You Can Play Piano

Freedom Isn't Free - But it Sure is Fun!

2011-11-09T17:40:00.001-07:00

The "Simply Music" curriculum differs from others in that students are actually encouraged to improvise and arrange the pieces in their book, plus compose their own music. I think my students are enjoying this new-found freedom. Last week, I decided my fairly new 7-year old student was ready to learn how to transpose our version of Beethoven's "Fur Elise" into a new key. When he arrived at his lesson, however, he was excited to play - yes - a new version of Fur Elise for me starting on different notes. He then proceeded to play it beautifully in the key of D minor (originally in A minor).

I was thrilled that he discovered this totally on his own. He is learning how music and the piano works to his benefit and enjoyment and it's an excellent stepping stone into music reading (theory) coming in a few months (yes, he did this with no knowledge of note-reading).

Learning to play piano is a "freeing" experience? Times have certainly changed since my first piano lessons.

Recitals: Not a Four-Letter Word

2011-10-09T19:47:00.000-07:00

It's always exciting to get new piano students ready for their first recital. My two new students, brothers (7 and 11), are asking lots of questions; "Does everyone play together?," "How do you know when to go to the piano?," "What happens after we play?" - all good questions for newbies.

I realize the words, recital or concert conjures up stress for some, usually due to bad memories of childhood performances. I always like to play up the "fun" angle - getting to celebrate music with others and expressing yourself. And, the more we do it, the more fun it is.

My 7 year-old says he's going to rent a tux for the recital. I told his mother that really wasn't necessary - but it's always nice to see enthusiasm.

"Simply Music" Journey II

2011-09-23T09:50:00.001-07:00

I've been teaching the Simply Music piano course now for about 3 months. It's radical, engaging, and the results are a bit mystifying. As a previously traditional teacher, I would be expecting students to still be playing very simple, probably one-hand, pieces at this point. I now have about 8 students finishing up level 1 and they know 11+, two-hand pieces from memory that would be a hit at any party. This takes some getting used to. I also feel I need to remind my new students that have not experienced any other method that this is quite unusual and amazing.

One of my adult students almost ready for level 2 said that we're really doing all the activities to achieve our goal, which is to be able to pick up a piece of music and enjoy playing it. I agree. Another exciting aspect that I'm seeing is that they will never be "tied" to the printed music page. I've known many excellent musicians who become clueless about what to do when the printed music is taken away from them or when they have just the melody and chord symbols. If they memorize a piece, they memorize only from the printed page (more on that later).

I can see why Simply Music teachers and students say that it's a "freeing" experience. I think my students would agree.

Music Education: A New Paradigm?

2011-07-24T18:29:00.001-07:00

You know how we sometimes do and think things without any foundation in fact and think nothing of it? I spent years in elementary school being told that Columbus discovered America and never questioned it. For the past ten years, I have taught students to play piano by learning to read music notation at the same time.

What's the problem with that? Well, like others, I believe that reading music is reading a language. Why should we insist that beginning piano students learn to read before or as they are learning to "speak" (play) the language of music? Do we require that toddlers learn to read words and sentences before they are allowed to talk? Of course not.

I and millions of others learned to play the piano this way because existing piano methods have not changed all that much for centuries. Now, with each lesson I teach using "Simply Music," I'm realizing how tradition does not always show us the best way. If you want to learn a musical instrument easily, learn to play first - then learn to read.

My "Simply Music" Journey

2011-07-22T22:14:00.001-07:00

I've been a licensed teacher of the "Simply Music Piano Course" now for a couple of months and wanted to post some updates on how it's going. I've started several new students and switched several of my existing students over to the new curriculum. Two brothers (7 & 11) can play 4 songs after 6 weeks (both hands-from memory), my adults like it, and a new 8 year-old student says I'm the best piano teacher in the world (I think I'm the only one he knows). I think it's safe to say - all is well.

The Many Ways to Learn Piano

2011-07-05T17:02:00.001-07:00

There are several ways to learn to play the piano. Almost all of the current curricula maintain that to learn to play the piano, you must learn to read musical notation at the same time. I also have met adults who learned either themselves - by ear or with one of the few "rote" methods that don't include reading music in their objectives. With either method, there are many "flies in the ointment." Click the title for the rest of this article.

Simply Music: It's Coming!

2011-05-28T19:48:00.000-07:00

Though I enjoy my private piano teaching, I'm always looking for a better way to do it. After several years, I have found it. It's called Simply Music and it really is a revolutionary way to learn piano. Here's the capsule explanation:

"Simply Music is the largest playing-based music education institution in the world, with Licensed Educators at approximately 600 locations throughout the USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. It presents a revolutionary, Australian-developed piano and keyboard method for those who would like to teach music, or learn how to play. This breakthrough program has students of all ages playing great-sounding blues, contemporary, classical and accompaniment pieces - immediately - from their very first lessons."

I am in the middle of the training/licensing process and I'm thrilled with the possibilities. More on this later. Stay tuned.

Our History in Sheet Music

2011-05-06T20:01:00.003-07:00

I remember the days when sheet music was 75 cents (yes, I am that old). As the idea of purchasing printed music from a store becomes part of history, it's good to note that institutions like John Hopkins University is preserving what future generations are never likely to come across any other way.

The Lester S. Levy Collection of Sheet Music consists of over 29,000 pieces of American popular music. The collection spans the years 1780 to 1980, but its strength is its thorough documentation of nineteenth-century America through popular music. The collection is especially strong in music spawned by military conflicts from the War of 1812 through World War I, and minstrel music is also well-represented. Songs about drinking, temperance, smoking; fraternal orders, presidents, plus romantic and sentimental songs round out the collection. A wonderful picture of our cultural history. Lester S. Levy Collection

21st Century Piano Learning

2011-05-06T10:00:00.001-07:00

Last night I did a piano lesson with a new student - in Australia! Of course, I'm in AZ in USA. We were using the software program, "Internet MIDI," from Timewarp Technologies, which connects our two electronic piano keyboards through Skype so we can actually play the other's keyboard in real time.

It was easy to use and it worked perfectly! Here's a example of the software being used in a "performance" situation.

Piano Marvel Software

2011-03-15T21:13:00.001-07:00

I am now offering this innovative software for both in-person and online lessons. Piano Marvel can really help in the learning and skill-building process both in lessons and while practicing at home.

Piano Marvel is an “at-home coach” that will assess your playing and help monitor your progress. When connected to a MIDI-compatible electronic keyboard, the software assesses your playing, showing where you made mistakes and allows you to play over and over until you win a bronze, silver or gold trophy according to your performance. Piano Marvel tracks your progress by adding those trophies to your personalized trophy case. The accompaniments are catchy and make playing every song fun.

Piano Marvel does require some set-up but is well worth it. Check out the video on how it works.

Know Your Notes

2011-03-15T10:34:00.001-07:00

How well do you know your notes on the piano keyboard. Here's a fun way to brush up on your knowledge or to learn something new. http://piano.about.com/library/Quiz_1/bl_colornote_quiz.htm.

Improvising: Making Your Own World

2010-02-26T19:46:00.004-07:00

Improvising on an existing tune or going out totally on your own can be exciting and frightening. It's important to do it well because music affects us at such a deep level. Thinking about experimenting with improvisation? Keep the following in mind:

Begin with the End in Mind: Shape the song. Ask yourself, "What do you want to say with this arrangement?" We're asking the listener(s) to follow us on a musical path. Since this art really exists only in time, we can't visually show them where we're taking them. We're saying "trust me." It may help if you sculpt a high-level overview of what you want to do with a piece before you play, at least until you have a lot of experience at improvisation.
Add Variety: Yes, it's the spice of life and our music. Remember, you're not locked into one type of variation or improvisation. Most pieces should have a variety of things going on - as long as the following point is considered.
Everything Should Have a Purpose: Like a good playwright or novelist, every word and sentence has a reason for being there. It adds to the plot, sub-plot, or characterization. Same here. A bunch of extraneous variations does not necessarily make a good piece.

Want to learn more about improvisation on piano, harp, guitar, etc.? I'm now offering an online course on Improvisation containing 7 lessons, videos, and a student forum. Go to www.learn-to-improvise.com for more information.

Can You Learn a Musical Instrument Online?

2010-01-20T22:31:00.001-07:00

Online learning, or elearning, has certainly come a long way from its origins in the 1970s at NASA. After 15 years doing training and online instructional design in the corporate world, I am able to bring elearning and music together.

Through a unique service called, "Ashbury Music Hall," you are now able to learn piano or recorder on your schedule. It's an easy-to-use system where you can get written and recorded assignments from me at your convenience. You can also record and post your assignments without having to download any additional software. It's a great system that anyone can use and you receive much the same instruction as you would in my music studio - all without leaving home. Click here for more information.

Making the Most of Practice Time

2009-09-23T10:13:00.001-07:00

Quality of practice time is as important as quantity. Beginning children students should practice between 15 and 30 minutes per day, six days a week. Missing more than one day of practice per week can make it harder on the student as concepts and skills may not get fully mastered.

As students advance and mature, the practice requirement increases. Be aware that practice time can also include parent/child interaction, support with flashcards, and worksheets and puzzles.

Note: Sometime during the course of taking piano lessons, your child may say something like, "I don’t want to practice," or "I’m too tired to go to piano lessons," or "I want to quit," etc. Especially for young students, be aware that their interest will probably not be consistent, but to be successful you will need to be consistent in your encouragement and commitment to music instruction.

How to Practice: More Best Practices

2009-08-11T22:03:00.003-07:00

Even if you know all the fingerings and notes, even if you can read the music well, it won’t mean a thing. Practice is the essence of it all. You have to be committed in your practicing - if not everyday, then 5-6 days a week. Here are more tips:

1: Make a daily schedule for practice and comply with it. Be determined to stick to your schedule. It is a must to condition yourself into practicing everyday so that your body will get used to the routine. At first, it could be tedious and boring but as you go on learning the essentials, it becomes more fun hearing the way you play.

2: Your piano should be in a place that you won’t feel cluttered. The space should be free from anything that might distract you like a radio or anything noisy. This enables you to concentrate when practicing. Also, make sure that there is proper lighting where your piano is placed.

3: Always warm up. Exercise your fingers with some simple notes then proceed to the hard ones. An exercise must let your fingers stretch to reach some keys that are hard to reach. This will become helpful when playing fast paced notes and music.

4. Follow your instructor’s directions. Let them help you learn.

5. Make your practice as goal-oriented as possible. A goal will make you more focused and concentrated because you have something to be achieved. To finish a goal will make you feel satisfied and fulfilled.

6. Always maintain a positive attitude when practicing. When you plan to play the piano without anyone to guide you, do not give up when it becomes difficult. If you are being stressed, rest for a while. Give yourself time to breathe.

2009-07-30T11:46:00.000-07:00

Are you 16 years or older and interested in taking piano music lessons live from the comfort of your home? Now, you can learn to play piano from a live teacher no matter where you live.

I am now testing live online piano lessons on the Internet just as you would get them in my studio. With an Internet-capable computer and your electronic keyboard, you can learn to play the piano online with a live teacher. You can take one lesson or many - and because it's done online with a live instructor, you will also be able to ask questions and get on-the-spot coaching on your playing. All lessons are in English. Visit my website for more information.

New Public Online Piano Lessons on UStream

2009-07-29T08:24:00.000-07:00

I just did my first online lesson on UStream.tv. I plan to do a lesson every Sunday evening at 5:00pm, Arizona time (currently PST). These are beginning piano lessons mainly for adults. In our first lesson, we learned the melody and chords for the Beethoven tune, "Ode to Joy." We'll also be exploring some right-hand notation and additional chords for the left hand in coming weeks. Join me. You can go to last week's recorded lesson here.

Took Piano but never Learned to Play

2009-06-03T14:59:00.000-07:00

I've heard this comment so many times: "I took piano lessons as a child but now I can't play anything." Sound familiar? A piano instructor and a noted teacher of piano teachers talks about the "black hole" of piano teaching - that is, teaching students to understand chords and the chord structure of music.

Even today, very few teachers teach this way and there are few method books written with this in mind. One that comes close is by Alfred Publishing, called "Play Piano Now" or the "Adult All-In-One" course. I use these in my teaching because, with a few additional ingredients, the student can understand how music is constructed. Once they come to know the "big picture" of musical form, they can become more independent musicians.

I also use these courses in my online teaching. Check out my web page at http://applegatemusicstudio.com/onlinepiano.html.

"Best Practices" on Practicing

2009-06-03T14:56:00.002-07:00

Wouldn't it be nice if there was a piano learning pill. You take a pill, then you're automatically able to play well any song, any key. I tell students that if there was such a thing, I would already have found out about it and would be selling it right now.

It may sound "low tech" but the truth is, learning to play the piano takes practice - and not a 2-hour "cram session" right before your lesson. I recommend 20 minutes, 5-6 days a week for beginning students and it increases as the student progresses in their playing. I also recommend short increments of 10 minutes or so per session, so you might do two or more sessions in one day. This has to do with concentration.

An hour of practice with very little concentration or thinking about what you're playing is probably a waste of your time. The sad fact is, our attention span is not very long so you'll be more successful if you divide your practice sessions into short increments of time.

Want to Learn Piano? Learn Chords

2009-06-02T16:44:00.000-07:00

There are several approaches to learning to play the piano. For adults, a "chord approach" is very successful. Chords (3+ notes played simultaneously) are the "building blocks" of musical form and structure. By learning to play melodies in the right hand and chords in the left hand, one can play some songs in a very short time.

Did you know that with only 2-3 chords you can play thousands of songs? And I'm talking about the same 2-3 chords. They are constructed in the same way regardless of what "key" you're playing in. They are built on the first, fourth, and fifth tones of any musical scale.

With just these chords you can play "Mary Had a Little Lamb", "When the Saints Go Marching In", "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star", and a few thousand additional songs. They're called "Primary Chords" simply because they are used so much.

There are three primary chords for each musical key. For example, in the key of C, the chords are C chord (notes: C, E, G), F chord (notes F, A, C), and G chord (notes: G, B, D). You can also substitute G7 for G (notes: G, B, D, F).

Teach your right hand the melody, left hand plays chords and you're in business.

Having Trouble Playing Chords? Try Chord Shells

2009-05-28T13:40:00.006-07:00

Chords on the piano can be between 3 and 6-7 notes – somewhat daunting for one hand to tackle. Come to think of it, it can be daunting for two hands.

Major, Minor, Diminished, Augmented Chords: 3 Notes
Seventh Chords: 4 Notes

Even finding 3 notes can be a challenge, especially when you're trying to keep a regular beat and coordinate with the right hand melody.

Can you work up to 3+ note chords? Try playing the “Chord Shell” first. Chord Shells are the bottom and top notes of any given chord. Try changing from one Chord Shell to another. When you're comfortable with finding and playing Chord Shells, begin adding in that elusive middle note(s) of the chord. You'll find the keyboard navigation is much easier.

Benefits of Playing a Musical Instrument

2008-10-20T09:13:00.005-07:00

Technology has presented us with some incredible things in the past 40+ years. Some of the things has to do with an increased understanding of our own brain. We now can see specific brain activity as we are doing something and some of what we have found out is how playing a musical instrument can enrich our lives. As we play the piano or another instrument, we are utilizing about 70% of our brain. It makes sense, since we must read the music (visual), hear what we're playing (aural), exercise hand/eye and hand/finger coordination - all in a specific rhythm or amount of time.

As children learn music, their brains can make more neuron cell connections, thus they gain more thinking power. Adults (our neuron connections are already made), can help to keep their connections by playing a musical instrument. In addition, there are many other reasons to keep learning and playing music:

Music study enhances, fine motor control, use of symbol systems, concentration memory, perseverance, visual and aural discrimination, organizational skills, and goal setting.
Music study encourages abstract thought and stimulates right-brain activities— synthesis, creativity, intuition, and innovation.
Music study develops attention span and concentration level.
Playing music can greatly improve stress levels
Playing music can reverse the DNA switches that turn on the human stress response and trigger biological processes that lead to many diseases.

The bottom line is MAKE MORE MUSIC - NOW!

Buying a Piano

2008-10-20T09:06:00.006-07:00

This is concerning one of the most frequent questions I receive as a piano instructor - for good reason. A piano can be a major purchase and most people need to make sure it will fit their (or their child's) needs for as long as possible.

Acoustic or Electronic
I grew up when the only electronic keyboards was in some engineering lab somewhere so the non-electric, traditional piano was the only choice. Since then great strides have been made to replicate the sound and feel of an acoustic piano in electronic form. The result - really close, but still not the same.

This doesn't mean that an electronic keyboard serves no one's needs. In fact, for children, it can be a better choice because it's easier for little fingers to push down non-weighted keys. They also provide a variety of sounds and voices. The headphone input may also be a plus but for young students, parents need to take a more active role in what (and how) their children are practicing.

Prices
The big question. As of this writing, good electronic keyboards can be purchased from about $80 and up and can be found at many retail and online stores. Electronic keyboards with "weighted keys" (harder to push down, like an acoustic piano) start at $600. New acoustic pianos begin at about $2000 going up to the stratosphere in price depending on the maker, wood, and manufacturing process. Many people wanting an acoustic piano will opt for a good used one and there are usually plenty of those out there.

The great thing is that you don't have to be wealthy to make music and learn to play the piano. Buy what you can afford and enjoy!

The Many Ways to Learn Piano

2008-10-16T03:44:00.002-07:00

I have known many people who play piano and have discovered many different ways in which they have learned what they know. In truth, there is a variety of learning methods out there and most are influenced by the person’s musical goals. Children tend to do what their parents want them to do (well, not all the time), including taking piano lessons.

Then are many adults who learned to play from another family member who was able to teach them one or two songs or a few chords to put with a limited number of songs. Then there are people who find they have ability and want to pursue it in a more academic fashion, taking privately for many years, continuing towards degrees in college or university and making a career of it.

The interesting paradox is that you don’t have to have an academic degree to have a career in music. I remember reading an interview from rock star, Frank Zappa, a few years ago. After being a highly paid musician for many years, he stated that he has always wanted to learn to read music. This was very disconcerting to me and many of my music education colleagues as we struggled to live and breathe music in its many forms every day and will probably not make in our lifetime what Zappa made in one year. Sad, dissapointing… but yet, there it is.

I would classify the various ways of learning music (from a teacher) in the following ways:

Classical/Traditional Approach: Starts at the very beginning, playing carefully sequenced pieces that illustrate each musical concept. It’s a balanced curriculum exploring quality repertoire, keyboard technique, and music theory (reading music). This approach takes a while and works well with children who have a few years to invest and for whom music may become a large part of their life, professionally or otherwise.
Chord/Improvisational Approach: This approach contains a minimum of music theory, mostly so your right hand can read the melodies in printed music. This student will spend time building up their repertoire of chords, mainly for left hand playing to accompany right hand melodies. Though not the method for aspiring concert pianists, one can learn to play some non-classical songs in just a few weeks learning this way. It’s a great addition to a person’s day who wants to put more music in their life.

The problem with option 2 is that most piano teachers do not teach that way. One noted piano pedagogue (person known for their teaching methodologies) called it the “black hole of piano teaching.” I may be one of the rare teachers who does teach both options and I actually like to provide a blend of both approaches for all students - children and adults.

In the end, we learn music so it can influence and enrich our lives. Since we learn in different ways and have different musical goals, I think teachers should be prepared to teach music in a “student centered” and not a “teacher centered” approach.

Why Piano?

2008-10-15T15:41:00.004-07:00

People spend years learning to play the piano. I started at age 6 and have come across many people since then saying things like, “I wish I had taken the time to learn to play the piano.” or “If I had only continued piano when I was a child, I might be able to play some songs today.”

Why is piano so popular with so many people? Mainly, it’s one of the few instruments that can play more than one note at a time, giving the listener (which includes the player) a more full and satisfying musical experience. Think about a song being played by a trombone, then the same song played by a piano. Though other instruments are terrific, they are one note only. So enters the piano.

For several centuries, Europeans had been listening to keyboard strings being “plucked” on a harpsichord. They heard a very different sound when the pianoforte came along, as the strings were tapped with a “hammer” mechanism. The pianoforte, later known as the piano took off in popularity and multitudes of music were written for this prolific instrument.

Today pianos, both acoustic and electronic, occupy space in many homes as pieces of furniture, an instrument played on holidays only, and as dust collectors. What they should be is a source of enjoyment for both children and adults to expand our minds and enrich our lives. Because people have different goals when it comes to learning to play the piano, teachers should be able to provide various types of instruction for students of all ages, regardless of how long they want to take lessons. Check out my web site at Applegate Music Studio for more information.