Category Archives: Articles

Making Better Practice

Posted on May 24, 2020 by Marie

Does practice really make perfect? It certainly makes progress when executed properly, so the saying ought to be, “Proper practice makes progress,” I think. Summertime is typically a season in which we start our new practice goals with energy but … Continue reading →

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Maintaining Skills During the Summer

Posted on May 17, 2020 by Marie

With the school year coming to an end, many families will go without the routine that school offers. Music students often lose their skills during this time because summer usually allows for a relaxed schedule, but I would not want … Continue reading →

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Push Them Out of the Comfort Zone

Posted on February 17, 2020 by Marie

Both my parents worked outside the home. My mother used to be an editor for the local newspaper. I took advantage of her editing skills to spruce up my school assignments. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ It’s not easy being the music teacher’s children, … Continue reading →

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What Do You Want To Be?

Posted on January 22, 2020 by Marie

Did you always know what you wanted to be? Did you always want to be a spouse, parent, cop, fire fighter, mechanic?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I have always enjoyed teaching.When I was in little, I would line up my stuffed animals and … Continue reading →

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Performance Fail: I Forgot My Recital Piece!

Posted on December 9, 2019 by Marie

I was thirteen, playing a memorized, four-minute piece at the Dade County Auditorium. I thought that I was well-prepared, but a minute into my piece, I forgot where my hands were supposed to go! Uh-oh. I took my hands off the … Continue reading →

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Acoustic or Digital?

Posted on November 8, 2019 by Marie

Many piano teachers will answer plainly and strongly, “Acoustic, all the way.” I have a different attitude which is totally biased. In the 80s, my parents bought an acoustic upright for my brothers and me to learn piano. They didn’t … Continue reading →

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Bigger Bang for the Buck

Posted on October 2, 2019 by Marie

Many parents want to be reassured that they are not wasting their money on music lessons, so they ask me how often should students practice their instruments. Though there really is no hard and fast answer, I do tend to … Continue reading →

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Preparing to Play Piano

Posted on September 3, 2019 by Marie

Piano teachers don’t just teach music. We teach posture and coordination, resilience and confidence. These life skills can be learned in other activities such as ballet or karate, but do you notice that playing an instrument, unlike ballet or karate, … Continue reading →

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Back to School!

Posted on August 9, 2019 by Marie

It’s every parent’s favorite time of year! I write that tongue in cheek because, as a parent myself, I enjoy the lazy summer days, but I also really like the structure and predictability of the school year. Above all, I … Continue reading →

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4 Ways to Practice During Summer Break

Posted on June 6, 2019 by Marie

School is out! Summer vacation! Yay! It’s all fun and games until we realize that our young musicians will lose their skills if we allow them to dream away their summer holidays. Some families will choose to have the music … Continue reading →

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