Ideas for pianists, musicians, teachers and composers
There is no doubt that pianists, of all levels, who practice more become better than those whose practice is sparse or irregular. But regular practice is easier said than done and even with the best of intentions the days between lessons can slip by quickly and practice becomes a last minute rush done only on the day before the lesson. Sounds familiar?
If so these practice tips may help: Continue reading “How to be a good practiser”
First steps are so important. The first piano lesson that a child has will have a huge influence on how he or she progresses and feels about playing the piano over the next few months and years. If they are to do well they need to leave the lesson feeling happy and confident that they will succeed.
Obviously, the way the teacher handles the lesson is a big part. Many teachers use a tutor book and the quality of this book will determine how easily the child learns and whether they find lessons fun and interesting or difficult and (dare I say it) boring.
So, here are my thoughts on some of the most popular tutor books out there today: Continue reading “How to choose a good tutor book for a child”
As a piano teacher, I am often asked to teach children who are very young. It is not unusual for parents to feel that they must start as early as possible in order that their child gets a good head start. Sometimes very young children are able to learn to play but as a general rule, it is better to wait until children are at least 6 years old. It won’t do any harm at all to start a year or two after the child is ready but it can do much harm to start before they are ready. Children who start too young make slow progress and often get frustrated or bored. A pattern can settle in where the child feels pressured to do something they find too hard and they soon associated the piano with bad feelings. Children who start a little later immediately make great progress and like practicing because they get the reward of being able to easily play well. Continue reading “What is the best age to start piano lessons?”
Playing music is fun. Anyone who likes listening to music can probably increase their enjoyment of it by having a go at playing it too. The satisfaction of being able to perform a piece of music and the great feeling of self-expression that goes with it cannot be over-stated. Continue reading “Why should you learn to play the piano?”
I hope you have had a great summer break. Maybe you have been to a couple of music festivals or listened to the radio a bit more often than usual. Hopefully, you are now nice and fresh and ready to start or continue your own musical journey. Continue reading “What are your goals for the new term?”
The Chinese superstar pianist Lang Lang is admired all over the world for his stunning virtuoso performances.
He is undoubtably one of the great talents of our generation, but his talent came at a great price. In this Telegraph article he tells how his demanding father almost pushed him to suicide. Continue reading “Lang Lang: “Parents should not be too pushy””