Spring back to piano lessons!

I hope that everyone had a good half term break and that this week you are ready and raring to get back to lessons! We have a lot of performing opportunities coming up: GCSE and A level music exams, grade exams, Prep Tests AND a piano pupil concert on Friday March 28th, at 7.30 in the Salvation Army Hall. More details for all these will go out in individual lessons and will appear on the blog so do keep your eyes peeled for them.

Meanwhile; for ABRSM exams and the Prep Test you can get more information on how to prepare from their website www.abrsm.org - look under the Exam Support link.

In all performances it helps to know as much about the piece and composer as possible, know what is expected in the exam and to practise performing to friends and family and enjoy your practice. There is advice on this blog about preparing for a variety of performances so do look back through the archive.

I would like as many of you as possible to play at the pupil concert so start to think about what you would like to play and remember to bring your music to your lesson!

My favourite iPad Apps!

Since getting my iPad last May I have become slightly addicted and also found it an invaluable tool for teaching.

My favourite apps are:

• Yohondo! They have a series of ipad apps to help learn, practise and master ABRSM grade 1-3 piano pieces. Pianists can see someone playing their pieces, get helpful exercises and top tips for learning the piece, have  bite-size breakdowns of the parts of it, listen to the piece, and record and assess their performance too! Their website is www.yohondo.com  And you can find their apps at: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/yohondo/id659088117?mt=8

• I also like Noteworks; it makes note-reading fun and you can tailor it to suit each pupil's level and they can progress as well : https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/noteworks-music-theory-note/id546003758?mt=8

• My pupils love Flashnote Derby; this is a race which teaches and tests note-reading. Pupils can use as many or as few notes as they like, go at different speeds and answer in a variety of ways. At Christmas the horses become reindeer as well! https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/flashnote-derby/id453126527?mt=8

• Scalebox is an app that helps you learn, prepare and test your grade 1-5 ABRSM scales and arpeggios. It isn't just for piano but has other instruments as well, I use it for my cello practice. It encourages pupils to listen and assess their scale playing too. Rapidly becoming indispensable in my lessons, especially in the run up to exams: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/scalebox-for-abrsm-grades/id593299414?mt=8

• Speedshifter from ABRSM is so useful. It isn't just an iPad app but works on Android devices, laptops and Macs as well. As a piano teacher I use it to slow down CDs of pieces to a listenable speed, to slow down duet parts and to slow down ornaments so that we can hear exactly what's happening: http://gb.abrsm.org/en/exam-support/practice-tools-and-applications/speedshifter/

Mrs Lau's Guide to being a page turner.

Recently I had the privilege of turning pages for a concert pianist colleague and it caused me to think about the skills required to do this job well. So here is my list of things to consider as you prepare to do this tricky job!

• What to wear? Either all black or something in subdued colours. Look smart but save the tux for when you are the soloist. Non- squeaky, safe height shoes.

• Make sure you are freshly showered, well-deoderanted (you will be leaning over the pianist...) but not perfumed- ( it might over power the pianist or they might be allergic).

• Check what time you are required: for a rehearsal, for a quick briefing etc.  Also make sure you know where the venue is.

• Listen carefully to where the pianist wants you to turn: are they doing all/some of the repeats, do they want to do some of their own page turns, are there any back turns/ Da Capos etc?

• Sit on the left of the pianist (unless the piano is the other way round) and well back but near enough to see the music and get to the page turns in time.

• As a general rule stand up and get your finger between the pages 2 lines before the end of the page but remember that if the music is fast you might want to stand up earlier, if it's slow you might stand up half a line later.

• Turn quickly and efficiently when the pianist nods. Most pianists will nod early most of the time, it depends...Make sure the music stays turned and stays on the stand.

• When its all over sit well back and clap. Slip off the stage as unobtrusively as possible, you are not the star.

• Advice from a colleague and singer: always remember why you are there; its easy to get carried away listening to the performance but that's not why you are there, your job is to make the pianist's life easier, so concentrate on their music and them.

• Enjoy the job, you will learn a lot about accompanying and it is a privilege.

     

Performing tips!

Melanie Spanswick is a British pianist, teacher and adjudicator who has a very interesting blog. In this post she shares her thoughts on performing more professionally. Useful for all pianists whatever age or standard:

http://melaniespanswick.com/2012/08/28/how-can-amateur-pianists-become-professional-in-their-approach-to-performing/

Happy half term holiday

Have a good half- term break everyone, no lessons next week. Do keep playing though as we have a pupil concert at the end of March, Friday 28th, at the Salvation Army Hall. It would be great to have as many pupils playing as possible.

The Music of Mozart Concert

The Music of Mozart concert is on Sat 15th March at KEGS Grammar School, 7.30. The programme includes Tim Carey playing Mozart's Piano Concerto in G and the Concert Rondo in D. It will be a great opportunity for young pianists to hear these beautiful pieces performed live, with an orchestra, by Tim, alongside two choral works by Mozart. Tickets are only £5 for under 16s, £11 for concessions and £13 full price. I have tickets so just let me know if you want some. It is always good to see a live performance and to hear the music of Mozart.