Tag: piano teachers charlotte nc

Memorization: Why It Matters

Posted on by Heather Brunner

Memorization.  Love it or hate it.  Personally I am on the hating it end because it is challenging to me.  Professionally I totally understand the point and advocate it.

Memorization of music really took off for piano when Franz Liszt and Clara Schumann decided to show off.  Being the popular musicians that they were, everyone decided to emulate them.  So that is where it started. 

Pianists of all ages and skill levels find themselves in situations where memorization is required.  From recitals and festivals to camps, workshops and talent shows, memorization is required.  The earlier you begin memorizing the easier it tends to become.  When beginning the piano, the pieces are short and easy.  Does it not make sense to begin  with these short, easy pieces?  Why wait until you are learning intermediate repertoire or have enter a competition to learn to memorize?  Memorization is a skill.  There a lots of tricks, tips and skills that make it easier.  If you don’t build that skill set as you build your musicianship skills it just sets you up for frustration later down the road. 

Why does memorization matter in the music?  Freeing yourself from the page and the pages turns or page turner lends itself to more artistry and musicianship.  Knowing the music so intimately that you can concentrate on the nuances that turn a piece from a collection of notes into a work of art.  The freedom to experiment  musically in practice, lessons and master classes only comes when you know your music backwards and forwards.  Memorization really is for the sake of the music. 

Many teachers require memorization of students and provide incentives.  Stickers, prizes and games take away the drudgery and make memorization a fun learning experience.  By the time students are learning the standard repertoire, memorization begins to come more naturally.  For some students, memorization will always be a challenge.  Encourage those students and praise their success but don’t let them use it as an excuse to not participate in events.  If you are looking for a music teacher, take into consideration if the teacher requires memorization at a healthy level. 

Don’t wait until you want to memorize that Beethoven Sonata to begin memory work.  Begin with Mary Had a Little Lamb. 

Good Luck!

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.

What is the Cost for Piano Lessons

Posted on by Heather Brunner

One of the first questions I get asked is, “How much do the lessons cost?”  Prospective students tend to shop lessons by cost.  Realistically, this isn’t a good way to try and find the best teacher.  There are several factors that go into how much a teacher charges for lessons.

 

1.  What is the teacher’s level of education and experience?  If the teacher has at least a Bachelors of Music then the lessons are going to cost more than the teacher with just experience.  If you are lucky enough to find a teacher with Masters of Music or a Doctorate, be prepared to pay for these qualifications.  Usually it isn’t a huge difference, possibly $5 per month. 

 

2.  Does the teacher offer students opportunities outside of lessons?  Recitals, competitions and festivals are all popular events for students to participate in.  While you pay a fee to participate, your teacher usually has to volunteer or pay an annual membership fee.  As an example, NMTA, NMCTA and CMTA cost a total of $107 this year for me to be a member.  That is just for one festival for students to participate in.  As teachers we try to take our expenses into account so that we can offer the best opportunities to our students.

 

3.  Advertising.  Where did you hear about your teacher?  If it was on a website, in a newspaper or on a school flyer, then your teacher probably paid for that space.  While this is just a cost of business it does factor into the total cost of lessons. 

 

4.  Is it a deterrent?  Now this one is a little strange but I’ve found that it does hold true and it works.  Is the cost of lessons high enough to make the student think twice about having excessive absences?   Students should value their lesson time just as they would a visit to a doctor or a commitment to a team.  If a teacher is undervaluing their time, they don’t get taken as seriously by their students. 

 

So after a little research, I have found that the average rate for a piano teacher in the greater Charlotte, NC area is around $24 per lesson or $96 a month.  When breaking this down further the teachers in the outer areas of the city are charging significantly less.  Balancing this out are the teachers will a BM or MM in the city of Charlotte proper.  These teachers are charging on average $25-27 dollars a lesson or $100-$110 per month.  Schools of music tend to give a more mixed picture.  Most charge a flat fee for lessons whether the teacher is degreed or not.  This can be a great deal or a not so great deal depending on who you select or are assigned for an instructor. 

 

So do some research about your potential teachers and what they have to offer you before crossing someone off the list because of a $5 cost difference. 

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

Posted on by Heather Brunner

If you live in a small town then finding a piano teacher is probably pretty easy.  What if you live in a big city or just moved to a new area and need to find a new piano teacher?

 

Let’s take Charlotte, NC for an example city for finding a piano teacher for your child who wants to take lessons.  Obviously the first thing would be to ask around.  Do the neighbors recommend anyone or is there music business in your immediate area?  If the answers to these questions are yes then you probably want to check out the reputations of those in question.  If the answer is no then follow the next steps.

 

www.google.com  Google is your friend.  Type in piano lessons charlotte, nc or piano teachers charlotte, nc.  This is a great place to get started.  The first page is usually going to be larger studios or music businesses.  Take a look at the map on the right to see what is in your area.  However, keep in mind that many of the local independent teachers cannot afford to maintain space on the first page of searches.  Keep looking on to the next pages for those independent teacher websites. 

 

Another good way to find a piano teacher is to look at websites that piano teachers advertise on.  Some reputable websites for Charlotte, NC are:

 

www.lessonrating.com

www.getlessonsnow.com

www.ncmta.org

www.pianoteachersdirectory.com

 

Search these websites for teachers in your area.  Cross check them to see the different teacher ratings on each site. 

Make a list of the teachers that are interesting to you.  We will talk on Monday about interviewing piano teachers to find the right teacher for you. 

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. 

Why I like Being a Piano Teacher in Charlotte, North Carolina

Posted on by Heather Brunner

 

1.  Being a musician is a respected profession. 

2.  There is well established fine arts community that offers many opportunities to my students.

3.  I am fairly compensated for being a teacher with a BM and MM in Piano Pedagogy and 10+ years of teaching experience.

4.  There is a large piano teacher community.

5.  Having a full studio is relatively easy compared to other parts of the country.

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.