What is theory?  It is the knowledge behind the act of playing the music…a set of principles upon which the PRACTICE of an activity is based.  Knowing how music is structured lends itself to better understanding and therefore..better playing…This knowledge base can be built upon for years…It makes the music come alive…both while performing and while listening.

Our Spring concert is on June 2 at 6:30 at the church at Queen and Carlaw.

Also, there is a Class on Sunday May 27.Piano Performance

Please note that I have added my summer teaching schedule to this site.  Please consult it, choose a summer schedule for yourself and e-mail it to me or discuss it with me.

Have a wonderful long weekend.

It is important for piano students to attend live concerts for several reasons:

They are  fun, inspiring and develop the ear and musical taste, thus helping the student to improve his/her personal performances.  Concerts provide life enriching experiences.  I have some suggestions but will wait to hear yours.  I will provide music group classes before any concert we choose to help the students understand what they are hearing better.

Piano Performance Class Outline

Young Group-What is music?

Talk about harmony, rhythm and melody and games to accompany the lesson. Impressionism, Debussy and Ravel.  Musopoly Game if time allows

Listening: Ravel’s “Mother Goose Suite”

Debussy: Golliwog’s Cakewalk

Older Group-Ear training and Scale Races-Rhythm-Key Signature Identification-Circle of Fifths

Music History-Impressionism and Ravel

Listening:

Ravel: Mother Goose Suite- piano and orchestral versions

Jeux D’Eau-Virtuosic Piano Music

Keep on enjoying the music!!

On Saturday May 5 at 10:00 I am hostessing a workshop with a teacher of the Golandsky Technique. Her name is Audrey Marshall and I have been studying this very special technique with her for a few months now.  She has consented to give a workshop for 5-6 of my beginner students and their parent(s).  One student has already asked to attend so I have 4-5 more spots available. Each student needs to play a small piece of music for Audrey and she will help them with some technique.  It should be interesting.  Let me know if you would like to come.  The cost is $12.00 per student and will be well worth it.

I am still counting sightreading for Easter Eggs…so keep on reading and playing!!

One of the main predictions about whether an individual who has studied an instrument will continue to play through out his/her lifetime is how well that person sight reads.  With busy lives it is sometimes difficult for student to remember to read a new line of music daily to perfect these skills.  So, to motivate the students to develop good habits, I am hostessing an Easter Egg Sight Reading contest.  For every five sight readings the student accomplishes, they will earn an Easter Egg.  This means they must record their sight readings  in their Student Practice booklet (along with days practiced..it is important for me to know whether you are having trouble with the music, or just not practicing enough!!) They must  prove to me that they are improving by sight reading correctly at the lesson.

The grand prize for improved sight reading  will be presented at our Spring Concert which will be held on Saturday June 2 at 6:30.  more about that later.

Next week…perfect practicing makes…well..perfect!!

"BAHAMA MAMA"

Life is great here in the Bahamas.  It has been passing very quickly with a whirlwind of swimming, touring, eating out and relaxing.  I have enjoyed the wonderful weather very much.

Just a reminder that not all student have registered for their Royal Conservatory of Music exams and this must be done by March 6 to avoid a late payment fee.

I am looking forward to seeing you all next week for piano lessons.  Have a great weekend.

I hope you all are enjoying this long weekend with your families.

Stephanie Riley, parent of one of my lovely beginner students has this to say:  “While Hannah loves her actual 30 minute lesson with Louise, she’d often rather skip the daily practicing part.  So far, we have negotiated 10 minutes a day, sometimes broken into 2 x 5 minute session and sometimes all 10 at once.  Hannah gets 1 sticker for every 5 minutes practiced and when she reaches 100 stickers, we head to the local toy store to pick out something she has been keening over (monetarily reasonable).  I think the intrinsic satisfaction from practicing is really noticeable when she plays well at her lesson and gets kudos from Louise. ”

What a great idea and Hannah is reaping the rewards as she is very prepared for each piano lesson and is able to move on to a new level of learning consistently.

A reminder that there is a Piano Performance Class next Sunday February 26.  We will listen and talk about 19th century composers like Wagner and Verdi.  Did you know that Tolkien’s “The Lord of the Rings” was based on the four Ring Cycle operas composed by Wagner?  What wonderful stories these operas tell and the music is exquisite.

I also want to remind parents that there are no piano lessons Monday February 27 to Monday March 5 as I am off to the Bahamas to visit my brother who has a condo on the beach…lucky me.

Last weekend I attended a concert at Koerner Hall given by Yasmin Levy and Omar Farouk.  After the concert there was dancing in the lobby area…Hungarian, Turkish and Romanian music…Great fun!!  If you have never been to Koerner Hall it is worth a visit!!

Last weekend I attended an amazing concert at Koerner Hall in the Telus Building at the Royal Conservatory of Music.  Maurice Steger played the recorder with Les Violins Du Roy and it was incredible  I had no idea the recorder could be played that way.  It was a feast for the ears…

Two of my parents have had great ideas lately about their children and the art of piano practicing.  I have asked them to blog about this and hopefully will post this next week.

Happy Valentine’s Week!

Family support is so important and we are blessed to have that in abundance in our Colour Outside The Lines Music Community.

Just a reminder that theory lessons are from 1:00-2:00 this Sunday February 5. I am going to Koerner Hall to hear Les Violins du Roy and am very excited about this concert.  I will report back next week.

Please get dressed up..this is an event and a celebration of music!!

Bring your music with you even if it is memorized and relax the day of the performance. Try not to do too many activities the day of the performance so you are not tired..or stressed.

The day of the performance, eat a banana as it calms the nerves and if you must practice, play your music once or twice slowly using the music.  Don’t keep reviewing it over and over.  You want to have “fresh fingers” for the concert.

Bring a treat for our after party.

I am looking  forward to sharing music with you once again.

Also a reminder that group classes (Piano Performance) and theory classes will be held at my home on Sunday January 29.  We will chat about the concert, talk about the Romantic time period of music and listen to some music and play games.  Please bring your Student Organizer!!

Maxim will be writing Advanced theory in May as well.  He is tackling two grades of theory.

A reminder that our annual Winter Concert will be held at the church this Saturday January 28 at Queen Street East Presbyterian Church at 6:30.  You may park behind the Riverdale Community Health Centre and use the Queen Street entrance as usual.

Please bring something for our party in the Banquet Hall following the concert.  I will provide water, juice and warm apple cider for the event.

Piano Performance Class will be held on Sunday January 29 at my home.  We will discuss our concert performances, the Romantic time period of music..Chopin..and playing games to enhance our theory and musicianship skills.

A Group should come at 4:00 and B Group at 3:00.Theory class takes place at 2:00

It will be a busy music weekend.