Keeping a dedicated notebook up to date is crucial when learning from more than one book or if there are numerous students in one household. If one student is learning from technical, practical, and theory books simultaneously, homework and practice pieces may get lost in the shuffle.
This particular log keeps a family of four brothers organized for practice and prepared for their lessons. A spiral bound notebook or a composition will do well.
Today in music history, 1945: Bob Marley was born in Nine Mile, Jamaica. He was a founding member of the Wailers, formed in 1963, enjoyed a successful solo career, and introduced reggae music to the world. Marley was a faithful Rastafari and frequently referred to his faith in his music.
We remember his legacy with an earlier recording of a popular anthem:
Learn to play “The Pink Panther” with the help of this video. We demonstrate a few techniques and tips on reading music, especially the bass clef.
Ludwig van Beethoven was baptized today in 1770 and is ranked among the most influential composers in history.
Help Beethoven arrange his masterpieces in today’s Google Doodle.
https://g.co/doodle/xh7puy
It’s very forgiving and may teach you a bit about musical notation!
In this piece, taken from Michael Aaron’s Piano Course: Grade One, we calculate notes using the “counting lines” method: If neighboring tones are in a line-space-line-space pattern and if Middle C is line zero (neither in treble nor bass clef), then the first line above Middle C is E, skipping the space note D.
When counting lines, we skip over the spaces, thus reciting the well-known mnemonic, “Every Good Boy Does Fine.”
We are a third of the way into hurricane season here in the southeastern United States. Regular summer storms cause anxiety and discomfort. A little bit of rain never hurt anyone, but lightning storms make it difficult to trek to the car! Drivers become easily irritated, and road rage and poor vision cause collisions, which cause backed up traffic, which causes delays, which causes yours truly to be 20 or 30 minutes late to every lesson some afternoons.
Some families are forgiving and flexible, but many families have somewhere else to be at certain times. A lesson will have to be cut short or cancelled altogether, resulting in lost income.
What is a good alternative to driving in inclement weather?
I propose that on certain occasions, we may have video chat lessons.
I tried to have a phone lesson man years ago, just a short, ten-minute session over the cellular. With the piano out of tune and the connection cutting in and out, it wasn’t very successful. Technology is more solid now. With video, I can see where the fingers are and what keys are being played.
If I’m running late and it’s pouring down rain, please consider this option.
Please enjoy this video of one of our young students’ playing a duet with Mrs Marie.
Correctly playing a C Major Scale (or any scale) requires correct practice. Our instructor Mrs Marie shows us how to manage a tricky, little part of the scale in this video.
Today in music history, 1959: J.P. “Big Bopper” Richardson, Buddy Holly, and Ritchie Valens perished in a plane crash after leaving Clear Lake, Iowa. Holly had chartered a plane after the heating system of the Winter Dance Party Tour bus failed. Waylon Jennings, who was touring with Holly, gave his seat to The Big Bopper, who was running a fever. Tommy Allsup, another of Holly’s touring mates, lost a coin toss to Valens.
We remember the fantastic music that these men left for us.
Today in music history, 1756: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born in Salzburg, Austria. He was among the greatest composers of all time, having composed symphonies, concertos, and sonatas for piano, violin, horns and wrote operas, oratorios, dances, and pieces for string quartets and quintets. As a child, he toured western Europe with his family, performing for royals.
Having twice heard a mysterious and sacred piece in Catholic Mass, Gregorio Allegri’s Miserere mei, Deus (which forbidden to be transcribed on the punishment of excommunication), fourteen-year-old Mozart wrote it down from memory and made some improvements. Instead of excommunication, Pope Clement XIV congratulated the boy and his genius.
Take a few moments to recognize this gift to western culture by listening to Piano Sonata No. 17 in B flat, K. 570.
