regular schedule.  What should parents and teachers expect from students who take lessons during the summer?

 

If a student is taking infrequent piano lessons in the summer, then my goal is retention of knowledge.  Just like with academics, if you don’t use it, you will loose it.  All that hard work we put into theory and technique will quietly drift away.  As a teacher who as high standards week after week for the literature that the students are learning, I find that summer is a great time to play ‘fun’ music.  Now, I find classical music to be fun but my students don’t always agree.  So we will be pulling out the pop and show tunes.  Recognizable pieces that students enjoy playing so much.  The technical skills are the same and we might learn some new interesting rhythms. 

 

I try not to stress out about the lack of practice in the summer.  Kids go to camps and travel with their families.  When they are home, I encourage them to try to maintain a normal practice schedule.  Even if the amount of time is less, I don’t want them to lose the habit of practicing.   Parents can help by reminding the students to practice when they are able.

 

Summer is a nice time for teachers and students to relax and regroup.  Review those skills and make sure everything is in order for when piano/music lessons start back in the fall.  Festival season will be here before we know it.  So help maintain those skills be practicing for you summer lessons when the chance arises. 

How young can children start piano lessons?

Posted on by Heather Brunner

Yesterday, we talked about adults who want to take piano lessons.  What about the opposite end of the spectrum?  How young of a child can begin piano lessons?

 

The independent piano teacher usually sets their own policy for the age limit for beginning piano students.  When I started lessons with Elizabeth Cothern in Mississippi, I had to be in second grade.  Many teachers still hold to the rule that students need to be able to read and be semi-independent.  This is a great guideline for families where the parents of unable to assist in practice from an application stand point. 

 

However, if the parents or grandparents are willing to sit and help a student then really it is up to the teacher as to how young is too young.  There does need to be some maturity there.  I have had 4 year olds that have no problems sitting through a lesson and were quite dedicated in their practice.  With other 4 year olds, it was obvious immediately that the child was not ready to begin lessons.

 

Here is my list that I follow at Brunner Studios when evaluating a potential new student that is quite young.

 

1.  At least 4 years old.

2.  Recognizes the letters of the alphabet and numbers 1-9.

3.  Rudimentary understanding of left and right

4.  Can the student focus and behave for a 30 minute lesson?

5.  Will the student have assistance at home with practice?

6.  Is the student interested in playing the piano?

7.  Does the family have access to a piano on a daily basis?

 

Every child is different.  If you are interested in piano lessons, contact a teacher and set up a trial lesson.  Summer is a great time to give piano lessons a try.