Remember girls, HOW MUCH (and how) you practice equals how fast you progress!! Emelia Try to get to your grandparents piano this week, and if you do, 1) play the note-naming game 2) place your claw-like hand (raised wrists and curved fingers) into the 5-finger position (one finger per white key), starting on C 3) 'walk' from finger to finger, [...]
Excellent lessons today and work this week, guys!! Keep it up!!! Ahaan Remember not to lower your wrist when articulating your pinky finger -- push your wrist forward so you articulate on its tip! And, when you play loudly, strengthen your core and playing apparatus, DO NOT tense up your shoulders! Mazin Excellent work this week on Maple Leaf and [...]
Great lessons, girls! See homework/practice suggestions below. Emelia Awesome first lesson, dear!! Glad that you want to give piano a try! Remember, practice makes perfect, so the more you practice, the better you get! Besides purchasing that pre-reading book I recommended and going through the first 30 pages or so, practice the 'note-naming game' I showed you! Alex 5 minutes [...]
Since you were the only student that showed up today... Mazin Fantastic! Great progress with both Mountain King and Maple Leaf Rag. Remember to NEVER tense up your shoulders when playing, but put that tension INTO YOUR TUMMY/core/torso. Also, the way you move effects how you articulate, so the DANCE you are doing while playing is very important. Articulate on [...]
Practice makes perfect, girls!!! It's a saying because it is true!!! Just saying!!! You only get as good as the amount of effort you put into something, is another way of saying it. Alex Please focus on the pieces I assign each week, not just the (old) ones you want to play! This way you will get better, and remember [...]
Another good set of lessons today and great practice this week! So proud of how far you three of come these past two years!! Ahaan Super, super, super Ahaan!!! Remember, keeping your elbows away from your body raises your wrists! Shoulders MUST ALWAYS be relaxed, and your core ALWAYS engaged, moving to the rhythmic structure (following the strong beats) of [...]
Great job today, boys!! Ahaan Really happy with your progress and exuberant attitude, Ahaan! Even though moving to the rhythm while playing seems foreign to you right now, if you keep practicing it, you will soon get it, and become a master at it. I promise you!! Mazin Tense up your core/torso muscles so that your playing apparatus can be free [...]
Just you two gals, today!! Alex Good work this week, finally knocked two of your songs off!!! I think you're starting to get a handle on reading music. Remember, you can look at your fingers now and then, but never lose track of where you are on the page. The top (treble) staff is the map for the right hand, [...]
Excellent practice this week and lessons today, you two!! Ahaan Whoa, horsey!!! I'm ecstatic that you're showing so much enthusiasm around music and the piano, and that you're progressing at an alarming rate, but don't rush the tempo! Steady as she goes is the way to win the race! Your hand form and posture, engaged core and relaxed shoulders is [...]
Remember gals, you only get as good as you practice! Alex And, 'practice' is not only how much you practice, but HOW you practice that counts. You have to try to remember the notes on the page and which key they correspond to on the piano if you want to eventually read music with ease. Trying various 'memorization games' (such as flashcards) and [...]