Tag Archives: Piano

Pretend you can’t play it

How does that work? And how did I even think of it as a solution to a problem? It’s not what I would usually suggest. Let me explain… I was teaching a young lad the other night. He was trying … Continue reading

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Issue 112: Lessons from my piano teacher (1)

I promised that I would pass on what I learned when my piano teacher came to stay a few weeks back – and here’s a first instalment. The teacher in question is Valerie Dickson, who was over here from the … Continue reading

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Issue 105: Rabbit run on the frozen ground

This is a great little children’s song from Kentucky. I first came across is in Jo McNally’s “Young Voiceworks” anthology – a resource I go back to time and time again (Warm up and Stomp Cannon, Star light, star bright, … Continue reading

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Issue 93: Hoffnung and the Bicycle

I was certain – even without knowing it for sure – that a bicycle just had to be a part of the Gerald Hoffnung Legend. Here is the link to his official website, and here, on page 4, my suspicions were confirmed … Continue reading

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Issue 91: Jardins sous la pluie

I was out first thing this morning, driving through rain and sun and blue skies and wind all at once. The combination was extraordinarily beautiful; the rain driving in straight lines into the windscreen, the standing water shimmering as the … Continue reading

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Issue 84: Eat my words – the left-handed piano

http://www.lefthandedpiano.com/   Oh. Ah. Read all about it here! http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/178608.stm I’m still not going to let them play their ukuleles or recorders with the “wrong” hands!    

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Issue 40: Mindful Practising – Building Mental Muscles

I have touched upon this before, but it’s worth saying again!   For a while now (seems like years, maybe it has been?) I’ve been trying to get my music students to learn with the same focus and attention that … Continue reading

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Issue 10: Teaching Piano Scales

I have a rule.  I don’t have many rules, as I’m not much good at sticking to them.  Anyway, here it is: “You can’t start your ‘Grade 2’ until you can play C major scale, two octaves, hands together, with … Continue reading

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