Piano Gym routines demonstrated by a ten year old student

[music32]

One of my students agreed to warm up today for a video I posted at my blog. She started by playing an open position pentachord in F# Major and eventually built to across the keyboard Dim. and Dom. 7th arpeggios, parallel and contrary motion. Add in 10ths. She's come a long way in 4 years.
She ends with the Bach Invention 8 in F. We had some good fun today collaborating. Yesterday an adult student was in the hot seat. While he was initially anxious, he was glad he did it.

https://arioso7.wordpress.com/2010/12/17/piano-gym-routines-with-my-10-year-old-student/

[pianisten1989]

I'm no teacher, so I don't know how good "normal" 10 y.o are. But it's not very even. And why do you sing along? That I don't understand at all...?

[music32]

You might want to  type in a search for "Rosina Lhevinne" on You Tube and observe how she coaches her Juilliard students, often singing over their playing. This was the hallmark of my teacher's approach when I studied with her in New York City. Lillian Freundlich, no longer with us, made it a habit of prodding me and her other students by singing and shaping phrases. She did the same with technical warm-ups including scales and arpeggios. One of course, does not have to have a perfect voice to shape a line. I hope this explains a bit about me and what I gleaned from my studies, but there are no hard and fast rules. Each to his or her own way of teaching and communicating .
Frankly, I thought the 10 year student did well, and believe that she can feel proud of herself. I have probably learned more from her, than she has from me. Any sound teaching benefits from the student in one way or another. The joy of music is its own reward.

Thanks for your comments.

https://arioso7.wordpress.com
Today, having written about a high stakes finding piano adventure, in part, that reads like a Sopranos TV episode.. It takes a bit of development to get there.

[pianisten1989]

You can say Horowitz's and Richter's sang when they played scales, it still doesn't explain why you do it... If You're singing, so the Student can make a line, then that can't be healthy in the long run, can it?

And sorry, but she didn't play them very even, and that doesn't give me a good impression of your Gym/warm-up routine. And nice words wont make it even...

Sorry if I sound harsh, that's not the point, but I just want to understand why you do what you do.

[music32]

I really have no more to say.. sorry..

I don't patent the warm-ups.. Students of different levels have varying routines. In fact, since I only had 15 total minutes of You Tube time, you would not have seen another 10 minutes of footage. We edited it down. I am very proud of the student. It took a lot of courage to be videotaped. My final comment, is that she plays beautifully but like all of us, has a lot learn. Her Bach Invention 8 has been better, but nerves did play a role. The important thing is that she enjoys the process of learning and growing.
Nice words or not, sorry but I think I don't have more to say on this topic. Thanks again for your comments. I am off to practice. The day is short.

https://arioso7.wordpress.com
blogging about  piano finding adventures, and a high stakes encounter.
The joy of music is its own reward

[keyboardclass]

Hey, you'll be needing a thicker skin if you're posting vids - I know.  I think pianist is right - none of it's very musical is it? 

[becky8898]

Hi Music32. I really enjoyed your teaching video with your student.  She is a little younger than me, im 12. It seemed like you make the lesson fun and I thought your singing was cool. You are in a better positon to know your student than anyone else and I thought she was pretty brave doing the video. PLus the invention in F always makes me giggle.  Thats a story for another time.

Keep up being a good teacher.  and ill try and be a good student.

Cheers, Becky

[music32]

Thanks, Becky. I appreciated and enjoyed your comments. And just to add to the mix, them10 year old student is very musical, and she is so terrific to work with because she loves the piano.  It sounds like you do, too. Keep up the good work.

The joy of music making is its own reward.

Shirley K