Lessons  My students all begin in two of the following method books: Bastien, Alfred's,
Celebrate Piano, Faber and Faber, or Leila Fletcher. As they learn the
necessary skills to play the piano, I encourage them to tell me about other
styles of music that they'd like to play, or about specific pieces that
they are interested in learning. Each student learns at their own speed
and I spend more time working on the concepts that they are struggling
with and fly through the concepts that they pick up easily. If/when students
are ready to, and interested in, beginning the Royal Conservatory pieces,
I encourge them to do so. The Conservatory is not for everyone and it is
not a requirement that your child enrole in Conservatory pieces to participate
in www.pianowithchris.com. Students who do choose this route have the choice
whether or not to take the exams that accompany the grades, and if they
choose to take the exam, I am more than happy to prepare them for this
experience |
About Me Where to start....well, with 'Arrowsmith' for a last name, I had to be some sort of a music teacher!  I've been playing the piano for almost 20
years! I began my musical journey in 1983
and took piano lessons until 1991. I resumed
lessons again in 1997 and continued until
June 2001. When I resumed my lessons in 1997,
I did so with great ease as my natural musical
ability shone through. Through my musical
career, I have been involved in multiple
recitals and examinations! I have completed
my grade eight (8) piano and grade two (2)
theory with first class honors in both exams.
I was prepared to perfom my grade nine Toronto
Royal Conservatory of Music exam in June
2001 but, due to a terrible bout of tendonitis,
I was forced to put that exam on hold. Currently,
I am again working towards this exam which
I will perform in June 2003. Upon the completion
of the practical part of this exam, I intend
on studying and completing my Grade Three
(3) Theory which consists of Music History
and Harmony. In addition to my private music lessons, I spent all of my junior high and high school years in my school music program. I played the flute for the first 4 years and the flute and piccollo for the last 2 years. For those of you who are reading this page that went to high school with me, I'm sure that you remember me from my infamous 'scream' during a tender moment of the performance of the Phantom of the Opera Medly! I toured through out Canada competing in many festivals, with my concert band from 1987 to 1991. In 1987, I attended a Summer Band workshop through the University of Calgary. And finally, in 1991, I worked as a music teaching assistant in a Calgary Elementary School. I must admit, for me, the best part of school was band class, band practice, band rehersals, band concerts, band music festivals, and band tours! I began teaching in 1991 and taught for 2 years through Music Makers, Mr Entertainment, and privately. I began teaching again in 1997 and am currently accepting new students for the 2002/2003 school year. Last summer I was feeling rather restless and wanting to incorporate something unique into my student's piano experience. And, it is through those feelings that this web page was conceived. |
PHEW!! It’s over! After
struggling with my ‘tendonitis’ for the past few years, I finally completed my
Grade 9 Toronto Conservatory of Music Exam.
Finally, after trying many therapies for my hands, I found a technique
that gave me relief so I was able to practice and get through my exam. I tried many therapies over the years. I tried ice, heat, wrist braces, elbow
braces, acupuncture, Vioxx, Motrin, Physio Therapy, and finally I found Dr.
Brian Reive. Dr. Reive is a
chiropractor that also is certified to do ART, Active Release Therapy. I was shocked to learn that I did not have
tendonitis or carpel tunnel syndrome as my medical doctors have been telling
me. I actually have repetitive strain
injury and have a mass of scar tissue built up in my hands. Within 5 treatments with Dr. Reive, I felt 85% better than I did when first
walking into his clinic. Before this treatment, I could only play for
about five minutes before experiencing pain, and after five treatments I could
play for almost three hours with minimal pain.
Thanx Brian! Now, I highly
recommend Brian to any student, teacher, or other professional who has pain due
to repetitive strain injury. I am pleased to say that I am beginning my Grade 10 in September 2003,
as well as my Grade III Theory.
|
My Goal  Most parents that I have talked to over the
years have told me horror stories of their
childhood piano teachers and piano lessons.
My goal that I strive to achieve during every
lesson, is to prevent those piano nightmares
from being passed down to your children.
I view children as little people whose views
and concerns should be valued, respected,
and heard. The way that I show my students
that I value their needs and thoughts is
to talk with them, not to them, on a regular
basis about their lessons and their musical
goals. Not every student wants to be a concert
pianist, pop star, or jazz composer. In effectively
communicating with my students and asking
them what type of music they'd like to play,
if they need more challenging pieces, or
if they have any questions that they haven't
asked, I am sending them the message that
I care about their musical success and value
their thougths. The more imput that your
child/ren has in the creation of their musical
experience, the more they will enjoy the
process, keep up the practicing, and be excited
to go to their lessons! |
"Chris, why don't you play?"
I have repeatedly heard this question from
parents and students at the recitals that
I organize for my students. Well, the answer
to that question is 1. I did not consider
myself to be a performer anymore, and 2.
I organize these events for my students to
shine, not to display my own tallent. My belief that I am a teacher but not a performer was challenged last December when I got a frantic phone call from a woman who needed a pianist for a huge family Christmas reunion. I tried to explain to her that I was a teacher not a performer, but she managed to convince me to come and play for her family sing-along. The day after that phone call, I went to her house and looked at the musical itinerary that she intended for me to play. I gasped as I realized that she wanted me to perform 32 or so of their most favorite Christmas tunes.
So, I went home and practiced those pieces for hours, as I had a mere 48 hours to prepare 32 pieces! Like my students realize, performers are our own worst critics and, in my opinion, it was not a perfect performance, but at that time I reconnected with the joy of performing.
Performing is about having fun making music and sharing this gift with others, not about one wrong note. Yes, I know, I tell my students this all the time, but as a perfectionist, I hold different standards for my own performances. The hostess's of the party were thrilled with the entertainment and I had fun doing my job! After playing that Christmas gig I discovered that I was wrong...yes, I am a teacher, but I am a performer too!
At this point in my musical journey, I have decided that I will contract myself out to do musical functions.
Email me to enquire about how I can play
for you at your next seasonal event, birthday
party, wedding, or other type of event.Finally, when someone inquires about "why don't you play?' I can tell them that I do!
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