I'm happy to post our first studio song swap. After polling my students, here is a list of their favorite songs:
1. Time Out for Fun by Devo
2. The Ultimate Showdown of Ultimate Destiny by Lemon Demon
3. This Land is Your Land
4. Symphony No. 8 in F Major by L. van Beethoven
5. I Can't Make You Love Me by Adele
6. Too High by Stevie Wonder
7. Black And Yellow
And a list of my favorite songs too!
1.Chain of Fools by Aretha Franklin
2. Novelette in C by Poulenc
3. Sonata op. 31. no 2 by L. van Beethoven
4. Mouvement (from Images) by Debussy
5. White Winter Hymnal by Fleet Foxes
I'm trying me best to create a clickable, or at least shareable, playlist for everyone to listen to. For now, maybe you can do some hunting and listening on your own!
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Monday, November 14, 2011
What Practice Looks Like
I've had the opportunity to speak with many of you about practice lately. Since the recital preparation time is upon us, this is a timely subject. Many families are evaluating how well practice is working for them, or wondering how it should be working for them. I wanted to share my ideas and expectations with my studio as a whole.
What a "good" practice session looks like:
1. A warm up. This looks like at least one of these:
Scales and chords (at least 3 or 4)
Sight reading
Playing an old piece that they know well
Working on something from a technique book
2. Working on new pieces. This should include
slow practice tempos
working in small sections
repetitions of sections or whole piece
3. staying at the piano until all pieces on the assignment have been played
What a practice session should NOT look like
1. Up and down from the piano, easily distracted
2. playing everything very fast
3. Playing songs over and over from beginning to end with no pause to think
Each session needs the 3 P's: Patience, persistence, and perception.
Patience: seeing things through to the end, give yourself permission to make a mistake, know that progress doesn't happen overnight
Persistence: playing something many times, have a consistent weekly practice routine, stick with it even when it doesn't sound great, even when it is hard
Perception: always listen for improvement, be aware of steady tempos, be listening for clear tone, have a plan for what you are trying to say at the piano
My time expectations
Time spent at the piano is different for each of us. However there are minimum guidelines I expect everyone to follow
Young Beginning students (first year or two, depending on age) 20 min, 5 days a week
Elementary Students (3rd grade and up, depending on years of study) 30 min, 5 days a week
Middle School Students : 30-45 min 5 days a week
Advanced High School Students: 1 hr, 5-6 days a week
Older Beginnging Students (6th grade and up): 45 min- 1 hr, 5 days a week
What a "good" practice session looks like:
1. A warm up. This looks like at least one of these:
Scales and chords (at least 3 or 4)
Sight reading
Playing an old piece that they know well
Working on something from a technique book
2. Working on new pieces. This should include
slow practice tempos
working in small sections
repetitions of sections or whole piece
3. staying at the piano until all pieces on the assignment have been played
What a practice session should NOT look like
1. Up and down from the piano, easily distracted
2. playing everything very fast
3. Playing songs over and over from beginning to end with no pause to think
Each session needs the 3 P's: Patience, persistence, and perception.
Patience: seeing things through to the end, give yourself permission to make a mistake, know that progress doesn't happen overnight
Persistence: playing something many times, have a consistent weekly practice routine, stick with it even when it doesn't sound great, even when it is hard
Perception: always listen for improvement, be aware of steady tempos, be listening for clear tone, have a plan for what you are trying to say at the piano
My time expectations
Time spent at the piano is different for each of us. However there are minimum guidelines I expect everyone to follow
Young Beginning students (first year or two, depending on age) 20 min, 5 days a week
Elementary Students (3rd grade and up, depending on years of study) 30 min, 5 days a week
Middle School Students : 30-45 min 5 days a week
Advanced High School Students: 1 hr, 5-6 days a week
Older Beginnging Students (6th grade and up): 45 min- 1 hr, 5 days a week
Monday, August 29, 2011
Facebook!
If you're on Facebook, "like" our studio page! You can follow along and keep posted on the daily happenings in the studio. Who knew this piano teacher could be so savvy with technology!
Monday, July 25, 2011
Our new addition!
In case you haven't been to the studio in a couple weeks, we have a new instrument in the family!
I've added a digital piano to the studio, and I'm excited about the possibilities that it brings for the students. Of course, there's the fun aspect of changing instruments, and getting to play their songs using different types of sounds. In addition, I have great plans to incorporate recording their pieces using the new keyboard. Starting with the new school year, when a student completes a piece of music, we'll record it using the digital piano. At the end of the year, we can compile the recording into a CD representing a year's worth of piano. I can't wait!
I've added a digital piano to the studio, and I'm excited about the possibilities that it brings for the students. Of course, there's the fun aspect of changing instruments, and getting to play their songs using different types of sounds. In addition, I have great plans to incorporate recording their pieces using the new keyboard. Starting with the new school year, when a student completes a piece of music, we'll record it using the digital piano. At the end of the year, we can compile the recording into a CD representing a year's worth of piano. I can't wait!
Sunday, July 17, 2011
New Website!
Check out the new studio website!
www.larsonpianostudio.com
I'm excited to launch it and spread the word about our studio to more folks around town!
www.larsonpianostudio.com
I'm excited to launch it and spread the word about our studio to more folks around town!
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Registration for 2011-2012!
Registration for lessons for the upcoming school year is now underway! In order to help me coordinate and plan our schedule for the fall semester, I encourage everyone to register as soon as possible! You should have already received an email with all the forms and information. If you haven't received it, please let me know.
Remember that your registration is due no later than July 31. Please submit your student information sheet, along with your $40 materials fee by that date.
Lessons for the new school year will begin Aug. 29. There will be no lessons from August 15-26 to allow us all to get settled into our new school year routines.
Our next school year is sure to be full of great things!
Remember that your registration is due no later than July 31. Please submit your student information sheet, along with your $40 materials fee by that date.
Lessons for the new school year will begin Aug. 29. There will be no lessons from August 15-26 to allow us all to get settled into our new school year routines.
Our next school year is sure to be full of great things!
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Summer Lessons
To help everyone continue to grow, it is time again to schedule summer lessons. Every student must schedule at least 4 lessons in order to keep their slot for next school year. The summer schedule will begin on Tuesday June 7 and run through Aug. 11. We will have a week off from lessons the week of Memorial Day (May 29-June 2)
Some families travel frequently and only are able to schedule 4 lessons. Some families are here the whole summer and want to continue on with weekly lessons. Many families fall somwhere in between. I usually suggest scheduling lessons around vacation times. And, for students who have just started lessons in the spring time, the more consistent the summer lessons, the better.
Please contact me via email or phone during the next week to schedule your summer lessons. I will be teaching on Tues, Wed and Thurs. If you would like to keep your same lesson time, please let me know. If you need an earlier time of day, please let me know.
Tuition in the summer is structured the following way: June's tuition is the same as the school year. Then, any lessons above the minimum 4 are paid for in July's tuition. For example, if a student takes 6 summer lessons:
June, regular tuition payment due
July, payment for 2 lessons due
The themes in our study this summer will be Movie Music and Duets! It is my goal to find a duet partner for each student this summer. And, many students have been asking to play music from their favorite movies so I'm going to find something for everyone to enjoy this summer!
Some families travel frequently and only are able to schedule 4 lessons. Some families are here the whole summer and want to continue on with weekly lessons. Many families fall somwhere in between. I usually suggest scheduling lessons around vacation times. And, for students who have just started lessons in the spring time, the more consistent the summer lessons, the better.
Please contact me via email or phone during the next week to schedule your summer lessons. I will be teaching on Tues, Wed and Thurs. If you would like to keep your same lesson time, please let me know. If you need an earlier time of day, please let me know.
Tuition in the summer is structured the following way: June's tuition is the same as the school year. Then, any lessons above the minimum 4 are paid for in July's tuition. For example, if a student takes 6 summer lessons:
June, regular tuition payment due
July, payment for 2 lessons due
The themes in our study this summer will be Movie Music and Duets! It is my goal to find a duet partner for each student this summer. And, many students have been asking to play music from their favorite movies so I'm going to find something for everyone to enjoy this summer!
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