Many teachers are relying on remote teaching during this time of social distancing. If you explore this, keep communication and relationship on the “front burner.” All else is secondary. This helps make light of potential frustrations, both yours and your student’s. Experiment with alternate formats. Perhaps 3 mini lessons per week? For example: Monday: Discuss objectives […]
Every year at the Music Teachers National Conference, we offer an exhibitor showcase presented by Dr. Randall Faber. This is an opportunity to present new materials for students and to speak directly with teachers about fresh opportunities for professional growth. We are pleased to share […]
Occasionally after a student has played a piece in a lesson and the performance did not reflect the musical details in the score or just seemed a bit off, particularly when played more convincingly in other attempts, a seemingly innocent question is asked. “Point to the spot on the page where the music begins.” For […]
To the student, Piano Adventures implies an exciting exploration. To the teacher, Piano Adventures implies a philosophy and mission to develop the student’s musical mind and heart. The process of guiding a young person to develop the mind (intellect) and the heart (expression) can help form valuable life skills: confidence, curiosity, discipline, self-esteem, sensitivity to […]
Franz Liszt is generally acknowledged to be the greatest pianist. Someone who heard him in person said his playing “was all sunshine and dazzling splendour.” As David Andruss explains in this video, Liszt wrote three Liebesträume. They were originally intended as songs, each based on a poem idealizing a type of love. The poem that […]
Snowball Scales opens the Technique & Artistry 2018 calendar. What do scales and snowballs have in common? Let’s find out! This rolling scale exercise from Level 2B applies the essential Technique Secret #3, Light Thumb. Dr. Faber demonstrates how to align the thumb behind each finger for tension-free preparation. The snowball scale rolls smoothly—no bumps to […]
At first glance, Spindler’s two Preludes in G present a flurry of eighth notes—first in the treble line, then the bass line. However, if we look through our “theory glasses,” patterns emerge! This video explains how grouping the 8th notes into chords allows us to see the harmonic structure of each phrase. Harmonic blocking is […]
There are too many lofty myths regarding original composition. It is true that Mozart wrote music (even a small concerto) before some of us could read. But you don’t have to be a Mozart to compose music.
