Students learning how to play piano are learning to audiate. They are listening with a new set of rules. When we teach students how to develop a musical ear, we can use knowledge of auditory processing to maximize our success.
Tag: Piano Lessons
Through this Early Intervention to Piano Teacher transition, I have realized that the fundamental learning process of humans learning new skills is the same: language, walking, holding crayons, or playing piano.
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Piano Play: Piano Student Choice
Remember: This isn’t about relinquishing control but fostering collaboration. Incorporating student choice creates a more engaging and empowering learning environment. After all, the ultimate goal is for our students to develop a lifelong love of music.
We might not turn every student into a concert pianist, but we can do something far more valuable: plant the seeds of a lifelong love for music. Imagine former students, years down the line, casually picking out a melody on a piano at a party or surprising themselves by jamming along with a favorite song. That’s the power of fostering musicianship.
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Piano Hands: Feel The Beat
Research suggests that activities targeting the vestibular and proprioceptive sensory systems can enhance our sense of rhythm. So, what are these mysterious systems, and how can they help students feel the beat?
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Piano Hands: Motor Skills
Integrating both fine and gross motor activities into piano teaching can significantly benefit students. Their full piano-playing potential will be unlocked by laying a strong foundation in motor skills.
These skills won’t magically appear just by playing some Bach. We, as teachers, need to be intentional about fostering them. But with a little planning, piano lessons can become a training ground for some seriously valuable life skills.
Remember: The key is to create a safe and supportive environment where exploration and creativity are celebrated. We’re not aiming for perfection but for the joy of musical discovery.
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Piano Hands: Bilateral Coordination
Imagine you’re trying to pat your head and rub your tummy at the same time. That’s using bilateral coordination – using both sides of your body together in a coordinated way. It’s like your left and right hand are working as a team, even if they’re doing different things.
To have good posture for piano lessons, a student needs to have a good understanding of what good posture is and maintain it in other settings as well. In order to do so, one must have the muscles required to maintain balance. These muscles can become strong through movement. If a student has bad posture at the piano because they have weak core muscles, simply telling them to “sit up straight” won’t help. They need to strengthen those muscles first through repetitive movements, and then practice calling on those muscles to maintain balance for good posture.
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