Thursday, February 9, 2012
Can't stop the Beat
A new jazz duet explores and well liked by many. Good to use this and sing melody as aural training . Just can't stop the beat .
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
My life as a piano teacher
I am a very blessed piano teacher. Quite nice parents, not too difficult students .
As I broaden my repertoire, there are some work to be done.
I believe in working with what is in my hands at the moment.
Draw out plan for each individual students, launch stickers gift redemption scheme , final year recital , fees revision ..... The rest will follow up later.
Discipline , time management and focus to get all these done by the end of this year.
Group baby musician class must be planned and carry out soon
As I broaden my repertoire, there are some work to be done.
I believe in working with what is in my hands at the moment.
Draw out plan for each individual students, launch stickers gift redemption scheme , final year recital , fees revision ..... The rest will follow up later.
Discipline , time management and focus to get all these done by the end of this year.
Group baby musician class must be planned and carry out soon
Saturday, July 16, 2011
Saturday... 16th July
This student 's grade 3 practical examination is around the corner. However we have yet learn the third piece . She is putting more efforts after I start to tighten all reins but I really dislike it this way. This is her second examination and she usually carelessly learn and play her piano until I get mad. However she done not want to stop lessons. Hope I can do whatever I can to help her pass this examinations.
The next student is taking his grade 4 practical exams. He is a huge contrast. He really put in efforts and he could reach where he is right now in 2 years. The only concern which I am working on with him is his shut reading and aural which previously I fail to see the importance and failed to include in every lesson till nearing examinations.
The third student is not taking examinations this year. We have lots of time to work through scales fingerings, cantabile technique and various elements for repertoire . The downside is the lack of motivation. Learning takes place slower as there is no dateline to meet
The next student is taking his grade 4 practical exams. He is a huge contrast. He really put in efforts and he could reach where he is right now in 2 years. The only concern which I am working on with him is his shut reading and aural which previously I fail to see the importance and failed to include in every lesson till nearing examinations.
The third student is not taking examinations this year. We have lots of time to work through scales fingerings, cantabile technique and various elements for repertoire . The downside is the lack of motivation. Learning takes place slower as there is no dateline to meet
A rewarding second lesson
This week speed by so swiftly...
There is a student that motivates me much this week.
An adult student whom just had two lessons.
This week I introduced her to a piano method book. I was sharing with her that I planned to teach her some familiar tunes like Bach's Minuet in G. I played the melody and she started to learn that piece observing my fingers on the piano. And that was how the lesson began.
She managed to play 4 bars with LH accompaniment of block chords. She even went home to search on YouTube .
Many musiciAns play by ear. Teachers should at times play by ear. Whatever lesson plan was done, teachers can teach according to Student's interest.
That lesson went on to some history on baroque, note values, time signature, key signature and even patterns. It was a rewarding lesson.
There is a student that motivates me much this week.
An adult student whom just had two lessons.
This week I introduced her to a piano method book. I was sharing with her that I planned to teach her some familiar tunes like Bach's Minuet in G. I played the melody and she started to learn that piece observing my fingers on the piano. And that was how the lesson began.
She managed to play 4 bars with LH accompaniment of block chords. She even went home to search on YouTube .
Many musiciAns play by ear. Teachers should at times play by ear. Whatever lesson plan was done, teachers can teach according to Student's interest.
That lesson went on to some history on baroque, note values, time signature, key signature and even patterns. It was a rewarding lesson.
Friday, July 1, 2011
Quite a successful simultaneous learning
Prior to this lesson with a 7 year old beginner (boy), I do not have a weekly lesson plan. However the long term plan was to follow the Piano Adventure 2A and achieve what was already in the book.
When he arrived, we were discussing what he had learnt from the performance he put up at the June Concert which happened a week ago.
Glancing through the next piece in the book, I got him to locate and play all the five keys of G position which he was not very sure yet. After that we make up some music in that position. Initially with nothing in mind and he went up and down the five keys. Subsequently, some ideas were incorporated into the improvisation which include- bouncing basketball, high jump , hopping rabbit, happy song etc ... Well done ! We have convered quite a lot , from learning G position to improvisation . I know this student learns a little slower in a new piece, trying to read all that is in the page and struggling to put things together. I think now he can play lots of songs that he is going to make up .
Next we proceed to placing magnets note on the grand staff magnetic board. I get thim to do it and I will guide him to find the right line or space when needed.
Now, he was ready to play the piece. Right hand first always, especially for this boy. So right hand went playing the melody but with quite a few corrections needed. I just feel that was not good enough.
We stopped playing. Instead I proposed that he tells me if he can find the notes in bar one on the treble staff appearing elsewhere. He spotted it in the second bar, and twice consecutively on a phrase in the second page as well. Seems things are improving.
Then miracles happen. He play the first phrase melody on the right hand again and this time he can play the melody without as many mistakes as compared to the first time. Actually he played well.
At the end of the lesson, we managed to focus on the the first phrase to be played by both hands , that means two phrases as the phrase reappears in the second part of the music.
Lesson was well paced- not congested with activities and music elements . However it was a great lesson as student get to really understand each element well, achieved progress and an interesting homework which will include playing new improvised music everyday.
When he arrived, we were discussing what he had learnt from the performance he put up at the June Concert which happened a week ago.
Glancing through the next piece in the book, I got him to locate and play all the five keys of G position which he was not very sure yet. After that we make up some music in that position. Initially with nothing in mind and he went up and down the five keys. Subsequently, some ideas were incorporated into the improvisation which include- bouncing basketball, high jump , hopping rabbit, happy song etc ... Well done ! We have convered quite a lot , from learning G position to improvisation . I know this student learns a little slower in a new piece, trying to read all that is in the page and struggling to put things together. I think now he can play lots of songs that he is going to make up .
Next we proceed to placing magnets note on the grand staff magnetic board. I get thim to do it and I will guide him to find the right line or space when needed.
Now, he was ready to play the piece. Right hand first always, especially for this boy. So right hand went playing the melody but with quite a few corrections needed. I just feel that was not good enough.
We stopped playing. Instead I proposed that he tells me if he can find the notes in bar one on the treble staff appearing elsewhere. He spotted it in the second bar, and twice consecutively on a phrase in the second page as well. Seems things are improving.
Then miracles happen. He play the first phrase melody on the right hand again and this time he can play the melody without as many mistakes as compared to the first time. Actually he played well.
At the end of the lesson, we managed to focus on the the first phrase to be played by both hands , that means two phrases as the phrase reappears in the second part of the music.
Lesson was well paced- not congested with activities and music elements . However it was a great lesson as student get to really understand each element well, achieved progress and an interesting homework which will include playing new improvised music everyday.
Monday, June 27, 2011
June Students' Concert
I received a call from a parent to feedback to me that her son cried badly as he did not perform well at the concert last saturday. This child had strong pride and always felt he played very well. Through the concert, he was convinced that he need to put in more efforts in his practice.For this student the peers influence impacted him more than teacher and parent ( figure of authority ) .
For another grade 6 student, she has managed to play one grade 6 examinations piece better as a result of preparing the piece for the concert. Without the concert as a motivation factor, she would take longer time or even procrastinated till her examinations before the piece is polished.
Another gain of this concert is to allow students to be independent. They no longer are performing just for the teacher. They are playing for their peers and some parents. From afar, I could observe their responses to the audience, how they handle any mistake they make and how they manage by themselves.
Generally there were some who were calm , quite oblivious to the pressures some are having. There were those who felt so uncomfortable to the extent of not able to perform well. There were a handful who showed full confidence .
Overall the concert is a great learning experience for all.
For another grade 6 student, she has managed to play one grade 6 examinations piece better as a result of preparing the piece for the concert. Without the concert as a motivation factor, she would take longer time or even procrastinated till her examinations before the piece is polished.
Another gain of this concert is to allow students to be independent. They no longer are performing just for the teacher. They are playing for their peers and some parents. From afar, I could observe their responses to the audience, how they handle any mistake they make and how they manage by themselves.
Generally there were some who were calm , quite oblivious to the pressures some are having. There were those who felt so uncomfortable to the extent of not able to perform well. There were a handful who showed full confidence .
Overall the concert is a great learning experience for all.
Monday, June 20, 2011
Group sessions
4th - 7th days of the CT ABRSM is over. In this 2nd stretch of the course, I am reminded that I need to work on my music knowledge, teachnique of playing and work on the lesson plans for teaching.
2 weeks ago, the three groups of teaching I have done was a learning experience for me. For the 5-7years old and 8-11 years old, to get them to participate in the activities requires not much "Co-ercing" . It was tougher for the 12-15 years old, they were far too shy to response and interact with the peers.
That does not conclude that group lesson is not suitable for the 12-15 years old. They were still participarting and responding but sheepishly. They were observing intently at their peers through the session.
For the 5-7 years old, the Steps and Skips Game took almost 1 hour to complete. Though from half way through the game most were quite sure how to recognise a step and a skip, the game is taking up too much time. I have done some amendments to the game to ensure a player can reach the finishing point at a shorter time.
At the end of most of the sessions, an interview was taken on the video with students sharing their thoughts about the session.
My plans for the next 5 years is to invest in digital pianos and focus on group teaching .
2 weeks ago, the three groups of teaching I have done was a learning experience for me. For the 5-7years old and 8-11 years old, to get them to participate in the activities requires not much "Co-ercing" . It was tougher for the 12-15 years old, they were far too shy to response and interact with the peers.
That does not conclude that group lesson is not suitable for the 12-15 years old. They were still participarting and responding but sheepishly. They were observing intently at their peers through the session.
For the 5-7 years old, the Steps and Skips Game took almost 1 hour to complete. Though from half way through the game most were quite sure how to recognise a step and a skip, the game is taking up too much time. I have done some amendments to the game to ensure a player can reach the finishing point at a shorter time.
At the end of most of the sessions, an interview was taken on the video with students sharing their thoughts about the session.
My plans for the next 5 years is to invest in digital pianos and focus on group teaching .
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