3 Steps to More Effective Technique Practice

    After reading over Julie Knerr's informative dissertation on teaching beginning technique I've been contemplating ideas to ramp up the success of technical drills in my studio.  I follow the curriculum sequence of Music Progressions and start by introducing 5 finger patterns (by rote with picture scales) to beginners

Composing with Flour and Salt

Would you rather eat a spoonful of flour or a spoonful of cake?  The answer is obvious, and yet the cake wouldn't be the same without the flour.  Keyboard skills (scales, arpeggios, chords, etc.) are somewhat like flour in piano study and although some students find them quite unpalatable or boring, when you mix several of the building blocks together, you end up with some fun and appealing results. 

The Finger Trampoline

I recently was inspired by a post  by Andrea and Trevor Dow on "Teach Piano Today" about making this simple "amazing fingercise cup" to help improve finger strength.  I promptly constructed one with the tools I had on hand, and my curious kids were anxious to get there hands on this new "toy."  They love the sound and were intrigued by the different pitch of the sounds of varying sized cups. My mind started spinning with additional uses. At our last group lesson we changed "Don't Clap This One Back" to "Don't Pluck this one Back."

Don't "pluck this one back

My first attempt several years ago with a young beginner trying "Cookie Dough" (a finger # practice song from My First Piano Adventures) began with an awkward finger depressed into a ziplocked ball of cookie dough.

Bass Clef Pop and Drop

Bass Clef Pop and Drop - heidispianonotes.blogspot.com

At our recent piano group lesson we had a some new beginners join the studio, so I tried out a variation of this balloon popping game inspired by pinterest to review the concepts we had learned or reviewed in previous games that day. I am fortunate to have my teenage daughter joining the ranks with me as my piano teaching assistant.  We were able to divide into groups so she could run the beginner level games while I did activities with the students who are ready for more challenging concepts. 

·         I inserted a piece of candy inside each balloon before blowing them up and then taped them to the wall in the shape of a bass clef.  Students took turns popping balloons on the Bass Clef by finding the symbol written on the balloon that answers the clue.  Darts might be more fun, but somehow the image of hurling darts in my home full of energetic children seemed a little disconcerting  and I'm not much of a risk taker, so opted for a safe toothpick!

o   “___s” the first letter of the music alphabet

o   “____s” the last letter of the music alphabet

o   It has a head and a stem and its all colored in.

o   It has a head and a stem but its not colored in.

o   Don’t fall in the the ______note

o   F F F Forte

o   P  p  p  piano

o   Fingers in ears (line note)

o   Hand above and under head (space note)  

I had plans to make a treble clef with more advanced signs, but discovered that I had a balloon shortage because some of my children decided to make water balloon babies after the birthday party the day before  :(   so maybe we can do a little "Treble Trouble" version next month.

Teaching Rhythm in the Bed Bug Rhythm Hotel

 Right now my 4 year old daughter's favorite piano game is Trick or Treat, a fun rhythm activity which I found on Layton Music website several years ago.   She wants to play it every day she practices.  I'm sure a lot of that has to do with the fruit snacks or goldfish treats that she gets to eat when she picks a treat card:)  I love how the repetition has helped her to even understand the concept of eighth notes at such a young age.
To introduce the concept of counting by measure I had her construct

Summer Piano Quest Candy Jar Challenge

To kick off summer piano lessons, I am having a summer candy jar challenge in my studio.  As students master skills and pieces they earn the opportunity to enter guesses for the candy jar of their choice filled with different candies.  In addition, everyone who completes the game within a month gets to pick a prize from the prize box.  The skills to advance one square on the game board for each piano challenge they complete are listed below.  Students choose a small sticker and write their accomplishments in the blanks as they work their way through the musical periods.  I chose to keep the tasks quite general so they are adaptable for my preschooler up to my teenage students.

·         Master 1 page repertoire (Notes, Expression, Rhythm, Fingering)

·         Complete Notes in the Fast Lane in 1 minute or less

·         100% Terms & Signs Quiz

·         Clap & Count Rhythm Challenge Sheet Accurately

·         Pass off keyboard skills in a new key

·         Master a Music Ace game during piano lab

·         Sightread 20 consecutive measures without errors

Mother's Day Musical Tribute

This year I decided to make up my own video tribute to my mom to thank her for being such an amazing mother and shaping my life in meaningful ways through her example, sacrifice and patience.  Despite her fear of driving, she sacrificed to drive me across town in our huge yellow station wagon for years so that I could have piano lessons.  For the background music, I played "My Father's Favorite", which she still is to this day :)  I feel much gratitude for the privilege of being reared in a home with loving parents.
Mother's Day Video

My inspiration to create a video came from this Mother' Day Tribute from Calee Reed.