When they make a mistake they hack away at it until it finally yields, and simply move on. What they have actually practised is getting it wrong three or four times in a row and right on the fifth attempt. What, then, are the chances of getting it right the first time in the context of the flow of the piece?
The O’Connor Music Studio has a copy of this app if you (or your student) would like to try it during a lesson.
I see great potential with this app and think it could be useful for you at home.
It’s a fun game that can be used with a piano, the iPad or it can be hooked up to an electric keyboard.
Piano Maestro is free for all OCMS students to use on their own iPads at home. Your student’s piano lesson books are most likely included to help the student learn the pieces – accompanied by a full backing track!
Read a review at Piano Mania Review » 148Apps » iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch App Reviews and News.
From the author:
Let’s face it. Most kids don’t want to practice the piano. And if they do find the time to practice, it’s usually because their parent kept nagging them. How frustrating!
Piano teachers are frustrated too. It’s nearly impossible to teach students new concepts when they don’t understand the old ones–all because of a lack of practice.
If you’re a parent in this situation, I have just the solution you’re looking for.
In this upbeat book, I share all the tips I’ve discovered in my 14 years of teaching piano. You’ll learn fun, practical ways to get your kids to the keyboard.
But this book goes one step further. I’ll show you easy ways to encourage better quality practice. Even if you’ve never had a music lesson in your life!
I wrote this book for kids of all ages. There are creative ideas for elementary students and also a section for teens.
There’s even a section for what to do if your child wants to stop taking piano lessons. That’s right, there is hope and my book will show you exactly how to get them interested in piano again.
Don’t be the kind of parent who sits on the sidelines waiting until their child wants to practice. Piano lessons are too expensive for you to let another “no-practice” day go by.
This book is your answer to get your child to the keyboard, have good quality practice and develop a life-long love of music.
This new method book is at the publishers right now. I’ve already downloaded the Teacher’s Guide and I’m liking what I see.
From the Piano Pronto website –
Roadtrip! is a primer level method book for very early beginners ages 4 and up. Students master basic music fundamentals while creating a musical memory book that becomes a keepsake item to commemorate their maiden voyage into piano lessons.
18 songs: Non-position based; black key pieces; R.H. & L.H. only pieces; on-staff reading only
Also features: improvisation activities; ear training; composition; teacher duets
What this means for the O’Connor Music Studio – younger beginners will be able to get a great start to their musical lives. Previously, I’ve only accepted students starting at age 6.
Starting with the new school year, interested parents can enroll their students from the age of 4.
Register for lessons here: http://ocms.mymusicstaff.com/Register-for-Lessons
At Pender’s Music Camp, rising second through sixth graders sing in choir, play Orff instruments, ring handbells, experiment with rhythm in a percussion class, learn to read music, and make crafts.
Friday afternoon traditionally concludes with musical performances which our campers perform for friends and family!
The Music Camp Final Program will be Friday, July 10 at 3:00 pm.
Directions to Pender
12401 Alder Woods Drive
Fairfax, VA 22033
Tel: 703.278.8023
Summer is upon us which means BBQ cook outs, poolside hangouts and lots of ice cream! It also means less time by the piano, which means getting back into the groove of playing can be difficult come September.
We at JoyTunes want to keep you playing all summer long! To do so we are bringing back Summer Camp in Piano Maestro!
Each week, starting July 1st, we will release a new fun song for you to learn and play. Songs from artists such as
Colbie Caillat
Michael Buble
Florida Georgia Line and more!
Summer Camp songs can be found in the “summer camp” category in the Library.
Prizes will be rewarded to top players, we want to recognize your awesome playing!
Summer Camp is the perfect way to keep your piano practice up during this summer, as to not miss a beat.
The first song of Summer Camp will be Andy Grammer “Honey, I’m good”. Check out the (very cute!) video for the song to get a taste of what to look forward to!
via Summer Camp is Back. New Pop Song Released Each Week! | JoyTunes.
So many piano students would love to be able to just sit down at the piano and play without having to read sheet music. At least, that’s according to pianist/composer Edward Weiss.
Weiss, owner and webmaster of Quiescence Music’s online piano lessons believes anyone can play the piano. And he does it all without note reading.
Weiss explains…
“Most piano students assume they must learn how to read music before they attempt anything creative. Nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, I encourage students to speak the language of music first through chords before learning how to read it.”
This ‘backwards’ approach isn’t really backwards at all according to this teacher. When asked why he teaches piano this way, Weiss says:
“We learn our native language first by speaking it. This is a normal and natural thing. Why not music? Note reading should be the last thing taught. As students become more and more comfortable with ‘speaking the language’ of music, the need to play what other’s have written and produced decreases.”
via Shocking News for Piano Students: Note Reading Not the Best Way to Learn Piano? | PRLog.
Piano teacher Leila Viss isn’t only about Bach, Beethoveen and Chopin. For her, it’s also about easing her students into using the iPad application “Piano Maestro.”
Viss, a piano performance and pedagogy graduate of University of Denver, first set up a studio in her home after she graduated in 1990. Ever since, she’s blossomed into a teacher who incorporates a different kind of approach in her lessons.
It all began with her mentor, Elaine Emeigh, who’s a piano teacher in Littleton.
“I wanted to continue her legacy, so I started having labs during my private lessons,” Viss said.
The Centennial resident’s students are now urged to stay for an extra 30 minutes after each lesson to spend time doing something on the computer — whether it be reviewing concepts, studying piano history or reinforcing lessons, she said.
“When I graduated, the Internet was just coming around. Now I have my own website, blog, and my whole idea of how I communicate has completely changed. It was a hassle over the years using technology; you were booting up the computer, putting in a CD-ROM, and then when the iPad came along, it made everything so much easier,” Viss said.
Her book, “The iPad Piano Studios, Keys to Unlocking the Power of Apps,” came out in 2013 and reflects her appetite for using apps to practice note names, inspire creativity and compose with her students. Viss considers herself to be a writer and also contributes to the Clavier Companion, a nationally known premiere piano magazine.
The owners of private applications company, JoyTunes, contacted Viss after reading her blog a year ago.
With more than 4 million users, the company’s apps are a hit, Viss said.
“Joytunes is changing the face of music education by transforming the way people learn music, enabling anyone to play a musical instrument,” JoyTunes head of brand Nadia Hitman said. “By combining music methodologies with the latest in gaming features and instant feedback, the learning process is significantly shortened for millions of children, adults and teachers already using the apps.”
Hitman said all of their applications recently became free for teachers and their students, and many of the apps are still available for purchase to anyone.
“Speaking on their (JoyTunes’) behalf, and mobile technology — Piano Maestro is unbelievably amazing,” Viss said. “You set it up on the piano (doesn’t have to be digital) and choose from like 2,000 songs in the library. You press play and the student follows along with the piano. After that, you get evaluated and receive immediate feedback. You can get up to three gold stars.
June 19, 2015 – Last Day of School. Students Released 2 Hours Early
NO Piano Lessons!
Congratulations!
Pender’s annual summer Music Camp will be held on July 6-10 from 12:30pm-3:30pm. Our theme this year is “The Amazing Grace Race.” Children in rising 2nd through rising 6th grade are invited to participate. Rising 7-12th graders who are interested in volunteering can also sign up online through the Pender UMC website.
The cost is $25 per child, $50 per family (siblings only).
If you have any questions about Music Camp, please contact Theresa Carpenter or Nicole Parrish.
