Songbird Piano Lessons

I have been scrambling my brain, trying to figure out what to write to you, for the better part of today. Or trying to. Around thoughts of packing for our weekend getaway/wedding that we're going to. So I decided to send you the link to someone else's post this time. What's it about? It's all about encouraging your child to practice by . . . placing your piano in the right location. Not here. Sorry. It'd be nice, though! 

It's not secret that I haven't been teaching long. And thus I haven't had as much experience trying out different piano method books as other teachers. But I'd like to give a brief review on three method books I have tried, and also give you a sneak peak at a series I'd like to try out this fall. (To sign up for fall lessons, click here. )    Hope it's mildly helpful! Bastien    Definitely my least favourite series I've used so far. It's also the one I've used most, which may explain why I've had enough time to discover all the flaws! Don't get me wrong; it does the job. I just find that the student is given too much information ('here's ten new notes for you to learn on the staff, when you just learned the staff last week') or too little information ('by the way, the sharps are supposed to go on the same line as their corresponding notes'). Also it's quite dry. While the label on the back says it's for 7 ...

How's summer going so far for you all?    In  my last post , I never got around to a point I wanted to make. I hinted at it. I included it in the title. But when push came to shove, the post was already too long. And the point was a topic in itself.    What was the point?    Summer piano practice.    I know, I know. Why on earth would anyone want to practice in summer?    Because if you don't use it, you lose it. It's like exercising -- take running, for instance. If you don't run regularly, you're not going to forget how to run. You just won't run as fast as you could. If you don't practice, chances are you won't forget how to read music. But your playing skills that you've worked so hard over the fall and winter to gain will slowly backslide. Fall will come, and you will discover that you have to regain those skills.    Your fingers need exercise. Without it, they become lazy. It's like just about everythin...

   Wow! Here I am, having dismissed my last students for this school year on Thursday, completely unsure of whether to shout or cry.  And my eraseboard -- completely clean for the first time since Christmas! Although that will only last until my sister remembers that I gave her permission to draw on it today. :)     Summer break is here. I am now free to spend my days outside, helping my family with our 5-acre plot, growing things, getting dirty, and training our puppy.     On the other hand . . . teaching is so much fun! And I have some great students who will definitely cross my mind over the next three months, though they are not crossing my studio. Some highlights of this school year were: Getting students! This was my second year of advertising, but 2016-17 was basically a flop, with one student whose family had to move because of work halfway through the year. Not their fault. This year I had six ...