Professional Skills and New Students

September 24ths workshop I gave at Long and McQuade Burlington was a lot of fun. A full house of teachers shared ideas on student retention and professional happiness. Key ideas: its about the students, communicating with parents and professional skill development.

Each new skill attracts a new type of student. Each new type of student = a growing and diverse student body = more income. Each new skill broadens our reach and the depth of our knowledge. New skills keep us fresh.

Cheers,
David

Workshop Friday September 24th Long and McQuade Burlington

Five days to go to Friday morning’s workshop at Long and McQuade Burlington. I’m looking forward to sharing ideas with colleagues on helping our students achieve more satisfying results and exciting musical experiences, including 80 things a student should know before attempting grade 1 piano and improvisation in classical music.


Free: email Karen kthornton@long-mcquade.com


David Story

Piano Poem

Piano

Softly, in the dusk, a woman is singing to me;
Taking me back down the vista of years, till I see
A child sitting under the piano, in the boom of the tingling strings
And pressing the small, poised feet of a mother who smiles as she sings.


In spite of myself, the insidious mastery of song
Betrays me back, till the heart of me weeps to belong
To the old Sunday evenings at home, with winter outside
And hymns in the cosy parlour, the tinkling piano our guide.

So now it is vain for the singer to burst into clamour
With the great black piano appassionato. The glamour
Of childish days is upon me, my manhood is cast
Down in the flood of remembrance, I weep like a child for the past.

D. H. LawrencePublish Post

Practicing, “Meeting Yourself”

Quotes from “The Art of Practicing” by Madeline Bruser


“Passion, confidence, and vulnerability are evidence of musical talent” pg 9


A fine teacher told me “ones talent can only be discovered by focused and correct practice and study. You may never golf like Tiger, but imagine how well you’d play with his training and practice regime.”


Cheers,


David Story

Kids who love piano

Here are some thoughts on helping your children succeed at piano/music lessons.

1. Be clear of your goals and communicate these with me.
2. Make sure you leave enough time in their weekly schedule to practice.  The amount of time needed depends on their level and goals.
3. Supervise and support your child’s practicing.  One of the most successful strategies is to cheerfully help your children complete their homework correctly.
4.  Take your children to concerts.  Southern Ontario has an embarrassment of riches available seven nights a week. Play good music around the house. Children love what they know.
5. I take requests!  I encourage all students to supplement their studies with pieces of their choice.  After all, for most students this is their primary goal.
6 Encourage your children to participate in recitals and exams. This is a positive experience for most students, though I caution to add, not everyone. We must use our good judgement.
7. Repetition is the mother of learning. Learning to play the piano is both an intellectual and athletic skill. It takes time to develop both.  Encourage your children to take the long-term patient approach.
8. Participate as a family in other artistic outings and activities: consider trips to the Art Gallery of Hamilton, the opera, a jazz concert, a piano recital at McMaster University, a country and western show or Scottish tattoo at Copps Coliseum, the list goes on. If you attend church, synagogue, or mosque ask the musicians if your children may sit quietly with them while they work.

Cheers,

David