Video Practicing, Recording your practicing on your laptop

I may be the last person on earth to try this.


Record your practicing on your laptop.
Listen and watch


With myself, I discovered a few things:

1. I have tension in my jaw.
2. I have minimal tension in the arms.
3. The second time I recorded, the performance was much improved.
4. I will be trying it with students this week. (I will carefully delete the file at the end of the lesson.)

Cheers,

David

Creativity

Some ideas I’ve collected over the years:

• Don’t be afraid to fail
• Work, work, work
• We are all a product of our influences, so choose well
• Work long enough to get some results
• Hang with creative people
• Turn off Facebook, Twitter, MSN, etc. Use the time to work
• Attend events (concerts, galleries, lectures, workshops, etc.) outside of your range of interests. Let some fresh air in.

Cheers,

David Story

 

sharing ideas with each other

Dear Hamilton- Halton ORMTA members, Our ORMTA Fundraising

Committee is embarking on a new venture, and we are asking for your help. We feel that all of our members have teaching ideas that every member can benefit from knowing, and we ask you to request at your first branch meeting that everyone in your group sit down and record all the teaching tips they use in their studios to help their students progress in their musical studies.

We have the following categories in mind, and are also open to all other suggestions for topics: Rudiments, Theory, Technique, Practice Tips, Musical Games, Vocal, Piano, Other Instruments, Time Management, Visual Aids, Motivational Tools, Memorization, Exam, Festival and Recital Preparation, Composing Ideas

One of the MANY reasons that ORMTA membership is so important to all of us is sharing ideas with each other, and supporting each other, so we will all be better teachers. Each of us has many gifts to share, and to that end, we ask you to share your ideas with all of us, so we can help our students to reach their goals.

The completed "OPUS" will be for sale at the Convention in London next July, and we will be taking orders as soon as the book is completed. Please watch for more information about this fundraising project in the next issue of NOTES. We thank you very much for your support. Lorrie Tennant and Charline Farrell ORMTA Fundraising Committee send your tips to lorrietennant@sympatico.ca

my response

Here are five tips I've given to students:

1. Listen to the music, professionally and competently played, with the score in hand. Concentrate listening to one element at a time: Dynamics, phrasing, articulations, etc. Mark up your score with what you hear. Try it out. Keep what you like.

2. Go to concerts letting your teacher know what you like. Too many students like one type of music and dutifully and reluctantly study another type.

3. Exercise before practicing. The release of endorphins will help you focus and inspire you. For kids I've recommended running around for 10 minutes, or playing street hockey, throw some hoops etc. For adults practice try practicing after returning from the gym.

4. Learning to play well is very difficult, which is why it is so satisfying. :-)

5. Try to breathe slowly while practicing, it will help the body relax, the keep the mind focused.

Cheers, David

Artistry in piano teaching by William Brown

Artistry in piano teaching by William Brown

Menahem Pressler, the renowned pianist and teacher is lovingly profiled in the book “Menahem Pressler artistry and piano
teaching “by William Brown from Indiana University press 2009

The biography traces the early years and development of this fine pianist, teacher, and musician. A couple of points stand out:

1. The importance of receiving correct and enthusiastic instruction from the earliest years.

2. The power of the human spirit to overcome seemingly insurmountable problems and threats.

3. I was inspired to read of Mr. Pressler’s passion for lifelong learning. Where ever he was, Pressler would seek out instruction from the finest teacher in the area. His continued seeking guidance well after he had established himself as a professional pianist. His search for excellent teachers and new influences for his life led him to seek the best he could find, both in Europe and in America. The lineage of these various teachers reaches into the history to Bach, Beethoven, Haydn, Mozart, Liszt, and Chopin and includes the Germanic, French, and Russian traditions. He became carefully schooled in the details of form, musical theory, and style. He learned to incorporate the relaxed approach into his own playing and his teaching. His desire for perfection came from being highly demanding both of himself and his students. His amazing love for practicing as well as performing lends a quality of delight to his music making and teaching.

4. As a teacher he sought the following qualities and prospective students: “I look for character, attitude, a sense of inner discipline, a force that would help the students succeed. You have to come with everything, with a love for it, with the desire to really devote your life to it.” He says he looks for coordination… that the hands are good. “And I look for intelligence, so that I know they will understand what I have to say to them. We must do anything to help a person find his maximum, how few do find it. I want them to be motivated and to continue after the decree, after getting a job, and so forth I wanted to keep the desire, no matter where they end up because that place where they are is the musical center for them. If you continue to live that way, you will make yourself happy and will make others around you happy. You will not feel that you are just a poor pianist who makes a poor salary, but that you are rich man."


Cheers


David
　

The Examining Experience

I’ve just returned from a week in Saskatchewan examining for Conservatory Canada, an inspiring experience as always. Listening to other teachers’ students perform the same music you teach is an educational experience.

Below are some observations of interest to parents and students.

-Proper preparations help to reduce anxieties
-Everyone makes mistakes, remembering not to crumble when you do is a skill to develop
-Children are capable of artistry
-Children take pride in genuine success

Cheers,
David

Practicing styles

Book Review: “The Practice Revolution” by Philip Johnston, Practice Spot Press
An informative and often humorous look at practicing between lessons.

Common practice flaws, a selection

Chopping wood with a spoon: applying inappropriate practice techniques. Solution: “Have we as teachers clearly spelled out what, where, and how to practice?”

Shiny object polishers spend there time playing what they already play well, avoiding entirely that which needs their attention. Solution: have the students keep a practice log this week.

Sheep counters play the thing over and over and over and over and… you get the picture. The following week they present their work with all the problems now firmly and perfectly entrenched. Solution: Have the student describe how they plan to fix a problem before they leave.

Speed demons, too fast, to often. Why? They want to hear it like we presented it to them. Impatience prevents them from practicing slowly because of their enthusiasm to enjoy the speed rush. Solution: Have them practice it at an appropriate tempo in class.

Clock-watchers practice the required time so they can stay out of trouble. Ouch! Solution: We need to help them regain their enthusiasm.
　
The book goes on and on for 320 pages of helpful techniques and strategies to make the life of ourselves and our students easier and more effective.

http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/books/The-Practice-Revolution-Philip-Johnston/9780958190503-item.html?ref=Search+Books%3a+%2527the+practice+revolution%2527
　
Cheers,
David