A great skill to have...being able to accompany others or oneself. This student has a gorgeous voice and has taken piano lessons with me for years. It seems her voice is now stronger than her piano skills, and though we are still working on her piano playing, we are also working on reading chord charts and improvising simple accompaniments for her to play while she sings. I have found that the easiest way to teach this is to download chord and lyric charts from the internet, then to listen to the music with the student. We try to imitate the accompaniment that we hear. I like doing this rather than using arrangements written for piano when I have a good singer. This way, a singer will learn to accompany herself without playing any melody. Here are a few video clips of us working on the piece called "Beautiful" from the new t.v. series, "Smash" at a lesson. Download IMG_1008 Download IMG_1019Download IMG_1021 Download IMG_1022Download IMG_1009
Recent Posts
Some things to consider...
Charity
May 05, 2012
April 23, 2012
Note Learning Workbooks
When students have memorized the names of notes on the staff, note spellers of all types are a big help for a great review and supplemental practice to reading music at the piano. This student loves coloring and art, so these two books have been motivating for her. Also, something I like to do during lessons, or during a sibling's lesson, is to let my students use my work space, such as a special desk or table, my pencils, my crayons, to do theory work. I find they enjoy doing any written work a lot more in my studio than doing it at home. ~Lori
April 21, 2012
Using Electronic Keyboards
I have five electronic keyboards in my studio which I mainly use during group piano lessons. Kids love to play around with all the sounds and rhythms which keyboards offer and can spend a lot of time sitting at a keyboard with headphones on, or with a friend, just going through all the possible sounds. Initially, with young students, we do a lot of practicing of basic exercises on keyboards, such as chromatic chords, scales or chord progressions as a fun supplement to practicing those basics in their private lessons. Download IMG_0907 ~Lori
April 10, 2012
April 02, 2012
National Federation of Music Clubs--Junior Festival
Junior Festival motivates all of my students, including middle school and high school students! This event which is part of the National Federation of Music Clubs, is one that all students can participate in. Students can begin playing in Junior Festival as early as their first or second year of piano lessons, and each year that they play, they accumulate points. When they attain 15 points (which takes a minimum of 3 years), they earn a small gold cup. For each additional 15 points over the years, they attain larger gold cups! For some reason, these gold cups seem to motivate students of all ages and they look forward to playing in this event year after year. http://nfmc-music.org/cms/nfmc-festivals/
March 26, 2012
Beginning Scales and Chords
This book just out! Hope teachers and students will enjoy using this book as a fun, simple introduction to scales and chords. The keys of C, G, and F Major are presented in a methodical manner, hands separately for both scales and chords. Contrary motion scales and one octave scales, hands together, and the chord progression, I IV I V7 I, follow. This book may be introduced in the Bastien methods as early as Level 1 in Bastien Piano Basics, or Piano Party C, in Bastiens' Invitation to Music.
For teachers who participate in Piano Guild, www.pianoguild.com, this is a great book for students participating in Elementary B - D levels, who are just beginning to learn scales and chords for their auditions.
~Lori
March 07, 2012
More Basic Practice...chords
Here is a video clip of a 5th grade student practicing chords and inversions and major, minor, diminished and augmented chords. Download IMG_0827
February 29, 2012
Daily practice...
Music begins to be incorporated into many parts of students' lives...in their Valentine's boxes, in their art work, and as a creative outlet.
The daily practice of basic things such as scales or chords can seem mundane, but practicing these things regularly is what helps students become better players. They can really begin to enjoy making music as they become more proficient musicians.
Here are a few video clips of students practicing with me at lessons. Download 7 yr old voicing lesson Download Chord practice for cm
February 08, 2012
Concertino
Our local MTAC Concerto Contest was held recently. Here is a video clip of a student who participated with an interesting contemporary late intermediate concerto, Concertino, by Anna Asche. Download IMG_0768
February 02, 2012
Preparing for a Recital...Rehearse!
Getting students ready for a recital takes time! Learning the music is part of it, but practicing performing once the music is ready is just as important. Here are a few video clips which showcase different aspects of preparing a performance. Download IMG_0747 Download IMG_0746 Download IMG_0750
February 01, 2012
Preparing for Certificate of Merit
Here are a few video clips of high school students preparing music for our California state exam, Certificate of Merit. These students are participating in the Advanced Level of Certificate of Merit. There are ten levels in this program and it is helpful to me as a teacher to enter my students in this event because I hold myself responsible for teaching a certain amount of material and information each year. The Certificate of Merit program is basically a broad curriculum which prepares students in all areas of music: performance, technic, sight reading, ear training and theory. For more information on this program, see www.mtac.org and click on Certificate of Merit. Download Chopin Etude Download Dello Joio
January 31, 2012
Duets in the Family
It is fun, exciting, a little annoying and always silly when siblings sit side by side at the piano! These two brothers, ages 6 and 7, keep me laughing as they learn to play together. Download Duet Download IMG_0739
Fun with Valentine's Pieces!
(The above photo is a theory page from Pre-Reading Valentine's Party.)
Enjoy the following video clips of students working on Valentine's solos. They are preparing for our Valentine's Party; a short recital, followed by treats and making Valentine's. In private lessons this week, we are practicing their recital pieces, and practicing how to perform. Download 004 Download IMG_0714 Download 012
~Lori
January 23, 2012
Getting Ready for Valentine's Day!
Valentine's Day is one of my favorite holidays to celebrate with my students! Pre-Reading Valentine's Party is brand new and contains creative student solos for young beginning students who have not yet learned to read music on the staff. Also included are simple theory pages as well as a teacher accompaniment for each piece.
Happy Valentine's contains solos written for Primer Level, Level 1, and Level 2 students. It is filled with melodic, unique pieces which students love to play. My students are enjoying learning these pieces as we prepare to perform them at an upcoming Valentine's Party.
~Lori
January 03, 2012
December 12, 2011
December 01, 2011
More Christmas Carols!
Enjoy these short video clips as students continue to learn Christmas carols! Download IMG_0491
Teaching Popular Music
These three students love working on pop music arrangements. We are currently working on Adele's "Someone Like You." I teach this type of music basically by ear...we watch the youtube videos and then get a chart from any on-line site which has lyrics typed out with chord symbols above. Then we figure out what to play and sing together, trying to keep it pretty close to the way the artist has recorded it. Here is a video clip of our work so far on this piece! Download IMG_0493 ~Lori
Beginning Piano Literature
This seven-year old second grader is learning to play pieces from Piano Literature, Vol. 1, edited by Jane Bastien. He has been a dedicated student, practicing daily, and is in his third year of lessons. I typically introduce classical pieces by master composers when a student can read well in Level 2 of the Bastien Piano Basics, which is about what I consider to be "late elementary" music. If a student has learned about phrasing, counting, and balance between the hands in method books, then teaching the early classical pieces becomes a lot easier. Enjoy this video clip of Minuet in G, by Bach.Download Bach
~Lori
November 30, 2011
Teaching Christmas Carols, Cont.
...a few more video clips of beginning students having their first lessons of the year using their new Christmas books.
November 28, 2011
Christmas Carols, Part 1
Christmas is coming! I am beginning to teach carols to my students now and will be sharing their progress this week. The rhythms are challenging, the music is familiar, and students who celebrate Christmas want to learn them! For about the first 4-5 years of lessons, I spend time teaching Christmas songs to students. I teach them at private lessons, and group lessons...solos, duets, multiple part arrangements! I encourage and practice counting the pieces with students at lessons, then progress to singing as they become proficient in playing the pieces. This video clip shows three students learning to play "Holly Jolly Christmas" from Bastien Play-Along Christmas, Book 1. Download Christmas
~Lori
November 08, 2011
Happy Thanksgiving!
This solo collection contains pieces at primer level, level 1 and level 2. It is a great book for sight reading at different levels and is a fun addition to any method at Thanksgiving time! Here is a video clip of a student playing Tom Turkey, a level 1 piece. Download IMG_0378
November 07, 2011
Point Loma Nazarene Pedagogy Day
Mom and I had a great day with the pedagogy class from Point Loma Nazarene University! Students visited our studios for a half day clinic. Jane began the day with a lecture on teaching beginning and intermediate students. We then moved over to my studio, a few blocks away, where I had invited several of my own students for lessons which the Point Loma students observed. The day ended with dinner, discussion and browsing of materials in my studio. We wish all the best for these new piano teachers and we hope we have adequately conveyed our passion for teaching piano! It is a terrific job!
~Lori and Jane
October 31, 2011
Happy Halloween!
I held a Halloween party for my younger students who came in costume, played a piece, and then made crafts and ate treats following the recital! It was a fun night for all! ~Lori
October 16, 2011
How Much Music to Assign Each Week?
The amount of music to assign each week varies for each student. Most of my beginning to early intermediate students practice about 30 minutes a day, so I try to determine about what I think each student is capable of accomplishing in that amount of time. Some students read really well and get bored with just one or two pieces, so for those students (as shown in the assignment book above) I assign quite a few pieces from several books. If I have students who like to play their "favorite" piece over and over, I may assign less reading material. In general, I try to have one challenge piece that we are working on for a recital or festival, a few easy reading pieces and some technique practice, such as scales and chords assigned for each week.
Here are a few video clips! Download 029 Download 025
October 10, 2011
Counting Aloud...
I count aloud with my students as the play during their lessons and I encourage them to count aloud with me and also at home while practicing. It takes practice and getting used to, but students who can do this well learn to play the piano with a good sense of rhythm. Once students can play in rhythm well, I also encourage them to sing while playing. Here are two video clips of younger students counting aloud while playing. Download Mr Download IMG_0258
October 01, 2011
Every day things to work on...
There are basic facts and techniques which are presented and practiced at every piano lesson along the way...from the very beginning lessons through the advanced. Here are a few video clips which showcase some of these things:
- note reading on flashcards. In this video clip, a student is practicing playing individual notes off of flashcards with the metronome. She is 6 years old. Download Ach
- playing together as an ensemble. We practice this at weekly group lessons. This is a group of 4 girls, 3rd and 4th graders playing a duet from Duet Favorites, Book 1, by Jane Bastien.Download Group friday
- learning new pieces with emphasis on counting, phrasing, balance, etc. This is a video clip of a 10-year old boy learning a sonatina by Robert Vandall. Download Jlm
- voicing of chords. This is presented at a very beginning stage and practiced over and over again throughout lessons over the years. This video clip shows me working with a 7-year-old boy as we work on trying to bring out the top note in a RH chord. Download 7 yr old voicing lesson
~Lori
September 26, 2011
6-year old, 2nd year student...first steps of learning to read music...
Click on the following link to see the beginnings of learning to name the bass clef line notes on flashcards. This student started lessons in Sept. of 2010 and is now working out of Piano Party Books C, by Jane, Lisa and Lori Bastien, while learning to read music, a few notes at a time. Download Lw first songs
Pictured below is her assignment book and flashcards for the week! Each of my beginning students owns a set of Bastien Flashcards to practice at home.
This next link is a video clip of this beginning student playing a piece from Halloween Party, by Jane, Lisa and Lori Bastien. Halloween Party is a pre-reading solos book. I like to continue students in pre-reading pieces even while they are learning to read music. Download Ewflashcards
~Lori
September 16, 2011
First week of lessons...cont.
Friday lessons... and a terrific first week overall!
September 14, 2011
First week of lessons, continued...
Here is a video clip of starting a concerto with a 5th grade student! Download 032
Here is a video clip of a first attempt at "Triple Dip" by Robert Vandall. Download 036
September 13, 2011
More Photos and Videos from the First Week of Lessons
Video clips from various lessons...Download 020 (2)
Download 017 Download 021 (2)Download 016
Bulletin Boards
It always takes me time to go through the disarray of summer's end and get my studio cleaned up for a fresh start for fall! But once I get started, I have fun with it. I love to make creative bulletin board displays. Pictured here is the board in my studio. I made it a few years back at one of the piano camp sessions. Students helped paint the wood border of the board.
I also have a bulletin board in my waiting room. Students draw pictures while they are waiting for their lessons and I put them up on the board in this room each week. What you are seeing on the board now is just background paper, recycled from the printing presses of the Neil A. Kjos Music Company. Soon I will have lots of kids' artwork to display!
Finally, I have a great desk in my studio! It is in the corner of my studio, and it is where I write, talk on the phone and spend a fair amount of time sitting each day... and I have a bulletin board here as well!!
~Lori
September 12, 2011
September 12, 2011, first official day of the fall semester!
Summer is over and I am excited to get back to my routine teaching schedule! I really enjoy seeing my students again after not having seen them regularly over the summer. The first few weeks of lessons entail new music for all as well as lots of review! Here is a video clip of a 9-year-old student reviewing key signatures on flashcards. Download 020 ~Lori
July 27, 2011
July 12, 2011
Piano Camp 2011...more photos...more details...
This session of campers met from 9 - 3 from a Monday - Thursday. I was fortunate to have four counselors helping me, and students had a rotating schedule each day, which was something like this:
- 9 - 9:30 Listen to live piano music while getting ready for camp to start. Color, work on lanyards, read, while listening.
- 9:30 Practice in a group setting with Lori
- 10:00 Art
- 10:30 Music History lesson
- 10:45 Recess
- 11:15 Practice privately with an instructor.
- 11:45 Music games or board games with counselor
- 12:15 Lunch and recess
- 1:00 Lori reads aloud. This week, I read "Beethoven Lives Upstairs." On the last day of camp, we watched the movie.
- 1:30 - 3 Cooking, sewing, art, gardening, or free play.
July 11, 2011
May 22, 2011
The week before Guild...cont.
The last video clip of students preparing for Guild! Download Solid_Rock,_Jane_Bastien
The week before Guild...cont.
Download The_Saints_Come_Marching_in
Enjoy this video clip of a 5-year-old student's first Guild piece!
~Lori
May 16, 2011
The week before Guild...cont.
Download Spanish Gypsies, William Gillock
A few more video clips of students preparing for Guild!
~Lori
May 15, 2011
The week before Guild...cont.
Caruso, my 6-year old Havanese, had his house moved to the piano studio this year! We remodeled our kitchen and family room, leaving him with no comfortable spot to rest during the day while I was teaching. I found that with all the constructin going on in the main part of our house, he was most comfortable being with me in the studio and he has kept this habit, taking all his naps now while I teach, right next to the piano!
A few more video clips of students preparing for Guild... Download Bowing practice! Download My Best Friend, by Jane Bastien
May 14, 2011
The week before Guild...cont.
(Friday lessons! These two cute girls are going out to the theatre after piano!)
Here are a few more video clips of students preparing for Guild Auditions. Download The Calico Cat, Jane Bastien Download Little Dog Running Down the Street, Jane Bastien
May 13, 2011
The week before Guild...cont.
A few more videos to browse...Download Sea Mist, James Bastien Download Ivan Sings, Khachaturian
May 12, 2011
One week before Guild Auditions...
I have been having fun hearing my students get their pieces ready for their Guild Auditions which will be in just about a week. I am going to be posting short video clips over the week of students playing pieces that I like to teach. You can hear that they are enjoying their music, they still have some practicing to do, and this will be a busy week for all of us! (...and just to add a little color to this post the picture above is showcasing some of my favorite buttons!)
The National Guild of Piano Teachers is an organization that piano teachers can join. In late spring/early summer each year, auditions are held in almost all cities in the U.S. It is a favorite event for all of my students...all ages can play. The website for this organization is www.pianoguild.org.
Here is the first video clip...enjoy!Download Ring Around The Rosy, from Pre- Reading Solos, Jane Bastien
~Lori
May 05, 2011
April 12, 2011
Time for Sewing...
I learned to sew in the fall of 2009. My mother-in-law taught me a few basic things which opened up a whole new hobby for me. I had never had any interest in sewing, in fact, my grandmother, my mom and my sister all loved sewing and while growing up, even with all the opportunity to learn, I never did! My mother-in-law is also a fantastic seamstress and had sewn many things for us over the years, including, Halloween costumes for my children, pillows, curtains, and bedding for our dog! She bought us a sewing machine a few years ago so that she could sew when she was visiting us, and after a few years of seeing the sewing machine sitting around, I asked her if she could teach me to sew. I will admit that I have become somewhat obsessed with sewing. I have moved my sewing machine from room to room, trying to find the easiest place to work and keep my projects set up and the machine has now ended up in my piano studio! My students have all been interested in what I am sewing, and so, recently, I accidentally began making an apron for every girl student who wanted one in my studio! One of my students was looking through my fabrics, buttons, lace, trim...and came upon a small, unfinished apron. She said she loved it and I said I would finish it for her because I had started it a long time ago and it was too small for all of us in my home. So, that is how the story goes and pictured in this post are a few of the finished aprons!
