my 3 step approach on how I give piano lessons

This page contains my 3 step approach on how I give piano lessons. This is a general lesson.
I am always tending to change my routine around depending on the student’s strengths, or the mood of that day.

1. Warm-up
Usually the warm-up involves scales, triads, or whatever technique the student is working on. Just something to get the fingers moving. It will usually not be new information, I want to start with something they are familiar with.

2. Last Week’s Pieces
Hopefully the student’s have practised and so we can go over the pieces they have been working on. This is the point where I decide if they’re ready to move on or if they need to continue improving on the piece they already have. I always want to encourage students and let them know that they’ve done a good job.

3. Starting new Pieces
In the middle of the lesson is where I usually will have the student start on a new piece.
That way, they’ve had some success with previous things. I always tell students it’s better to start slowly and simply. I focus on the details so that next week when they come back, they’ll have these things mastered. It’s very difficult to "unlearn" something. If the piece is challenging, I just assign portions of it. For some students, learning in blocks is a good idea.

My future Grand Piano

I don't know when, but it's a goal......I want that perfect piece of furniture!, That wonderful string instrument, that beautiful ebony centerpiece!

furthering my royal conservatory education

I'm 34 years old and I'm furthering my education, it's never too late right?

I'm doing my grade 8 music theory so I can have my grade 8 diploma since I've already completed the practical exam a few years ago.

And I started grade 9 piano.

I'm loving the tunes, the music sure get better and better as the grades go up.

Very interesting melodies and chords.

gospel chords

My Home Life

The Top 10 Ways To Improvise On The Piano

Looking for piano improvisation tips? Here are the top 10 ways to improvise on the piano:

1. Use fake books. Fake books, as one of the top 10 ways to improvise on the piano, are gentle introductions to what could be interpreted as the Wild West of improvisation. Improvisation is largely based on freedom of expression. Without having a good foundation of the basics, beginners may feel intimidated by the possibilities. Fake books however contain music that provides opportunities of expression. Since it's music lacks full notation, fake books allow the musician to fill in the missing parts with what *could* be there or what *should* be there without leaving *everything* up to the pianist.
2. Make up your own songs. Making up your own songs really isn't as easy as you might think. If you've been trained in the classics for example, you might find it difficult to break from instilled patterns. See if it helps to hum a random melody right off the top of your head at first. Then fill it in with interesting chords. You could probably fill up an entire album of improv this way!
3. Imagine how a master would play a song. Here, you can put your imagination to use and let your fingers tell the story. Ask yourself what Alicia Keys would play for a crowd -- impromptu of course. Since her music is already a bit unconventional, your mind shouldn't have too much trouble inventing new tunes for "her" (er... we mean, for you).
4. Improve a song with elements from your culture, the current holiday, etc. Every culture has it's own unique set of chords and rhythms so why not incorporate them into the contemporary music that you play? This way, you can spice things up. You could for example, give the National Anthem an Brazilian spin or Italian twist.
5. Try to forget whatever you've learned about notes, intervals, scales, chords, and all the rest. Approach the piano as if you've never seen the thing before and you wonder what it does. Touch it's keys and see if your random play generates any interesting tunes. If you should 'accidentally' discover a cool tune, melody, chord, or rhythm, build on it. Think of another section that would go well with the element that you just discovered. Keep following this pattern and you'll have an entire song in no time.
6. Remember that when improvising, there are no mistakes. Okay, that's not entirely true -- but the idea is to break you from fearing improvisation. The thing that prevents a lot of us from even trying improvisation is our own fear.
7. Try different elements within a single song. Mix and mash different rhythms, octaves, dynamics, and more just to see what results. While you might not find anything appropriate for an entire song, you just might discover a unique passage that would fit well in an existing song.
8. While you're experimenting, record your efforts. You can easily create a database of unique passages if you record your efforts into a sound database. Your database needn't be anything fancy, as a simple file of wav files will suffice. Just remember to give your recordings descriptive names.
9. Chord it. Play a steady beat and a single chord with your right hand in other words, and use then use your left hand to decorate the chord with an interesting melody.
10. Try playing a song that you've committed to memory -- only play it backwards. You're sure to find some unique and creative passages using this method!

The Concert

The Concert
When the house lights dimmed and the concert was about to begin,

the mother returned to her seat and discovered that the child was missing Suddenly,

the curtains parted and spotlights
focused on the impressive Steinway on stage.
In horror, the mother saw her littleboy sitting at the keyboard, innocently picking out
"Twinkle,Twinkle Little Star."
At that moment, the great piano master made his entrance,

quickly moved to the piano, and
whispered in the boy's ear,
"Don't quit.""Keep playing."
Then, leaning over, Paderewski reached
down with his left hand and began filling
in a bass part. Soon his right arm reached
around to the other side of the child,
and he added a running obbligato.
Together, the old master and the young novice
transformed what could have been a frightening situation

into a wonderfully creative experience.
The audience was so mesmerized that they couldn't recall

what else the great master played.
Only the classic,
" Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star."
Perhaps that's the way it is with God.
What we can accomplish on our own is hardly noteworthy.
We try our best, but the results aren't always
graceful flowing music. However, with the
hand of the Master, our life's
work can truly be beautiful.

The next time you set out to accomplish great feats,
listen carefully. You may hear the voice of the
Master, whispering in your ear, "Don't quit." "Keep playing."
May you feel His arms around you and
know that His hands are there, helping you
turn your feeble attempts into true masterpieces.
Remember, God doesn't seem to
call the equipped, rather, He equips the 'called.'

Life is more accurately measured by the lives you touch than by the things you acquire.

So touch someone by passing this little message along.

May God bless you and be with you always!
and remember ,
"Don't quit."
"Keep playing."