Tag Archives: teach

russian folk song yablotchko piano duet student teacher video

Russian Folk Song Yablotchko Piano Duet Student Teacher Video

Madeleine plays a duet along with me. It’s a traditional Russian folk song called “Yablotchko” (apples). Playing duets is a great way to get students to learn to play in rhythm. It can be the most challenging part of learning to play piano. Improving rhythm skills on the keyboard can be improved by tapping the left food, counting out loud, and using a metronome. These are all useful in getting familiar with playing in tempo. Duets are a fantastic way to focus on rhythms, and a lot of fun. Students who play tentatively gain lots of confidence when joined in a duet.

hiromi uehara

Wild Performance Piano Jazz Hiromi Uehara Japanese Timeout Video

Hiromi Uehara, commonly known as Hiromi, is a jazz composer and pianist from Hamamatsu, Japan. She is recognized by her incredibly virtuosic technique, high energetic performances and the blending in her compositions of musical genres such as new bop, progressive rock, classical and fusion.

Hiromi began classical piano at age six. Her piano teacher introduced to jazz when she was eight. At 14, she had already performed with the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra. At 17, she met Chick Corea by chance in Tokyo, and was invited to play a concert with him the very next day.

She worked as a jingle writer for several years, and then enrolled at Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts to study music. At Berklee, she was mentored by Ahmad Jamal. By the time of her graduation, she had already signed with a jazz label Telarc. Since 2004 debut, Hiromi has toured the world and appeared in numerous jazz festivals. She has played live at the prestigious Newport Jazz Festival.

 

piano keyboard teacher

Increase Your IQ – Piano Lessons For Children & Adults

Piano teachers have always known that people who take piano lessons or keyboard lessons tend to have better cognitive skills that increase their success at school, at work, and in daily challenges. Recent research has quantified this with some statistical results.

Although most people think of IQ as a trait you are born with, studies now show that it is not static. IQ levels can change over the years and increase when people are given just several weeks of cognitive training. One study showed scores increasing over 15% for some students. Researchers have drawn a strong connection between music lessons and IQ level. Glenn Schellenberg, psychology professor, University of Toronto, has demonstrated that music lessons result in a higher IQ throughout one’s life. Six years of music lessons can markedly increase a child’s IQ score by an average 7.5 points.

In one recent study, researchers found that musicians that are active 10 years or more continue to show higher IQs beyond the age of 60. IQ scores fluctuate during a person’s life. Learning new skills stimulates the brain the most. People can increase their IQ by engaging in activities that are intellectually challenging. Complex school studies, work, relationships, and problems solving will result in increased IQ.

from the WSJ

blues piano lessons keyboard

New Age Piano Lessons Keyboard Lessons – Portland Oregon

blues piano lessons keyboardMy students love playing New Age music on the piano. It’s fun to play, and pieces can be learned quickly. The music is quite repetitive, and it creates a nice flow, filled with emotion. It’s one of my favorite types of music to teach. New Age music is intended to create a peaceful sense of inspiration and relaxation in the listener. Often used as a background for yoga, massage, and meditation, it gives students a relaxed and peaceful connection to the piano.

One of the composers most popular for New Age piano music is Enya. Her music is very well known and many of her pieces feature piano as the key instrument. New Age piano music is recognized by the feeling it produces. Sometimes the music is punctuated by long sustained, swirling chords. Harmonies are often hypnotic, the listener being drawn into a world of color and imagination. Pieces are often long, sometimes thirty minutes in length, compared to the short songs found in pop music. The music often is characterized by arpeggios in the left hand, and melodies in the right hand. Students taking piano lessons or keyboard lessons will definitely want to try some New Age music.

Vocal arrangements are not that common, but often found in Celtic, Tibetan, or Native American variations. New Age music crosses into many genres and is written not just for solo piano, but synthesizers, keyboards, acoustic guitars, drums, flutes, horns, stringed instruments, and just about any instrument found in a band. Generally, songs are either in electronic or acoustic form. A wide variety on ethnic instruments are often found in New Age recordings.

New Age music was originally influenced by diverse artists from many genres. Musicians such as Leo Kottke, Steve Reich, Philip Glass, Pink Floyd, Brian Eno, Keith Jarrett, Pat Metheny have all helped shape the current sound of New Age music.

Some popular New Age composers are:

Vangelis
Paul Winter
Will Ackerman
Jim Brickman
Enya
Jean Michel Jarre
Kitaro
Sandeep Khurana
Yanni
Andreas Vollenweider
Peter Gabriel

More info on New Age music…

adults piano keyboard lessons

Beginning Piano Lessons & Keyboard Lessons in Portland Oregon

Why Take Piano Lessons?

adults piano keyboard lessonsTaking piano or keyboard lessons opens up a whole new world of learning and creativity. Children and adults will discover a great avenue for personal self expression and a way to have fun. Playing piano is probably one of the most satisfying and fulfilling activities that someone can do. Learning to read music will inspire and challenge you, and make you a more confident person. You might also find it interesting learning to play by ear, doing blues improvisation, jamming with friends, or accompanying a friend singing.

Learn to play piano and it will greatly increase your appreciation of music. It’s exciting when we begin to hear music in new ways, and understand how it all comes together. Beginners can start at any age. Individual, private lessons will get you on course quickly, keep you motivated, and teach you at a comfortable pace. Find a piano teacher you feel comfortable with.

You can learn just about any style of music; Popular, Classical, Folk, Blues, Jazz, New Age. The joys of playing piano are profound. It’s one of the best things you can do with your time.

Find out more about piano and keyboard lessons in Portland…