This month I had a Canadian composer visit my students and the students of a colleague. Tyler Seidenberg was born in Oakville and while in highschool began a compositional journey that culminated in a series of solos/duets for piano. His work is both interesting and challenging for the growing musician. I often hear “sweet” from students during an intro to…
Rhythm is a pretty important component of music. Without it, music would be pretty boring. For anyone out there who is not sure what rhythm is, sing any song…tap “the way the words go” on your knee…this is the rhythm. For many young musicians, rhythm is the trickiest part of a piece to master since…
Is your child having a hard time keeping a steady beat? When playing ensemble in class, are they struggling to stay in time? Difficulty in keeping a beat is relatively uncommon in my studio these days due to earlier exposure to formal music classes. Most of my new keyboard students have attended one or more…
When I was a young child, the music played in my home was largely country and rock or hymns. Of course I had my own music too…Sesame Street, Anne Murray’s Hippo in My Bathtub, Mother Goose Favourites and the like. There was always music playing or being played but I didn’t receive a great deal of exposure…
Dust off those keys! Make a schedule for “play” You know, you should play almost every day! Clean out your bag…if you haven’t quite yet, There are more goodies coming from your teacher I bet. Wiggle your fingers and work out the creaks Warm up your singing voice, to avoid any squeaks and when the…
I hate to say it, but summer is almost at an end. As sad as it is to see it go, I am getting so excited for the return of my students, routine and the hustle and bustle of the music year. It can be difficult to transition from the lack-a-daisy schedule of the past…
A sweet young man entered a music studio one day. He was so excited to start learning with his new teacher. He was a young teen and had an air of business about him as he and the teacher discussed scheduling and past musical experience. “I’m in a band you see and need some help with learning some of…
Congratulations! You want to give your child music lessons. There are so many choices out there it is hard to know where to begin. Which instrument, which teacher, which program and at what age are all issues to consider. What is a good age to start lessons? As soon as possible! Why? The ages of…
This past week was Composition Camp 2010. This is the second year I have held such a camp. I love to compose and I love to teach composition but regular lesson time is jam packed with so much that there isn’t a great deal of time to focus on creating. The four day summer day…
Growing pains. They are part of the maturing process. They can be physical in nature but many times they are emotional. Even more painful is watching your child or student work their way through the inevitable discomfort of growth. Yet, looking back on my career, it is the moments after unrest that hold the greatest of victories. Early…
