Top Pop Hits
This month on the blog, we invite you to take a “color tour” through the Hits, featuring top pop artists.
Be Brave
“I wanna see you be brave!” This chorus from Sara Bareilles’ “Brave” offers words of encouragement for each of us—as piano teachers, students, and performers. How many of us grew up playing only classical piano, while listening to the Beatles, Billy Joel, and Coldplay? Perhaps being brave as a teacher means exploring music with our students, […]
Whatever It Takes
Sharing a chord progression from your student’s favorite pop song is a sure-fire way to engage and connect. In addition to rocketing your cool status, brain neurons will spark, as your students explore music theory and creativity in ways that complement traditional repertoire. This week we take a look at “Whatever It Takes” by Imagine […]
October Ovation: Top Pop Hits
Do your students like to listen to current pop hits from Ariana Grande, Ed Sheeran, Charlie Puth and others? This month, we invite you to take a “color tour” through the Hits, featuring top pop artists. Our first lesson with Dr. Faber is a twofer with “No Tears Left to Cry” by Ariana Grande, and […]
A Primer Ensemble Performance
What memories shine from childhood piano lessons? Graduating to a higher level? A smile from a gracious teacher on a day your heart felt rainy? Or, how about an ensemble piece that includes a drum part? Such occasions can affirm for the student—”music is for me!” Today we offer an ensemble performance of “Come See […]
Making O’s for Firm Fingertips
Making O’s not only develops the fingertip at early levels, it can be used at advanced levels to align the arm and knuckle with the finger that plays. Join Dr. Faber for some interesting pointers.
Flowers that Bloom in the Fall
Two things you might not normally think of together: autumn and… blooming flowers. But they pair very well when you’re thinking of new piano students. If you have students starting in our Piano Adventures Primer Level, you probably already know where this is going! “Round Hand Shape” is our Technique Secret No. 2, and “blooming […]
September Greetings!
Best wishes to teachers, students, and parents as a new “back to school” season begins! This year our posts will be organized around a monthly theme. For September, the theme is Primer Level teaching. Every young piano student remembers the first lesson. It is such a privilege to introduce the magnificence of the piano—and some […]
Catch the Salsa Spirit!
Students acting like sloths this summer? Luckily, we have just the thing: Havana by Camila Cabello, a Latin-inspired pop hit that fits nicely with students working their way through major and minor pentascales. It’s fully in the key of D minor, and grooves through a basic i – V7 progression. The harmonies are nothing extraordinary, […]
New! FunTime and BigTime Piano Disney
This month we are happy to share our newest publications, FunTime® Piano Disney and BigTime® Piano Disney. This exciting series is now complete with six graded levels. FunTime Piano Disney features current and classic Disney hits arranged for the Level 3A-3B pianist. Students will explore swing rhythm, play showy cross-hand arpeggios, shape the phrases of […]
Gold Star Audio Now Available in the Piano Adventures Player® App
Today we are pleased to announce that the Gold Star Performance audio files for all four levels in the Gold Star series are available as interactive audio in the Piano Adventures Player app. As the “Gold Star” title suggests, pieces in this series are especially appropriate for recitals and other musical events. A broad range […]
