ACTIVE LISTENING - WEEKLY ASSIGNMENT
I encourage all of my students (and their families!) to spend some time doing active listening each week and to reflect on various aspects of what they hear. Every Saturday I will update my website with a link to a new song/piece of the week along with a question relating to the music. I ask that students write down their answer(s) to the question(s) and any other observations in the space provided in the lesson planner. Have fun with this and also feel free to share your own musical discoveries with me throughout the year!
October 2-8, 2022
Music and dance are related in many ways. Your assignment this week is to watch this music video and choose your favourite dance move. Either tell me about it or show me at your next lesson!
There is even sheet music available here if you'd like to learn how to play "Think About Things".
There is even sheet music available here if you'd like to learn how to play "Think About Things".
September 25 - October 1, 2022
This week I would like to you watch this video with Carolina Eyck. In your lesson planner, please write down the name of the instrument that she is playing, and also, at your next lesson, show me with your hands the general movements that she teaches for playing a major scale!
September 18-24, 2022
Do you know about "Rush E"? Check out this video first...
You might be wondering how somebody could actually play this on the piano (I wonder, too!). There are 88 keys on the keyboard and most people have 10 fingers, so there is a problem. Now check out this next video that gets some real pianists involved (8 hands).
My question for you is this: what technique do you notice being used to play fast notes repeating on the same key? How quickly can you play repeating notes on the piano?
You might be wondering how somebody could actually play this on the piano (I wonder, too!). There are 88 keys on the keyboard and most people have 10 fingers, so there is a problem. Now check out this next video that gets some real pianists involved (8 hands).
My question for you is this: what technique do you notice being used to play fast notes repeating on the same key? How quickly can you play repeating notes on the piano?
September 11-17, 2022
Happy September! We are starting a new term and new weekly tasks and challenges, including our listening assignments. For this week, I'd like you to watch the following video and try to figure out how to play the melody on your instrument. For bonus points, figure out the chord progression and write it down in your lesson planner. There is space at the bottom of the weekly notes pages, beginning on page 11. Have fun!
May 29 - June 4, 2022
This will be the last post here for the term and we'll resume listening assignments in September!
This week I present to you a video compilation from our last recital. I finally just finished editing and if you have 14 minutes to spare, I encourage you to watch through the whole thing in an act of support and encouragement to all of the performers. If you haven't performed in one of my recitals before, perhaps it will give you a sense of what the event is like and you could consider being involved next time! I host recitals in early/mid-December and late May every year.