Playing Piano » Practicing

Injury Sheds New Light on Old Topic….Practicing Hands Separately

lyungling — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 06:19:49 +0000

I’ve been playing the piano for 28 years. I grew up with teachers showing me how to practice hands separately. I learned the value of isolating difficult spots playing one hand at a time and I know it produces amazing results. But then I cut my thumb! While improperly using a paper cutter for a piano studio project, I cut the top of my thumb down to the fingernail….OUCH! And playing octaves….well, pretty much anything….with that hand was impossible.

So I began working on my music with just the left hand. And I am energized at the progress and solidity I am achieving. I’m working on Chopin Scherzo Op39 in C# minor. And the clarity and confidence I feel is…well, not new, but somehow new because I can’t use my left hand even if I want to!

May your hands always be safe and free from harm. However, I can’t emphasize enough the importance of encouraging your students to play hands separately. Of course, making a fun game out of it will most likely make it attractive to the younger students.

Happy practicing!

Composing for Fun

lyungling — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 15:44:29 +0000

I’m always looking for ways to engage my students in music centered activities. And with today’s electronic gadgets competing for their interest, I’ve got to stay on my toes!

In 2010 I will be teaching my students about simple rhythmic and melodic motifs and how repetition and variation create interest. Of course, I won’t be using these words to describe it or they’ll be asleep faster than I can say “Da Capo Al fine”.

I’ll use Beethoven’s 5th symphony as a starter with rhythmic motif and repetition.
I’ll play games in the studio with 3-5 note rhythms, have the student repeat me and then we’ll play around with the order of our rhythms to create variation. I’ll show them how to notate it and then have them spend a week making up their own rhythms and writing them in their staff booklets (based on our template).

I’ll do the same with melodic motifs. I’ll use Mary Had Little Lamb to show them how to take the same notes and rearrange them. Then we’ll take 3-5 notes and rearrange them to our hearts content. I’ll show them how to notate it and then give them a week to create their own music.

This is a fun activity sure to inspire any student. And they’ll never know they’re being taught theory, notation and composition all at the same time. They’ll just be having fun!

With Your Own Two Hands

lyungling — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 07:04:15 +0000

A must have for any pianist

Every pianist should have this book. Seymour Bernstein has generously share his lifetime’s work so that we may be actualized fully has human beings. He includes case studies of students, psychology, humor and exercises for strength, stretching and particularly how to free the thumb from the wrist. A joyful and valuable read. You will be touched and moved by how much this man loves you and cares about you as a person.

ISBN: 0-7935-5712-7

A great place to get books at delightfully inexpensive prices is www.cheapesttextbooks.com