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Every lesson is as much fun for me as it is for my students! Here are a few interesting things that my students have told me during their lessons: When I said to a seven year beginner "wow, you have such nice  curled fingers! How do you get your fingers to curl so nicely?" His
response was, "it's because of playing hockey." This confused
me a bit so I asked him to tell me more about hockey and piano. He said
"it's because of holding the goalie stick with one hand. It's quite
heavy and in order to hold it with one hand, I have to curl my fingers
inside my glove." Hmm, I never realized that skills that a hockey
player acquires are transferable to piano lessons.During a lesson an adult student burst out laughing...hysterically laughing. She was playing a  Conservatory piece and we were using a metronome at the time of the laughing attack. I was turning the metronome up, faster, and faster as she accomplished each speed.I asked her what was so funny. She told me that her piece was like cooking a frog. Of course I have never cooked a frog, so I was completely confused at this point. She said "you know, when they cook frogs they don't put them in boiling water. They put them in cool water and then gradually turn up the temperature until the frog is in boiling water. The metronome is like the water. You start the metronome at a reasonable speed, and then you slowly turn it up, gradually, so I don't notice. Soon, I'm like the cooked frog in the boiling water, and my fingers are flying out of control!" We still laugh about this! Every time I use the metronome with this student now I think of boiling frogs. Teachers Learn Too!
 Some of you might wonder what keeps my passion for teaching alive year
after year. I feel that it’s important to keep up to date with different
teaching me methods, styles, and music. Recently, I’ve attended the following
courses:Alfreds Premier Piano Course What a ton of fun this workshop was to attend! This new method teaches students in small in increments. When using this method, each new rhythm is reinforced at the piano, in the theoretical homework, and in the flashcards that are used as to teach as well as review. The fun teacher/student duets are a hit in each piano lesson! Introducing Celebrate Piano This workshop was instrumental in adding this new teaching method for my youngest students! This method is full of color, transposing, ear training and comes will a full orchestral accompaniment CD. Calgary Arts Summer School: Piano Pedagogy Workshop with Edward Parker Edward is known throughout Western Canada as a teacher, examiner, and adjudicator. This workshop focused on a few of the following concepts: Motivate students, how to challenge a gifted student, memory and performance techniques, pedaling and other relevant topics. I also had the honor, or maybe it was horror, of performing in a master class in front of my colleges – other teachers (gulp!). This was an amazing experience that not only inspired me as a teacher, but also as a performer! What Edward taught me in 20 minutes, was more than what I learnt in months of previous lessons. I only hope that my students will fee as inspired when attending their lessons with me, as I did when playing for Edward. Jazz for the Classical Pianist – with Lee Evans
This workshop was an amazing introduction to jazz music! As a classically trained pianist, I was always scared to attempt jazz music. My current student know that my fear has dissipated as many of them now enjoy Lee Evan’s jazz books as part of their weekly practice and are loving it! Like my students, I too need to be continually challenged in my ever-growing passion for music and teaching. The more I learn, the more I can share with you and your children. |