A huge thank you to everyone who performed last night on piano, harp, cornet, flute, clarinet, violin or voice. You all did very well and I enjoyed hearing you play. Thank you as well to parents, grandparents, siblings and friends who accompanied, encouraged practice and delivered everyone to lessons and rehearsals.
Our hosts, The Salvation Army, were very impressed and asked if they could invite the older members of their congregation next time, so let me know what you think about that. More people to applaud sounds good to me but have a think and tell me your thoughts.
Once again thank you for a lovely summer's evening of music.
Saturday 22 June 2013
Saturday 15 June 2013
Summer Piano and Instrumental Concert
Concert Details:
On: Friday 21st June
At: The Salvation Army Hall, Baddow Road, Chelmsford (parking available nearby in The Meadows car park)
Time: 7.30-9pm
Admission: £1 per non-playing adult, 50p per non-playing child
All welcome, including performers families, and past and present pupils.
If you haven't yet confirmed that you are playing, please ring or email me asap so that I can finalise the programme.
On the day: remember your music, wear what feels reasonably smart and comfortable and enjoy playing the lovely Kawai grand piano and the great acoustic. I look forward to hearing you play!
On: Friday 21st June
At: The Salvation Army Hall, Baddow Road, Chelmsford (parking available nearby in The Meadows car park)
Time: 7.30-9pm
Admission: £1 per non-playing adult, 50p per non-playing child
All welcome, including performers families, and past and present pupils.
If you haven't yet confirmed that you are playing, please ring or email me asap so that I can finalise the programme.
On the day: remember your music, wear what feels reasonably smart and comfortable and enjoy playing the lovely Kawai grand piano and the great acoustic. I look forward to hearing you play!
Tuesday 4 June 2013
Grade Exam Preparation
Grade exams occur every term and while they aren't the be all and end all of playing the piano, they are a good way to measure progress, to explore new repertoire and to perform.
These guidelines are for parents and pupils:
1. Practise every day: I suggest a minimum of 30 mins for grades 1-3, 45 mins for grades for 4 and 5 and 60 mins for grade 6 +. Parents will need to remind and supervise. What to practise will be in the piano diary.
2. Don't forget your scales and arpeggios etc: Use the scales in a jar method, a tick box chart or the scales tricks list.
3. Make sight-reading a part of your daily practice: play from your official books, play from your earlier tutor books and play duets, songs, hymns, anything and everything!
4. Practise aural tests via either ABRSM's Aural App, e-musicmaestro's aural training or Hofnote.com.
5. Listen to your pieces, read ABRSM's exam tips and look at sample exams on their YouTube channel http://gb.abrsm.org/en/exam-support/audio-and-video-resources/
6. Practise performing: play to your friends and family, record yourself, come and play at my concerts and get togethers, volunteer to play in assembly and in church.
7. Plan the day of your exam; how you will get there, what to wear (including the right shoes for pedals) and what you will eat when etc.
We will work out a countdown and have a mock-test so that you are as well prepared as possible. Higher grade exam pupils may also have the opportunity for a short practice session on the exam piano.
Results usually come within 2 weeks and then you can celebrate!
These guidelines are for parents and pupils:
1. Practise every day: I suggest a minimum of 30 mins for grades 1-3, 45 mins for grades for 4 and 5 and 60 mins for grade 6 +. Parents will need to remind and supervise. What to practise will be in the piano diary.
2. Don't forget your scales and arpeggios etc: Use the scales in a jar method, a tick box chart or the scales tricks list.
3. Make sight-reading a part of your daily practice: play from your official books, play from your earlier tutor books and play duets, songs, hymns, anything and everything!
4. Practise aural tests via either ABRSM's Aural App, e-musicmaestro's aural training or Hofnote.com.
5. Listen to your pieces, read ABRSM's exam tips and look at sample exams on their YouTube channel http://gb.abrsm.org/en/exam-support/audio-and-video-resources/
6. Practise performing: play to your friends and family, record yourself, come and play at my concerts and get togethers, volunteer to play in assembly and in church.
7. Plan the day of your exam; how you will get there, what to wear (including the right shoes for pedals) and what you will eat when etc.
We will work out a countdown and have a mock-test so that you are as well prepared as possible. Higher grade exam pupils may also have the opportunity for a short practice session on the exam piano.
Results usually come within 2 weeks and then you can celebrate!
Monday 3 June 2013
At the piano with Fiona Lau
I am delighted to appear on Fran Wilson's fascinating blog, The Cross-Eyed Pianist. Fran blogs about all things piano and interviewed me to find out what makes me tick:
http://crosseyedpianist.com/
It was very interesting for me to think about and answer Fran's questions and it made me wonder how my pupils and their parents got into music and how they would answer some of the questions. Feel free to share your thoughts with me.
http://crosseyedpianist.com/
It was very interesting for me to think about and answer Fran's questions and it made me wonder how my pupils and their parents got into music and how they would answer some of the questions. Feel free to share your thoughts with me.
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