By Samantha Coates Technique is an incredibly subjective issue. Get 10 piano teachers in a room and you will have10 different techniques. Dare to criticise someone else’s and you’re in for a long night. I’d like to start this article by describing three personal experiences, all to do with comments […]
Image Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons By Marcela De Vivo Art and music are usually the first programs to be cut from the school budget. Considered to not be an integral part of learning skills and information that would be useful in the future (on the job, out in […]
By Bynn Alexander If you have dabbled in songwriting but have found yourself disappointed with your efforts, it’s easy to get discouraged. Equally frustrating is when you think your songs are good, but they fail to interest others, to the point where you start to second-guess your abilities. Yes, […]
Sometime ago, I wrote a blog post call ‘Why Smart Work Is Overrated In Music‘ explaining that looking for shortcuts won’t always help you reach your goal faster. I got criticised by some readers for being ‘negative’, when in fact, I was purely being realistic about what it takes to do […]
By Colin Forrester Are you struggling to get noticed despite your musical talents? Do you find yourself pushing business cards to everyone you meet but not getting any calls or serious enquiries either online or by phone? Maybe you’ve tried to network and found that whoever you were dealing with […]
One of the most important aspects in teaching improvisation is to create a situation where the pupil feels safe from negativity. They have to feel that errors are part of the learning process. This in turn, will build confidence and trust – the most important aspect in a teacher-pupil relationship. […]
By Ugo Onwutalu If you’re a retailer selling musical items or a music instrument teacher looking for more pupils, you need to go beyond the usual word-of mouth and newspaper advertising. You have to generate leads, specifically online. To have any success in online lead generation, you must first have […]
Over the years, I have met and taught many who have often said they ‘used to play piano’ (or whatever instrument) but ‘gave up’. Talent that could have flourished instead wilted under the lack of interest in taking music exams and generally being pushed by parents (who might have been […]
Picture the scene. You’re playing a piece, perhaps one you really enjoy. As your musical journey seemingly goes smoothly, it’s suddenly derailed by a squiggly mark you see and perhaps later, the letters D.C/D.S. planted right in your path. Add in a repeat sign or two here and there and […]
Third part in a piano video tutorial series on the song ‘New Day’. This lesson focuses on the distinctive melody leading into the first verse using the right hand and the downwards left hand chord progression.
Paper Record Player from kellianderson on Vimeo.Designer Kelli Anderson wanted to create something original for the wedding of her friends Karen Sandler and Mike Tarantino. The result – a paper record player If recipients don’t like the tinny sound of the hand-spun version, they can pop that “flexi-disc” out of […]
By Gavin Peterson Here’s a breakdown of the introduction to Maroon 5’s song ‘Move Like Jagger’ Key: C minor Time: 2 time (2/4 or 4/4/): Intro: At 0:46 on youtube video, the intro starts with an whistling-sounding riff of: C E♭F C* B♭GFE♭ (* = Octave higher) E♭GC or: […]
Most adults going who return to learning piano after nearly a lifetime way, will most likely be studying on their own. You probably know how to read music and have taken years of lessons in classical piano with various teachers (some you liked, others you hated) in the past. Here […]
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