Good morning, Piano Parents.
Is your mind still reeling from everything that has happened over the last few days?
Some of you have been dealing with COVID-19 for much longer. My prayers are with you.
While I want to be informed and educated, I already tired of hearing about the Coronavirus so I’ve gone back and forth about what to talk to you about today.
Listen to the full episode here
Should I bury my head in the sand and offer you a topic that doesn’t even acknowledge what’s happening in the world? Should we discuss how everyone is coping with the sudden changes?
I think I’ll do a little of both. This episode was scheduled to share more about my two students, Ray and Mark (not their real names) They both made big progress since the last time I reported to you, even through their own turbulent times.
Update on Ray
1. Ray made an A on his theory exam retake!
2. We’re using some of Tony Parlapiano’s tools
Tony has a couple of tools that he shares with his students and I am incorporating them in my teaching with Ray. Ray is very comfortable with Tony’s Area 5(1) improvisation tool. I will bring Tony back on the show to talk more about these tools but in the meantime, check out these tutorial videos from Tony’s YouTube channel.
3. Beach Party in PA 2B
When my students learn to play Beach Party in the Piano Adventures 2B method book, I love teaching them to play Heart and Soul. Ray was surprised that his dad knew how to play Heart and Soul. They enjoyed playing this fun duet together.
Update on Mark
1. The Dip
According to Seth Godin’s book, The Dip, when you start something new, it’s novel and interesting. After a while, the new wears off and the work is difficult and learning takes a dip. Some people never make it past the dip when they are learning something new. They give up before they reach mastery.
When Mark first started piano, we were getting to know each other. He was asking great questions. He was interested in playing piano but as time went on he began tell me all the reasons he didn’t get to practice.
This is where teachers have to find a balance. We know students will not progress and will never be satisfied with their ability if they don’t play their piano regularly between lessons. (PPP168: You Can’t Learn to Play Piano in 30 Minutes a Week)
Mark is a busy high school student, involved in extracurricular activities.
How could I motivate him without nagging him to practice all the time.
2. The Change
Right before spring break I gave Mark a supplemental book Signature Solos book 2 published by Alfred. This series of books has a compilation of several composers in different styles in each book.
I played a few pieces for him to hear and let him select two or three to study over the break. He chose “Swirling Winds” by Gayle Kowalchyk and E. L. Lancaster. I wish you could see the spark that was in his eyes when he started learning this new music.
Lack of time wasn’t Mark’s problem. Lack of interesting music was.
All this was before spring break. Before COVID-19 came to our area.
Two weeks ago we had spring break where I take the full week off. Toward the end of spring break, March 10-11 or so, we were starting to be instructed by local and state officials to be proactive regarding the virus.
I emailed my studio families to let them know that I was taking the precautions seriously but I was moving forward with lessons for those who wanted to come. There are families in my studio with vulnerable family members. Grandparents often bring their grand kids to lessons. My own daughter, Tracy, has a serious heart condition. We’ve always navigated her activities with caution, not with fear or unreasonable limitations.
Ray opted for a lesson online through FaceTime.
I got to hear his piano, which is in good shape.
I got to instruct him to sit further back from his piano and to sit on a pillow to raise his torso up higher so his elbows are parallel to the piano keys. (For more information about sitting properly at the piano, check out PPP030.)
Ray has finished his PA 2B book and I have his PA 3A book.
We need to figure out how to get his new book to him.
Mark opted for a lesson in my studio.
We both washed our hands and I disinfected the piano keys before we began.
He not only practiced piano over the break, he learned the entire piece, Swirling Winds!
He had played it so much, he had memorized most of it as well.
I was able to show him some areas to add interest through dynamics and articulations. We were able to talk about the music because he had studied it. He had questions about a few things he’d never seen in his band music.
It was awesome!
Resources mentioned in this episode
Final Thoughts
Over the next few weeks, I plan to keep bringing you weekly posts with relevant information. Some will include topics to help us all navigate this unprecedented pandemic together and some shows will be a nice break from that reality.
Next week we will have another Musical Mystery.
The following week we will have a chat with two piano parents who will discuss how they are helping their children setup up new routines while keeping their own sanity and well-being in check.
Thanks for listening!
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