Here’s how I use a Pop-It fidget toy for a quickfire review of piano pentascales. If you’re not sure what a pentascale is, then read on for a quick explanation below the video. If you’re not sure what a Pop-it is then speak to an 8 year old! When my pupils are learning how to […]
Here’s how I use visuals to help with learning octave scale fingerings. The piano scales of C, G, D, A and E major, all use a 123-1234 fingering pattern. It’s not such a tricky pattern once you have memorised and in your ‘muscle memory’ ….but it’s much easier to actively memorise anything when we use […]
This year Valentines Day falls on a Friday (and the last day of half term at local schools)- so all my pupils get to have fun with Valentines-themed activities! I’m really excited to see their reactions and hope they have a special time this week 🙂 The home studio is bedecked in pink and loveliness […]
A quick technique activity to develop phrase shaping. Musicians often talk about ‘shaping the phrases’. OK, there are countless ways to shape a phrase, but your classic phrase shape is the arch-shaped phrase. Here the first note is lighter, then the tone deepens as we reach the middle of the phrase, then ends more softly. […]
Here is a fun tool I made that strengthens all the fingers to help stop collapsing knuckles. It’s easy to make your own. Collapsing knuckle joints like the one pictured above are a common sight when people start to learn the piano, because they haven’t yet built up the strength in their finger joints. […]
Here’s how I use a fun game with a beginner teaching piece that really reaps its rewards through repetition. The piece: Zebra on a Playground This is a beginner improv/technique piece from Piano Safari repertoire book level 1. The goal: strengthen the nail joint on every finger and cement keyboard geography. How: Play the piece […]
I am a big fan of using lots of fun props and manipulatives in lessons, and over the last few years I have ended up with boxes full of them. I just can’t resist their lure! So I extra-love it when I can put them to work double-duty and find multi-tasking uses for these little […]