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!

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!

All they have to do is create a picture that represents how that practice session was for them.  They could draw to show how they felt, how the practice was, or what the music made them think of.

When they arrive the following week they’ll have a small “booklet” of images telling the story of their practice week.  Then using Garageband, the iMac and my microphone, we’ll record a brief improvisation that matches the image.  The student will create a score for their “mini-play”.  I’ll send them the complete MP3 file and then they can have “theatre” performances at home with family members and friends.

My expectation is that some students will be inspired to create scenes/images outside the realm of piano practice and delve into the creative story-telling process with music.  My hope is that the activity will be so fun that they will want to practice more days so that they have more images.  Of course I’ll have to put a limit of one image per day of practice in order to inspire that motivation!

Anyone who has done this or has any input, comments, etc. please send them to me.  I’m grateful for any support I receive.