August 2009
1 post
The Secret to Scales - Part 2
In part 1, I’ve mentioned that all the students really need to remember for scales are just the turning points, the “where” and “when”. Now, here’s how to get through the turning points - curve your fingers and practice the turns.
Curved fingers vs Flat fingers
Curving your fingers may sound simple, but to some of my students, it is an unnatural thing to...
May 2009
4 posts
6 tags
The Secret to Scales - Part 1
I’ve actually enrolled 3 of my students for the ABRSM Grade 1 Practical Exams at the beginning of the year and getting the students to stop playing fun tunes and focus on scales, broken chords, (boring) exam pieces and sight-reading feels like forcing medicine down their throats.
In the past few months, I’ve seen scales played using amazingly awkward fingerings that I’ve never...
2 tags
WatchZoe Keating has fussed music with technology and brought it to new heights! Totally awesome! And for some weird reason, I’m not allowed to embed it properly.
1 tag
Jon Schmidth's note reading guide
I’ve always been a big fan of Jon Schmidth’s music. His music is often uplifting and inspiring to listen to and while going thru his website I happen to chance upon his note-reading guide which seems to have gotten a lot of good reviews and feedbacks.
Notes reading is something that all students will struggle with especially when asked to do sight reading. During my first few months...
4 tags
March 2009
6 posts
WatchI heart Jacqueline Dupré. There’s just no other cellist that plays Elgar as well as her. And please don’t tell me that YoYo Ma is anywhere near close to her standards. They may be using the exact same cello, but the sound that comes out is a world of difference. YoYo Ma just lacks the intensity and excitement that Jacqueline Dupré is able to bring to Elgar’s Cello Concerto.
2 tags
“Take a music bath once or twice a week for a few seasons, and you will find that...”
– Oliver Wendell Holmes
4 tags
The "Lu La Lay~!" Plurk
edalene sings "Lu la la, lu la la, lu la lu la lay, lu la lu la lu la layyyyy~~~!"
edalene has been teaching this to her piano kids for weeks and now it's stuck, looping in her head~!
SimpleMinded: .....!!!! how come u know this song?
Kelly asks why must learn this song?
Kelly asks and why ur fren so shocked that u know this song?
SnOoPyGaL says ya loh tot this song very ... hm.. dunno wat word to use
edalene asks what's wrong with this song?!!? it's a very happy song. Some more the song book for this page has a big big flower with smiley face on it!
SnOoPyGaL says ya nth's wrong wat haha
SimpleMinded says thot this is my generation song?
edalene says children's songs last forever one!!! like "twinkle twinkle little star"... it's been ard for CENTURIES!!
edalene says don't discriminate the songs that I teach my piano kids!!!
Kelly *lol*
tototomato wonders if eda will teach them the teletubbies song
SnOoPyGaL says teletubbies song! haha which one
edalene REFUSE to teach teletubbies song!!!!!
tototomato sings.. "tinky winky.... dipsy..... laa laa....po.... teletubbies....teletubbies......"
Kelly *lol*
SnOoPyGaL *lol*
SnOoPyGaL says still can rem? fan of teletubbies?
edalene *smacks head*
4 tags
“Great music is that which penetrates the ear with facility and leaves the memory...”
– Sir Thomas Beecham
February 2009
0 posts
3 tags
Lessons from 2008
Tip No 1. Never arrange for lessons after 8pm
Kids below 10 generally don’t have much energy left after 8pm to pay attention to you because they are used to sleeping early. They tend to get all squirmy on you and be moving around as though they’ve got pins poking into their butts. Nothing you say will actually get into their heads.
I once had no choice but to setup a make up lesson...
December 2008
1 post
2 tags
“Nothing right can be accomplished in art without enthusiasm.”
– Robert Schumann
July 2008
1 post
2 tags
Mr Count & Miss Love-to-Sing
Been up to mischief for: 6 years Tone deaf level (out of 10): unknown Sugar level content in system (out of 10): 5 Loves: counting, giggling, stickers, music
Mr Count & Miss Love-to-Sing are two of the newest students at The Piano Culture (also known as TPC). Yes, they are twins and also the most adorable kids to teach. They mumble to themselves from time to time and occasionally break...
June 2008
6 posts
2 tags
Mr Always-Cancel-Lessons
Been out of mischief for: Many years Tone deaf level (out of 10): ? Sugar level content in system (out of 10): 0 Loves: ?
Mr Always-Cancel-Lessons is the only adult student around and has so far only attended 2 lessons in 2 months. There isn’t much to say about Mr Always-Cancel-Lessons since he is never around.
*update* Mr Always-Cancel-Lessons has permanently cancelled his lessons.
2 tags
Mr Cry-Baby
Been up to mischief for: 9 years Tone deaf level (out of 10): 6 Sugar level content in system (out of 10): 5 Tear gland activity: superbly high Loves: cry, maple story
Mr Cry-Baby detests piano lessons and is one of those student who is just there by parents’ command. All it takes is to repeat “That’s the wrong note” for roughly 8 times to bring him to tears.
Mr...
2 tags
Miss Mind-Of-Her-Own
Been up to mischief for: 9 years Tone deaf level (out of 10): 0 Sugar level content in system (out of 10): 3 Loves: reading, colourful pens
Miss Mind-Of-Her-own is by far one of the best student. Her curious mind brings plenty of tough questions with answers that aren’t always easy for her to digest. Still, it pushes her knowledge of music further than the rest and is a pleasure to teach....
2 tags
Miss Froggy
Been up to mischief for: 8 years Tone deaf level (out of 10): 3 Sugar level content in system (out of 10): 6 Loves: jumping like a frog
Miss Froggy is a pleasantly shy girl with full of smiles when she walks into the classroom. Miss Froggy has thin, tiny fingers and loves to jump. She once said, on her way out of the classroom, that she would like to be a frog and her piano teacher (yours truly)...
Miss Giam-Cai-Paperbag
Been up to mischief for: 11 years Tone deaf level (out of 10): 2 Sugar level content in system (out of 10): 5 Loves: water, Japanese sweets, the words “die” & “no”
Miss Giam-Cai-Paperbag is always found carrying a really crumpled midsized paperbag that miraculously is able to actually hold her scores and theory books together. It’s always been a habit of hers to...
Miss Short-Attention-Span / Bargain-A-Lot
Been up to mischief for: 8 years Tone deaf level (out of 10): 7.5 Sugar level content in system (out of 10): 8.5 Loves: Stickers & Chops
Miss Short-Attention-Span is a somewhat sweet little girl who can never focus on something for more than 10 minutes and starts playing with the wormish looking piano chair mat.
It is suspected that Miss Short-Attention-Span has split personalities. She...
March 2008
1 post
At Long Last
I’ve always wanted be a piano teacher. Well, why not right! Since I’ve already spent so much time and money on music, I’d might as well make some money out of it. But now that I’m about to become a piano teacher…… I’m petrified.
Can I manage the unexpected sugar-high outburst?
Will I forgive them if they happen to be all terribly tone deaf?
Will I...