I am going to walk you through how to play this song, and in about an hour of practice, you will be ready to do a video of yourself on your smart phone and send it to your mother for Mother's Day. Yes, I have used this song in the past, but this time, I want you to create video of it for Mother's Day and send it to her. :-) The last video is a special dedication to the mother of the student in this video. It's a perfect example of why "perfection" is overrated - this imperfect performance will touch your heart and a special gift for anyone to receive. I hope this inspires you to have fun on the piano and know that perfection isn't the goal, having fun and touching lives is more Continue Reading
Love Music? Learn Piano!
Scores of people want to take their love for music to the next level by learning how to play the piano. However, too many feel that they don't have a natural ability or lack musical talent, and ignore the urge to sign up for piano lessons. If you have a deep love for music -- no matter if you are a senior, adult, teenager or a child -- piano lessons can be a boost to your self-esteem and your social life. Making music can be a solo act, but it is often contingent on playing with other musicians and connecting with other people. It is often more fun, too! Learning a popular piano jingle comes with great satisfaction, like when you gather with friends and family around a piano. Now that's Continue Reading
Quick Way to Learn How to Read Music!
This is a quick way to learn how to read and recognize notes written on the staff and on the piano. However, there is no replacement for learning how to sound smooth and pretty on the piano than with step by step instruction and with songs that allows gradual progress. Recognizing the names of the bass and treble clef notes can be fun and rather simple. All you have to do is memorize a word for each note, like this. Caution: Use this method only for learning "off" the piano. Do not rely on this method while you are actually reading music and playing because it will slow you down as you try to recite these. Only use this as a fun way to learn the notes off the piano: Bass clef Continue Reading
Is using stickers on the keys a bad habit?
I don't encourage my students to use stickers. I can't tell you of the countless times I have had a student rely on stickers too long and can't play on any piano but their own. It truly is a handicap to you if you mark your keys in any way. It is true that it might help you play quicker and smoother, but the moment you take them away, the piano all of a sudden looks different and you are back to being confused again. I recommend flashcards for note memorization, but for flash cards to be the most effective is to not only name the note when you see it, but play it as well. Time yourself and see how quickly you can go through a handful of flash cards by saying it and playing it. Continue Reading
Why Notate Notes?
It's not about writing music. It's about using a different way to impress a memory into your mind, which results in higher retention of what you learn.The actual act of drawing a note on the correct line or in the correct space, opens up a powerful realization and gives you a more exact knowledge of where that note is located on the staff. Seeing it, notating it, playing it, identifying it are more powerful together than just to see it and play it. Continue Reading
Why is beginner music limited to 5-finger songs?
First of all, don't let that question scare you... in my curriculum you won't be limited to 5 finger songs... I have remedied that and you will be able to play some familiar songs right away. However, aside from my special "remedy" I do start with teaching you a few songs in the 5 finger position. The reason you won't find the songs you want to learn in an easy 5 finger format is because most songs have a broader reach of notes than just the 5 fingers. You won't get into the more familiar songs until you have increased your knowledge of notes. In a well thought out curriculum you will be introduced to reading notes a few at at time so that it is not overwhelming. Think of it like Continue Reading