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April 2008 workshop topic: teaching students HOW to practice!

laura — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 14:07:56 GMT

On April 18, 2008, my piano teaching colleague, Lois Rogers will be giving an informative workshop on teaching students HOW to practice! The title of her workshop is, "Practicing for Success." Lois will not only discuss ways to help students practice, but she plans to bring at least one of her students along to demonstrate the ways she teaches students how to practice.

Lois began piano lessons at an early age, studying with teachers (who were pupils of distinguished Edmonton piano teacher, Madame LeSaunier). She was only 13 years old when she completed her Grade 10 Royal Conservatory piano exam and later completed her A.R.C.T. Lois also earned a B. Ed. in Business and Physical Education from the U of Alberta in Edmonton. During her college years, she directed and acted in the Jubilaires, a musical theatre group. After university, Lois taught for many years at the Memorial Composite High School in Stony Plain, where she spent 14 of those years working with their award winning choral program. After 15 years, Lois continues to maintain a successful piano studio in Spruce Grove.

The topic of HOW TO PRACTICE is of interest, not only for studio piano teachers, but for all studio and school music teachers. Advanced students, who are considering teaching music lessons, will also benefit from this workshop, which takes place at the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Stony Plain, Alberta on April 18, 2008 from 9 am until 12 noon. The cost is $10 per person, (except for members of the Parkland Music Teachers' Association, who, because they are hosting and sponsoring this workshop, are not required to pay a fee).

What is a supertonic? by Laura Weed

laura — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 14:58:18 GMT

The musical term, supertonic refers to the second degree of a scale. For example, in the key of C Major, the note D is the supertonic.

What is a subtonic? by Laura Weed

laura — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 14:55:44 GMT

The musical term, subtonic refers to a lowered seventh scale degree, which is found in a natural minor scale. For example, in the key of a minor, G natural is the subtonic. The term, subtonic distinguishes the lowered seventh scale degree from a leading note (or leading tone), which is a raised seventh scale degree. The leading note can be found in harmonic and (ascending) melodic minor scales. For example, in the key of a minor, the leading note is G sharp (G#) in harmonic minor scales.

What is rubato? by Laura Weed

laura — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 14:44:49 GMT

The musical term, rubato means "robbed time" (or a flexible tempo). Rubato was a prominent feature of the Romantic period, especially the music of Chopin. Typically, a rubato phrase begins with a steady tempo, gradually accelerates in the middle of the phrase, and then slows down at the end of a phrase.

What is a crotchet? by Laura Weed

laura — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 14:35:03 GMT

The musical term, crotchet refers to a quarter note. In 4/4 time, for example, a crotchet (or quarter note) equals one beat.

What is a hemisemidemiquaver? by Laura Weed

laura — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 14:33:20 GMT

The musical term, hemisemidemiquaver refers to a sixty fourth note. In 4/4 time, for example, it would take 16 sixty fourth notes to equal one quarter note. A quaver is an eighth note (which equals 1/2 a beat in 4/4 time), a demiquaver is a sixteenth note (which equals 1/4 of a beat in 4/4 time) and a semidemiquaver is a thirty second note (which equals 1/8 of a beat in 4/4 time).

All Keyed Up! It's Christmas by Laura Weed is now available!

laura — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 12:37:29 GMT

All Keyed Up! It's Christmas! is an exciting new intermediate piano book by composer, arranger, teacher and pianist, Laura Weed. The book is coil bound, so the pages stay open...easily! And for your pleasure and convenience, specially marked blank pages have also been added to avoid page turns!

Best of all, many of your favorite Christmas carols and songs are included in this book! The 20 Christmas songs, in traditional, Celtic and jazz styles, are Angels we Have Heard on High, Away in a Manger, Deck the Halls, Good King Wenceslas, Go, Tell it on the Mountain, I Saw Three Ships, It Came Upon the Midnight Clear, Jingle Bells, Jolly Old Saint Nick, Joy to the World, Lo, How a Rose e'er Blooming, O Christmas Tree, Silent Night, Sing we Now of Christmas, The Coventry Carol, The First Noel, The Huron Carol, Weed Wish you a Merry Christmas, We Three Kings, and What Child is This.

All Keyed Up! It's Christmas! is now available at Weed Music in Spruce Grove, Alberta or order online by copying and pasting the following link in your web browser. <a href="http://stores.ebay.ca/WeedSellit4U?refid">eBay When you arrive at weedsellit4u, simply go to store search (at the left side of the page) and type in All Keyed Up, which will take you directly to where you can order Laura Weed's Christmas book. Thanks and happy holidays!

Top 10 Beginning Student Pieces

laura — Wed, 02 Nov 2005 15:43:34 GMT

Here are my Top 10 songs for beginning students. What are yours? Please list yours for the benefit of the readers of Music Teacher's Office!

1) Ode to Joy

2) Old MacDonald

3) Alouette

4) Yankee Doodle

5) Frere Jacques (Brother John)

6) Good King Wenceslas

7) London Bridge

8) Aura Lee

9) Lightly Row

10) Au Clair de La Lune (By the Light of the Moon)

Top 10 Christmas songs

laura — Wed, 02 Nov 2005 15:32:56 GMT

Here are my Top 10 Christmas songs. Please list yours for the benefit of the readers of Music Teacher's Office.

1) Sing We Now of Christmas

2) Away in A Manger

3) Good King Wenceslas

4) O Christmas Tree

5) Coventry Carol

6) Jingle Bells

7) Silver Bells

8) We Wish You a Merry Christmas

9) Joy to the World

10) O Holy Night

Can you name the TOP TEN pieces students like to play or sing?

laura — Mon, 19 Sep 2005 00:03:19 GMT

Here are my piano students TOP TEN pieces. I'm curious how this list compares with other teachers!

1) Fur Elise by Beethoven

2) Chopsticks

3) Moonlight Sonata by Beethoven

4) My Heart Will Go On (from "Titanic")

5) Amazing Grace

6) Canon in D by Pachelbel

7) The Entertainer by Scott Joplin

8) Jingle Bells by J. Pierpont

9) Greensleeves

10) The Pink Panther by Henry Mancini

Whats the funniest thing a student has ever said to you?

MTO Admin — Fri, 26 Aug 2005 22:48:20 GMT

We can have some fun with this, bring it on!

What's the best or most memorable teaching workshop you have attended?

laura — Thu, 29 Sep 2005 10:27:15 GMT

It's always difficult to choose the BEST overall workshop, but, for the benefit of the readers of Music Teacher's Office, one of the most memorable recent workshops I attended was given by the multitalented American pianist, teacher, author and composer Seymour Bernstein. What was the most memorable was how Seymour Bernstein ended his workshop at the CFMTA Convention in Calgary.

Seymour showed the large crowd of teachers in attendance some projected photos of his life at home on America's east coast. First, we saw several photos of his spacious music studio with a breathtaking view of the Atlantic ocean. These were followed by the most memorable image of Seymour swimming with a dolphin! At his advanced age, Seymour's zest for life and sense of adventure struck a chord with the audience. We felt honored that he shared his personal life with us, admired his daring sense of play, were surprised by what he had done and, at the same time, shared his adventure! Then it struck me that our musical journeys are very much like Seymour's photos because they are very personal, are shared adventures and include the element of surprise!

What's the wildest excuse you've ever heard from students for NOT practicing?

laura — Sat, 10 Sep 2005 21:28:31 GMT

This excuse was TRUE! One student locked her violin case and then lost the key behind the seat of the car. Her sister later retrieved the key using some tweezers!

How do you deal with special needs students?

laura — Sat, 10 Sep 2005 21:19:55 GMT

I treat special needs students pretty much the same as other students except that I am more patient, repeat myself more often and ask more questions to make sure that the student understands what we're working toward. What do you do?

How much do you charge?

MTO Admin — Wed, 07 Sep 2005 18:43:28 GMT

Tuition for lessons can vary greatly depending on the teachers qualifications, experience, location and local competition, so we may have to take this with a grain of salt but I'm sure the results will be of interest to us all.

Practice

MTO Admin — Sun, 28 Aug 2005 08:54:02 GMT

The problem of motivating students to play their instrument is an age old problem. Here we can share all those great ideas!

Evaluation Forms

dtcd — Sat, 27 Aug 2005 20:22:47 GMT

Hello, I am a new member. I am a dance/music studio owner (I am a dancer.) So I am needing to learn more about the music side. I am looking for a good evaluation form for my teachers to use. I would like for it to cover various concepts, but generic enough for piano, voice, guitar and drum instruction. I'd like to use it as a tool for parents to see what their child is learning. Can anyone help me?

Thanks!

Cheryl