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<title>Harmony and Melody Studio Inc: Blog Posts</title>
<link>http://www.pianomother.com</link>
<pubDate>Fri, 17 May 2013 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
<description>List of Latest Blog Posts at Harmony and Melody Studio Inc</description>
<language>en-us</language>
<isc:store_name><![CDATA[Harmony and Melody Studio Inc]]></isc:store_name>
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<title><![CDATA[Piano Improvisation Contest Winner - Miriam]]></title>
<link>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/PianoMotherBlogPosts/~3/fAAgCp6Rq6o/Piano-Improvisation-Contest-Winner--Miriam_b_59.html</link>
<pubDate>Tue, 16 Apr 2013 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Come and meet Miriam - the 2nd place winner of 2013 Piano Improvisation Contest.You will learn about her musical journey in this blog post.Location: Hong KongSong she improvised: Spring Of Hope ]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.pianomother.com/Piano-Improvisation-Contest-Winner--Miriam_b_59.html</guid>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[Come and meet Miriam - the 2nd place winner of 2013 Piano Improvisation Contest.You will learn about her musical journey in this blog post.Location: Hong KongSong she improvised: Spring Of Hope<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/PianoMotherBlogPosts/~4/fAAgCp6Rq6o" height="1" width="1"/>]]></content:encoded>
<isc:description><![CDATA[Come and meet Miriam - the 2nd place winner of 2013 Piano Improvisation Contest.You will learn about her musical journey in this blog video post.Location: Hong KongSong she improvised: Spring Of Hope How long have you been playing the piano?I have been playing the piano over forty years.What was the first song you learned to play on the piano?I forgot it.What is your favorite song to play on the piano?The Love of GodWhat is your favorite musician?No specific musicianWhat inspired you to learn piano improvising?I have been the church pianist for a long period of time. I play both traditional hymns and contemporary hymns. A few years ago, I became aware that my music techniques were so limited, they affected my playing. So I learned piano improvising to improve my skills.How did you learn piano improvisational techniques?I searched through the internet and found someone who taught advanced piano improvisational techniques. Besides, I purposely found someone who taught traditional hymns with new arrangements. I bought some DVDs from different teachers, and tried to learn their skills one by one.How did you like Yoke Wong’s piano courses and free newsletters? What did you learn from them?Yoke Wong is one of my favorite teachers. I really like her piano courses and newsletters. The newsletters were so helpful, the piano tips were so practical yet easily to learn. I loved her piano improvisational courses. She explained the technique in details, students could follow easily. After learning for a while, I have great improvement on my keyboard and my piano playing is going to the next level. I would like to give big thanks and honor to my teacher Yoke Wong. I used all the techniques she taught to create the song “ Springs of Hope”. I never dreamed of myself could create such a beautiful song. It is really amazing.What advice would you give to all the piano players out there?People learned classical music usually play from sheet music. Their talents were limited by the pieces and music notes. I trust the piano improvisation is the key to open our music mind and creativity. It helps us to play freely on the keyboard. Learning improvisation benefits both young and experience ones. For beginners, I suggest they learn one technique at a time, until they master the technique very well before going to the next one. Since It will help to improve the learning curve. For experience keyboard players, do not be afraid to apply what they have learned, they will amaze their music creativity far beyond their mind setting. Enjoy playing!Comment from Yoke Wong:Big congrats to Miriam! Beautiful expression and great techniques shown throughout the piece. I love your left hand rolls starting at 1:00 minute - this brightens the whole piece.Thank you for sharing your piano playing experience!Opportunities:You may consider adding more complexity to your melody line. It gets mundane after repeating several times. But I think your left hand variation makes this piece interesting! Big shout-out:Admire your determination and desires to continuously learning new skills. May the Lord expands your musical skills as you continue to serve Him.]]></isc:description>
<isc:productid><![CDATA[59]]></isc:productid>
<isc:author />
<feedburner:origLink>http://www.pianomother.com/Piano-Improvisation-Contest-Winner--Miriam_b_59.html</feedburner:origLink></item>
<item>
<title><![CDATA[Old Rugged Cross Piano Arrangement]]></title>
<link>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/PianoMotherBlogPosts/~3/QJVI9bkPmsg/Old-Rugged-Cross-Piano-Arrangement_b_58.html</link>
<pubDate>Wed, 27 Mar 2013 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Easter is around the corner. I'd like to share the piano arrangements of a couple of popular Christian songs with you - The Old Rugged Cross and Down At The Cross. Read More ]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.pianomother.com/Old-Rugged-Cross-Piano-Arrangement_b_58.html</guid>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[Easter is around the corner. I'd like to share the piano arrangements of a couple of popular Christian songs with you - The Old Rugged Cross and Down At The Cross. Read More<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/PianoMotherBlogPosts/~4/QJVI9bkPmsg" height="1" width="1"/>]]></content:encoded>
<isc:description><![CDATA[Click and download Old Rugged Cross Sheet Music.Click and download Down At the Cross Sheet Music.Listen to Down At the Cross audio clipHappy Easter!]]></isc:description>
<isc:productid><![CDATA[58]]></isc:productid>
<isc:author><![CDATA[Yoke Wong]]></isc:author>
<feedburner:origLink>http://www.pianomother.com/Old-Rugged-Cross-Piano-Arrangement_b_58.html</feedburner:origLink></item>
<item>
<title><![CDATA[Piano Improvisation Contest Winner - MJ]]></title>
<link>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/PianoMotherBlogPosts/~3/1KVTIo1gRf8/Piano-Improvisation-Contest-Winner--MJ_b_57.html</link>
<pubDate>Sun, 10 Mar 2013 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Come and meet MJ - the 1st place winner of 2013 Piano Improvisation Contest. You will learn more about her musical journey in this blog article. Read more...Location: Illinois, United StatesSong she improvised: You ]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.pianomother.com/Piano-Improvisation-Contest-Winner--MJ_b_57.html</guid>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[Come and meet MJ - the 1st place winner of 2013 Piano Improvisation Contest. You will learn more about her musical journey in this blog article. Read more...Location: Illinois, United StatesSong she improvised: You<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/PianoMotherBlogPosts/~4/1KVTIo1gRf8" height="1" width="1"/>]]></content:encoded>
<isc:description><![CDATA[Come and meet MJ - the 1st place winner of 2013 Piano Improvisation Contest. You will learn more about her musical journey in this blog article.Location: Illinois, United StatesSong she improvised: YouHow long have you been playing the piano?I really cannot quantify the length of time I have been playing the piano because I don't play the piano regularly (its a shame!). It is like an ON/OFF situation since 2011. I play the piano whenever I have the time. I work weekdays and my commute takes 3 hours a day so it's kind of tough to squeeze playing the piano in my schedule. I try my best to do it on weekends. It was in the later part of 2012 that I kind of started improvising. Thats when I composed my very first music, YOU. I felt great about it and I ended up making more music. By the way, I never had any formal piano lessons. I learned it through the fake books piano courses (the first and second piano courses I got from PianoMother). These piano courses put me on the right track. When I retire, the one thing I would love to do full time is to play the piano.What was the first song you learned to play on the piano?I think it was the simplest arrangement of Silent Night.What is your favorite song to play on the piano?It is a Tagalog love song, Saan Ka Man Naroroon (Wherever You Are, not sure if this is the right translation) hopefully Ill remember how to play it. What is your favorite musician?I really don't have a favorite musician in mind until I saw Yoke's performances online and in her DVDs. This is one reason why I love watching and listening to Yoke. She captures my heart every time she plays the piano. I love how she gently touches the keys, her fingers are just flowing so smoothly showing how passionate she is in playing the piano. Yoke has made a big difference in my love for piano playing. I thought I can only play the piano when there's music sheet in front of me, not anymore.What inspired you to learn piano improvisationWhen I saw/heard Yoke play, how she can change a very simple melody into something very beautiful, it made me wonder if I can do it and how will I do it. Another reason is not being able to play the piano without music sheet and when the songs started to get so boring.How did you learn piano improvisational techniques?There's only one answer to this. I learned piano improvisational techniques through Yoke Wong's piano courses. They are very effective learning materials.How did you like Yoke Wong's piano courses and free newsletters? What did you learn from them?I love her piano courses because I was able to learn how to dress up a song, learn how to use the different left hand styles, add fillers and most importantly how to improvise. Her DVDs made it so much easier for me to follow the piano courses. About the newsletters, they are very informative and what is nice about it is that anyone can sign up for free. The newsletters give everyone the chance to preview the different piano courses being offered. I am so grateful to Yoke and her hard work on putting together those piano courses for us. She made me love more what I like to do. These are great piano courses.What advice would you give to all the piano players out there?I have always loved playing the piano just for my own enjoyment at home. Joining any musical contest never entered my mind, let alone my video ending up in the internet (but its cool!), not even in my wildest dreams but it was made possible by Yoke Wong. You never know where music will take you. This whole thing was a great experience for me. All I can say is, as long as your passion to play the piano is coming from your heart, nothing should stop you from pursuing it. Don't let frustrations prevent you from doing it. Just be patient and follow your hearts desires. I would advise the piano players out there to continue playing the piano as long as they can (which I am planning to do myself), to utilize to the fullest their God given talents and to share their music to the world. For those who are already playing the piano, those who are just starting to play the piano and those who are planning to play the piano, I would highly recommend visiting PianoMother's website because they have tons of valuable learning materials in Yoke Wongs piano courses which can enhance your piano playing to a higher level. With Yoke Wong's piano courses, we can make beautiful music. Let your heart dictate your music because music is the language of the soul. The soul expresses its feelings through music. Thanks again Yoke Wong and God Bless. MJComment from Yoke Wong:Big congrats to MJ! You really have inspired other piano players to continue to stretch beyond the limit and bring out the best in them. You are growing by leaps and bounds in such a short period big kudos! I see you have applied techniques that were covered in our fake book, 121 left hand styles, and other courses. Great work!I enjoyed watching and listening to your left hand styles you have combined ballad with tango style interchangeably in the music. The melody was beautifully arranged as well. There are some nice musical phrasings! Overall this is a nice piano piece!Opportunities:You may consider practicing and working out the left hand separately. There are a few times when you moved the left hand and it slowed down the tempo as your eyes were paying attention to the left hand movement. Another area of improvement is the pedaling skills whenever you switched to different chord or different phrase, change the pedal swiftly to avoid muddy or cloudy sound. Big shout-out:I admire your determination and focus - despite long commute time and working full time, you devoted time to practice piano!You definitely have many fans and friends that voted for you :-This is what life is all about - having circle of friends and network that support you! Great job!]]></isc:description>
<isc:productid><![CDATA[57]]></isc:productid>
<isc:author><![CDATA[Yoke Wong]]></isc:author>
<feedburner:origLink>http://www.pianomother.com/Piano-Improvisation-Contest-Winner--MJ_b_57.html</feedburner:origLink></item>
<item>
<title><![CDATA[Piano Lesson - Chinese New Year Song "Gong Xi Gong Xi"]]></title>
<link>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/PianoMotherBlogPosts/~3/oFuLWCv3M4s/Piano-Lesson--Chinese-New-Year-Song-Gong-Xi-Gong-Xi_b_56.html</link>
<pubDate>Mon, 28 Jan 2013 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Chinese traditional new year song “Gong Xi” was written by Chen Gexin in 1946 to celebrate the triumph in Sino-Japanese War. Later the song’s lyrics were changed to celebrate the Chinese new year (lunar new year). ]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.pianomother.com/Piano-Lesson--Chinese-New-Year-Song-Gong-Xi-Gong-Xi_b_56.html</guid>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[Chinese traditional new year song “Gong Xi” was written by Chen Gexin in 1946 to celebrate the triumph in Sino-Japanese War. Later the song’s lyrics were changed to celebrate the Chinese new year (lunar new year).<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/PianoMotherBlogPosts/~4/oFuLWCv3M4s" height="1" width="1"/>]]></content:encoded>
<isc:description><![CDATA[Chinese traditional new year song “Gong Xi” was written by Chen Gexin in 1946 to celebrate the triumph in Sino-Japanese War. Later the song’s lyrics were changed to celebrate the Chinese new year (lunar new year).Download and print the Piano Sheet Music.This song uses C minor scale (To learn more about minor scales).You can master the melody of GongXi GongXi by practicing C minor scale with your right hand. As for the left hand, you can use simple broken C minor and F minor chords.For those who are more advanced, you may break apart the C minor and F minor chords and use more syncopation rhythms.Happy Chinese New Year!To learn more left hand arrangement and piano improvisation techniques, please visit121 Left Hand Piano StylesDefinitive Piano Improvisation (Best Tool for Improvisation Award Winner)Please feel free to make a comment and share your thoughts!]]></isc:description>
<isc:productid><![CDATA[56]]></isc:productid>
<isc:author><![CDATA[Yoke Wong]]></isc:author>
<feedburner:origLink>http://www.pianomother.com/Piano-Lesson--Chinese-New-Year-Song-Gong-Xi-Gong-Xi_b_56.html</feedburner:origLink></item>
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<title><![CDATA[How Learning Piano Can Help Your Child?]]></title>
<link>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/PianoMotherBlogPosts/~3/yuQzZ3v0o_I/How-Learning-Piano-Can-Help-Your-Child_b_55.html</link>
<pubDate>Sun, 13 Jan 2013 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Signing up your child for piano lessons certainly is a big decision! However, on top of learning a new skill and developing a new hobby, your child will also be advantaged in other aspects of his or her life. Piano lessons are more than what they seem to be and may even help mold the person your child will be a few years from now. Let’s look at a few key points related to piano lessons: ]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.pianomother.com/How-Learning-Piano-Can-Help-Your-Child_b_55.html</guid>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[Signing up your child for piano lessons certainly is a big decision! However, on top of learning a new skill and developing a new hobby, your child will also be advantaged in other aspects of his or her life. Piano lessons are more than what they seem to be and may even help mold the person your child will be a few years from now. Let’s look at a few key points related to piano lessons:<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/PianoMotherBlogPosts/~4/yuQzZ3v0o_I" height="1" width="1"/>]]></content:encoded>
<isc:description><![CDATA[Signing up your child for piano lessons certainly is a big decision! However, on top of learning a new skill and developing a new hobby, your child will also be advantaged in other aspects of his or her life. Piano lessons are more than what they seem to be and may even help mold the person your child will be a few years from now. Let’s look at a few key points related to piano lessons:Focus: Learning how to play piano will help your child focus and concentrate on the tasks at hand. Because playing piano involves a great deal of focus, your child will have the ability to use this skill in many different ways in the future. Your child will also learn how to tackle difficult tasks through piano lessons and work through challenges while staying focused and calm.School: Many studies have shown a close correlation between learning piano and academic success, particular in mathematics. Coordination: Because playing piano demands a lot of coordination, your child will develop better motor skills, eye-hand coordination, dexterity and the ability to easily handle complex thought processes. Self-esteem: Having the ability to do something unique, such as playing piano, will help your child feel proud and accomplished, and boost his or her self-esteem. Piano lessons are a great way to enforce the notions of hard work and dedication as well as patience and perseverance.You want your child to grow up and be a well-rounded individual. You want him or her to push the limits and strive to be a better person. Piano lessons are a great way to plant the seeds for a better future. Playing piano is more than just about the music; playing piano shows discipline, dedication, passion, confidence and who doesn’t want that for their child? So, if you are thinking of signing your child up for piano lessons, don’t think twice. You are investing in much more than just a musical education; you’ll be investing in his or her future.]]></isc:description>
<isc:productid><![CDATA[55]]></isc:productid>
<isc:author><![CDATA[Yoke Wong]]></isc:author>
<feedburner:origLink>http://www.pianomother.com/How-Learning-Piano-Can-Help-Your-Child_b_55.html</feedburner:origLink></item>
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<title><![CDATA[Piano Improvisation Recordings by Jackie]]></title>
<link>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/PianoMotherBlogPosts/~3/xYlYOsKmNA4/Piano-Improvisation-Recordings-by-Jackie_b_54.html</link>
<pubDate>Sat, 15 Sep 2012 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Recently I received an email from Jackie who lives in Texas. With her permission, I’d like to share her email with you.“Hi Ms. Wong. I don't have a video, but I was able to make a recording. I started on the lesson on color chords/maj7 chords today. For the first time, I was able to play something that wasn't written on paper and it didn't sound half bad. There are a few oopses but I was trying to capture the moment before it escaped me. I just started playing what I felt using the Fmaj7 chord as a starting point. Wow, how liberating!!!!!!!!! Thank you, thank you, thank you!” ]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.pianomother.com/Piano-Improvisation-Recordings-by-Jackie_b_54.html</guid>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[Recently I received an email from Jackie who lives in Texas. With her permission, I’d like to share her email with you.“Hi Ms. Wong. I don't have a video, but I was able to make a recording. I started on the lesson on color chords/maj7 chords today. For the first time, I was able to play something that wasn't written on paper and it didn't sound half bad. There are a few oopses but I was trying to capture the moment before it escaped me. I just started playing what I felt using the Fmaj7 chord as a starting point. Wow, how liberating!!!!!!!!! Thank you, thank you, thank you!”<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/PianoMotherBlogPosts/~4/xYlYOsKmNA4" height="1" width="1"/>]]></content:encoded>
<isc:description><![CDATA[ Recently I received an email from Jackie who lives in Texas. With her permission, I’d like to share her email with you.“Hi Ms. Wong. I don't have a video, but I was able to make a recording. I started on the lesson on color chords/maj7 chords today. For the first time, I was able to play something that wasn't written on paper and it didn't sound half bad. There are a few oopses but I was trying to capture the moment before it escaped me. I just started playing what I felt using the Fmaj7 chord as a starting point. Wow, how liberating!!!!!!!!! Thank you, thank you, thank you!”Here are the two recordings of Jackie.Recording 1 (F Major 7th) - A beautiful ballad style composed primarily with major 7th chord is used in this song. You can hear the nostalgic left handpattern throughout the whole song. Not bad for a first time improviser. Radio Player  var so = new SWFObject(/assets/images/RadioPlayer/playerMultipleList.swf, mymovie, 200, 80, 7, #FFFFFF);  so.addVariable(autoPlay,no) so.addVariable(playlistPath,/assets/images/RadioPlayer/Fmajor.xml) so.write(flashPlayer1); Recording 2 (D Major) - Jackie was able to creatively arrange and improvise her music using dynamics and theme notes. She played the music with expression and emotion throughout the composition. Radio Player  var so = new SWFObject(/assets/images/RadioPlayer/playerMultipleList.swf, mymovie, 200, 80, 7, #FFFFFF);  so.addVariable(autoPlay,no) so.addVariable(playlistPath,/assets/images/RadioPlayer/Dmajor.xml) so.write(flashPlayer); The techniques she used are covered by the piano lessons in Definitive Piano Improvisation course. She ordered the course on July 23, 2012.]]></isc:description>
<isc:productid><![CDATA[54]]></isc:productid>
<isc:author><![CDATA[Yoke Wong]]></isc:author>
<feedburner:origLink>http://www.pianomother.com/Piano-Improvisation-Recordings-by-Jackie_b_54.html</feedburner:origLink></item>
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<title><![CDATA[How to Keep your Students Interested During the Lesson]]></title>
<link>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/PianoMotherBlogPosts/~3/KjcAvhDMyx4/How-to-Keep-your-Students-Interested-During-the-Lesson_b_53.html</link>
<pubDate>Wed, 22 Aug 2012 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ One common problem faced by many teachers is that students arrive to lessons motivated, but as time goes by, they lose interest and can’t focus properly. This is especially true if you are giving hour-long lessons – whether it is upon the parents’ request or because you don’t believe in 30-minute lessons – as it can be hard for younger students to focus for that long. The trick is find activities that will keep them asking for more and make them learn without having the impression of sitting in a lesson. ]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.pianomother.com/How-to-Keep-your-Students-Interested-During-the-Lesson_b_53.html</guid>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[One common problem faced by many teachers is that students arrive to lessons motivated, but as time goes by, they lose interest and can’t focus properly. This is especially true if you are giving hour-long lessons – whether it is upon the parents’ request or because you don’t believe in 30-minute lessons – as it can be hard for younger students to focus for that long. The trick is find activities that will keep them asking for more and make them learn without having the impression of sitting in a lesson.<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/PianoMotherBlogPosts/~4/KjcAvhDMyx4" height="1" width="1"/>]]></content:encoded>
<isc:description><![CDATA[One common problem faced by many teachers is that students arrive to lessons motivated, but as time goes by, they lose interest and can’t focus properly. This is especially true if you are giving hour-long lessons – whether it is upon the parents’ request or because you don’t believe in 30-minute lessons – as it can be hard for younger students to focus for that long. The trick is find activities that will keep them asking for more and make them learn without having the impression of sitting in a lesson. First of all, it is important that your students don’t look at piano lessons as being a chore. They already go to school 5 days per week and don’t need to feel like they are still at school when they come to you. This is the main reason why some students don’t seem to focus or be motivated during their lessons. Yes, they have to learn and do the work, but it is also important that they think of piano lessons as being fun, interesting and a good time with a great teacher! Don’t reprimand your students for not practicing or don’t make them feel like they are disappointing you – there are other ways to make them realize that they will have to work a bit harder next week to learn their songs. For example, you can use a practice journal that their parents have to sign, in which they indicate what they have worked each day of the week. This way, you can use this positive method to encourage children to do more the next week or reward good habits – this will go a long way in making them more aware of what they have to do and will make them realize how good they feel when they come to lessons prepared and ready to play! Another thing you can do to keep your students interested is to break down your lessons in short activities. Let’s face it, spending 30 minutes on one song is exhausting for the young ones and makes them feel as though they don’t have the talent necessary to play piano. Instead, schedule 4 activities of 10 minutes each and use the time remaining to review what they are supposed to practice during the week. Try to include theory worksheets that they can color and have fun with to distract them from the piano once in a while! Finally, even if some of the students seem like they would rather be anywhere else than with you, or come to lessons unprepared week after week – or stop paying attention halfway through the lesson – it is up to you to change their attitude and make them enjoy piano lessons all over again. After all, music is a gift that needs to be enjoyed! ]]></isc:description>
<isc:productid><![CDATA[53]]></isc:productid>
<isc:author><![CDATA[Administrator]]></isc:author>
<feedburner:origLink>http://www.pianomother.com/How-to-Keep-your-Students-Interested-During-the-Lesson_b_53.html</feedburner:origLink></item>
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<title><![CDATA[Autistic Children and the Piano]]></title>
<link>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/PianoMotherBlogPosts/~3/OXW--yEbUG0/Autistic-Children-and-the-Piano_b_52.html</link>
<pubDate>Sat, 18 Aug 2012 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Autistic children are known to do very well in music lessons. For many of them, it is a great way to explore creativity and develop a myriad of skills. Many experts recommend music lessons for children with disabilities, such as autism. However, for many music teachers, these can represent a challenge. Many ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis) therapists will try to learn just enough piano so that they can teach their own patients – however there is a difference between “knowing a little piano” and being a full-on piano educator. Knowing techniques and approaches to help autistic children learn piano is a great way to widen your clientele and be seen as an expert in this niche.  ]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.pianomother.com/Autistic-Children-and-the-Piano_b_52.html</guid>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[Autistic children are known to do very well in music lessons. For many of them, it is a great way to explore creativity and develop a myriad of skills. Many experts recommend music lessons for children with disabilities, such as autism. However, for many music teachers, these can represent a challenge. Many ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis) therapists will try to learn just enough piano so that they can teach their own patients – however there is a difference between “knowing a little piano” and being a full-on piano educator. Knowing techniques and approaches to help autistic children learn piano is a great way to widen your clientele and be seen as an expert in this niche. <img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/PianoMotherBlogPosts/~4/OXW--yEbUG0" height="1" width="1"/>]]></content:encoded>
<isc:description><![CDATA[Autistic children are known to do very well in music lessons. For many of them, it is a great way to explore creativity and develop a myriad of skills. Many experts recommend music lessons for children with disabilities, such as autism. However, for many music teachers, these can represent a challenge. Many ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis) therapists will try to learn just enough piano so that they can teach their own patients – however there is a difference between “knowing a little piano” and being a full-on piano educator. Knowing techniques and approaches to help autistic children learn piano is a great way to widen your clientele and be seen as an expert in this niche. The first thing you need to realize when teaching an autistic child is that your teaching approach will need to be entirely different. Be aware of physical limitations. For example, if your student can’t sit still for 2 minutes and is prone to moving around unexpectedly, you might want to consider having your student stand up at the piano, rather than sitting on the bench. You also want to ask parents if the child has any particular “fixation”. For example, some autistic children are obsessed with numbers and will work very well when everything is related to numbers. You have to really understand your student and have all the information on hand in relation to things he or she understands or do that are proper to him or her. You will discover your student’s strengths and weaknesses, as well as his or her thought process over several weeks, so it might take some time for you to feel entirely comfortable teaching the lesson. You will also need to be very patient and understand that your student may or may not be able to focus for long periods of time. If one hour is too long, shorten your lessons to 30 minutes. Make sure to incorporate fun activities with flash cards and work with rewards. Many autism specialists work with token boards – once the student has played a song or named notes following the number of token on the boards, the student is allowed a special reward (which is to be determined by you or the parents). Working with autistic students is very particular and you should work closely with the student’s parents and their ABA specialist, if they have one. Music can greatly enrich their lives and help them develop as individuals and teaching disabled students can be immensely rewarding! ]]></isc:description>
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<title><![CDATA[It’s Never Too Late to Learn – An Adult’s Journey Through Piano Lessons]]></title>
<link>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/PianoMotherBlogPosts/~3/wlkPT3Y-XKw/Its-Never-Too-Late-to-Learn-An-Adults-Journey-Through-Piano-Lessons_b_51.html</link>
<pubDate>Tue, 14 Aug 2012 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Always wanted to learn how to play the piano? Good news: it’s never too late. While you might think that you’re past your prime, or are too busy or simply don’t believe that it is possible to learn how to play an instrument later on in the game, fear not. You can do it – while most teacher’s bank on younger students and teenagers, there is a growing number of adults signing up for piano lessons in their 50s, 60s, 70s and more! Of course, the learning process is entirely different and the teaching approach will most likely differ too, but it is possible for you, as an adult, to sign up for piano lessons and learn the songs you’ve always wanted to play.  ]]></description>
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<content:encoded><![CDATA[Always wanted to learn how to play the piano? Good news: it’s never too late. While you might think that you’re past your prime, or are too busy or simply don’t believe that it is possible to learn how to play an instrument later on in the game, fear not. You can do it – while most teacher’s bank on younger students and teenagers, there is a growing number of adults signing up for piano lessons in their 50s, 60s, 70s and more! Of course, the learning process is entirely different and the teaching approach will most likely differ too, but it is possible for you, as an adult, to sign up for piano lessons and learn the songs you’ve always wanted to play. <img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/PianoMotherBlogPosts/~4/wlkPT3Y-XKw" height="1" width="1"/>]]></content:encoded>
<isc:description><![CDATA[Always wanted to learn how to play the piano? Good news: it’s never too late. While you might think that you’re past your prime, or are too busy or simply don’t believe that it is possible to learn how to play an instrument later on in the game, fear not. You can do it – while most teacher’s bank on younger students and teenagers, there is a growing number of adults signing up for piano lessons in their 50s, 60s, 70s and more! Of course, the learning process is entirely different and the teaching approach will most likely differ too, but it is possible for you, as an adult, to sign up for piano lessons and learn the songs you’ve always wanted to play. The first thing you need to do is to find a piano teacher that has experience with older learners. You can’t expect an adult student to have all the time in the world to practice between lessons so the expectations are different; teachers also need to be ready to teach simplified versions of pop songs, Broadway classics, 80’s rock and more. The repertoire will differ greatly, that’s for sure! So, when you are looking for a teacher, look for someone who is either experienced with adult learners or isn’t afraid to create personalized lessons for you. Once you have a suitable piano teacher, just enjoy! Your teacher shouldn’t expect you to be thoroughly “prepared” for each lesson; be upfront with her or him if you haven’t had a chance to practice or if you have any questions about the material you were supposed to work on. You have work, you might have kids – obviously some aspects of your life will take over piano practice. However, if you really want to learn, you should still try and find some time to practice. Otherwise, you’ll get discouraged quickly, which is not something you want! Adult students are often encouraged to create a practice routine. Incorporating your practice time in your daily schedule is a great way to remember it and make sure that you have time for it. Do you have 15 or 20 minutes once the kids go to sleep to practice every evening? Or perhaps you work at home and have the leisure to take some time in the morning. Whatever the case may be, pencil in your practice time in your schedule and try to practice at the same time most days to create a habit. Finally, be realistic with yourself. A common issue with most adult learners is that you set high goals for yourself, thinking that you can learn a new song every week, or learn the entire catalog of your favorite band. This will lead to frustration and the more frustrated you are, the less likely you are to actually work on your material throughout the week. As an adult, you will learn at a slower pace than you used to as a child – however this does not mean that you don’t have the ability to learn and be a great pianist. Keep up the good work, persevere and talk about any issues with your teacher, he or she will be able to give you tips to improve or even reassure you if you feel that you aren’t progressing! ]]></isc:description>
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<title><![CDATA[You've Just Graduated With A Piano Degree, Now What?]]></title>
<link>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/PianoMotherBlogPosts/~3/S3Yj4PNrPSE/Youve-Just-Graduated-With-A-Piano-Degree-Now-What_b_50.html</link>
<pubDate>Fri, 10 Aug 2012 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ First of all, congratulations! You’ve just spent 4 years (or more if you just finished your Master’s) going to school and studying the one thing that excites you: music. During that time, you were able to practice hours on end, play with a myriad of talented musicians and push yourself to new musical heights. But now that you have your diploma in hand and won’t be seeking shelter between the 4 walls of your music department, what are you going to do?  ]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.pianomother.com/Youve-Just-Graduated-With-A-Piano-Degree-Now-What_b_50.html</guid>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[First of all, congratulations! You’ve just spent 4 years (or more if you just finished your Master’s) going to school and studying the one thing that excites you: music. During that time, you were able to practice hours on end, play with a myriad of talented musicians and push yourself to new musical heights. But now that you have your diploma in hand and won’t be seeking shelter between the 4 walls of your music department, what are you going to do? <img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/PianoMotherBlogPosts/~4/S3Yj4PNrPSE" height="1" width="1"/>]]></content:encoded>
<isc:description><![CDATA[First of all, congratulations! You’ve just spent 4 years (or more if you just finished your Master’s) going to school and studying the one thing that excites you: music. During that time, you were able to practice hours on end, play with a myriad of talented musicians and push yourself to new musical heights. But now that you have your diploma in hand and won’t be seeking shelter between the 4 walls of your music department, what are you going to do? You might feel like you are left to your own devices; music school was a great way to learn new things on your instrument, but it is very likely that nobody explained to you how the music business work, what opportunities you should be seeking and how to keep developing yourself as a musician once you leave the building. It is a common situation for music grads and this is where the ones who were destined to be pianists or are ambitious enough to work for it will set themselves apart from the hobbyists. The first thing you need to consider, upon graduation, is to create a list of contacts. Include all the teachers you’ve had good relations with and know you enough to be able to recommend you for a gig and all the fellow students you’ve played with or would like to eventually play with later down the line. This will help you keep track of everyone you know on the music scene and have their contact info readily available if you need to get in touch with them. Sending a quick note to your past teachers once in a while is also a great way to network and keep a certain relationship with the people who’ve fostered your learning for all these years. Another tip for recent grads is to grab a teaching position somewhere. Whether you are qualified to teach in high school or simply want to spend a few hours weekly in an after school program, a teaching side-gig can be a great way to earn income while you work on getting more performing opportunities. Also, it will remind you that you didn’t spend thousands of dollars and years of your life studying something that you’ll leave behind – you’ll actually be working in your field, which will be a constant reminder to hustle new gigs and opportunities! The bottom line is that once you leave music school, you’ll have to jump in the real world and this can be quite puzzling. Keep in touch with other musicians and make sure that your community knows about your skills and services. You’ll have to hustle and work hard if you are looking to be a performer, but the end result will be worth it. If you can’t find anyone to hire you, create your own opportunities. They might not generate an income right away (hence the teaching position recommended above), but you never know when your next personal project will get off the ground! Remember; you probably won’t have as much time to ‘practice’ once you get out of school, so you need to make sure that you set aside some time for yourself to work on music that you like. ]]></isc:description>
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