Yup! That's me, a while back!
I always tell my students, "Play it like you mean it!" and "If you make a mistake, just keep on going!". I was obviously in the middle of what I am sure was a grand performance on a very out-of-tune(wince!) toy piano. I have always loved music, was an avid participator in choir, band, and music programs in school. I was fortunate to have very good music teachers throughout the years. Some I have even been able to keep in touch with to this day.
I have always been able to play by ear which was a source of frustration for some of my teachers. For all of you "by ear" people this will be familiar: Teacher: "Play this section."
Student (me): "I am."
Teacher (sighing): "Look at your music and read the notes."
Student (me): "I am."
Teacher (taking a deep breath): "No, really look at your music!"
Student (me); "Whoops - sorry!"
So I understand the "by ear" student very well, and we usually work pretty well together! They also get alot of extra name-the-notes sheets so we can get their note reading as good as their ear is. The favourite part of my music training and teacher training was with the Yamaha method. This was a very creative and natural way to learn music with a large focus on arranging, which is something I try to incorporate into all my lessons.
I have been teaching for over 30 years! Time flies when you are having fun. I spent a good 2/3 of that with music schools - teaching and also administration. I am constantly on the hunt for new music, duets, or arranging a contemporary rock/pop song into a duet. My goal is to teach well-rounded lessons which focus on a good musical foundation and include all genres and styles of music, especially contemporary music, and arranging .
I always tell my students, "Play it like you mean it!" and "If you make a mistake, just keep on going!". I was obviously in the middle of what I am sure was a grand performance on a very out-of-tune(wince!) toy piano. I have always loved music, was an avid participator in choir, band, and music programs in school. I was fortunate to have very good music teachers throughout the years. Some I have even been able to keep in touch with to this day.
I have always been able to play by ear which was a source of frustration for some of my teachers. For all of you "by ear" people this will be familiar: Teacher: "Play this section."
Student (me): "I am."
Teacher (sighing): "Look at your music and read the notes."
Student (me): "I am."
Teacher (taking a deep breath): "No, really look at your music!"
Student (me); "Whoops - sorry!"
So I understand the "by ear" student very well, and we usually work pretty well together! They also get alot of extra name-the-notes sheets so we can get their note reading as good as their ear is. The favourite part of my music training and teacher training was with the Yamaha method. This was a very creative and natural way to learn music with a large focus on arranging, which is something I try to incorporate into all my lessons.
I have been teaching for over 30 years! Time flies when you are having fun. I spent a good 2/3 of that with music schools - teaching and also administration. I am constantly on the hunt for new music, duets, or arranging a contemporary rock/pop song into a duet. My goal is to teach well-rounded lessons which focus on a good musical foundation and include all genres and styles of music, especially contemporary music, and arranging .