Feels Like “Happy New Year!”

Posted on June 1, 2011 by Luba

It is June 1st, but here in my corner of piano teacher land it feels a whole lot like January 1st. With the crazy race to the end of the semester finally complete, I sit here in that same post-holiday daze most people find themselves in come New Year’s morning. And it wouldn’t be New Year’s for me without lists! I don’t exactly bother writing resolutions in the usual sense, but I love looking back on the year and trying to think of all the highlights, changes, accomplishments…really, it is like retroactive resolution writing! I just look at all the good things that happened and pretend that I resolved to do them the previous year. Very gratifying, I tell you!
June 1st seems like a good day to apply this very activity to my teaching life, particularly because this past school year was one of many changes for my studio. Once I start musing it is tough to stop, so I warn you that this may turn into the first of several posts. Today we will stick to the concrete and tangible: (I’ll save my philosophizing for another day!)

Semester system billing

The biggest change I made last year was to switch to a semester/tuition system for my private teaching. I plotted out the entire school year calendar based on 36 lessons between September and May and had families pay a set monthly rate. Best decision ever.

Technique Practice Charts

I spent some time last summer planning out a more systematic way of introducing new technical elements for each of the National Music Certificate Program levels. I then created packets of weekly practice charts with checkboxes (oh the gratification of checking a box– no child can resist it!) to help kids track their technique practice. These charts still need some tweaking (summer project) but I’ll post them here sometime soon in case other folks find them to be helpful!

Lesson Notes in Excel

In the past, I have tried various systems of notebooks and such to keep lesson notes. This year I started doing my notes in Excel and though this is another work in progress area, I did a much better job of keeping track of student progress. Plus I could actually remember what happened at the previous week’s lesson!

Music lists on Sheetmusicplus.com

I wrote about this recently here. Ordering new materials became much easier with this system.

Ultimate Music Theory

I have been less than satisfied for a while now with the theory books out there and was thrilled to discover Ultimate Music Theory. As my students have started taking the NMCP Rudiments theory exams these books have been a huge help!

TonicTutor.com

TonicTutor.com is a charming music games website by Christine Donkin. This was my first year using the site and I found it to be a great means of getting my kids to practice ear-training and theory concepts on their own. It has been very neat to watch the site develop and I appreciate how quick the creators are to respond to input from teachers. Some of my kids really took to it and did their games consistently all year. Others were a bit more haphazard, and frankly I did not get into consistent routine with checking in myself. (New Year’s resolution maybe?)

MissLuba.com

Another really big change this year was my discovery of the internet. I mean, sure, I was already online all the time reading cooking and knitting blogs…But somehow it just never occurred to me until recently to investigate whether music teachers were out there in the ether too. I may save some of my poetic thoughts on this subject for my next “philosophical” New Year’s post, but really, I am just brimming with excitement over the amazing community I have discovered. Starting this site has been a fun adventure and I look forward to where it will take me in this New Year!

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Now Playing: Denis Matsuev

Posted on May 20, 2011 by Luba

A few weeks back, Jenny at The Teaching Studio kicked off an occasional series on Famous Pianists. I look forward to learning more about the great names of our profession through her future posts. She also inspired me to try my own version: Currently Performing Pianists Whose Concerts I Happened to Have Attended. Catchy, no?

Last Sunday evening I heard Russian virtuoso pianist, Denis Matsuev give a most glorious concert! Judging by the nearly 100% Russian make-up of the audience at Davies Symphony Hall, it seems as though much of the world is missing out. Really, it felt a little bit like being in an alternate dimension. Same city, same symphony hall—but an audience straight out of my childhood! On the first half of the program, Mr. Matsuev played the Schubert Piano Sonata No. 14 in a minor and the Beethoven Appassionata. Having thus warmed up his powerful hands and the piano (which got a tuning adjustment at intermission) he continued the second half with Lizst’s Mephisto Waltz and the Rachmaninoff Sonata No. 2 in B flat Major. Oh and then he played six encores.  As the program suggests, Matsuev’s technique is enough to frighten mere mortals and he can create a torrent of powerful sound. As a person who has been known to turn her nose up at “mere virtuosity,” I have to say that he really blew me away. Matsuev’s playing is emotional, intelligent and communicative. Even his most dramatic moments were musically convincing and did not come across as artifice or gesture for gesture’s sake. Then again, he was not above indulging in a bit of showing off on the encores. Played with an air of slightly comedic brinksmanship, this was encore number six!


 

Some facts on Matsuev (gleaned from his program bio and several charming interviews on Russian talk shows– YouTube never ceases to amaze):

  • born in 1975 in Irkutsk, Russia (Siberia- he takes great pride in being Siberian!)
  • a die-hard soccer fan (apparently his parents convinced him to move to Moscow at age 15 to pursue his musical studies by pointing out that he would be able to watch his favorite team play live!)
  • studied with Sergei Dorensky, whose students have won over 100 prizes at the major international competitions (including first prizes at the Chopin, Van Cliburn and Tchaikovsky competitions)
  • won the International Tchaikovsky Competition in 1998
  • chosen by Alexander Rachmaninoff (grandson of the composer) to record some previously never-performed works, on Rachmaninoff’s own piano
  • in additional to classical music, Matsuev loves jazz and apparently is quite the improviser!

If you get the chance, go hear him! (and start practicing your Russian now so that you can chat pleasantly with the person next to you at intermission…)

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Beyond the “Do It Again”

Posted on May 12, 2011 by Luba

If I teach my students any one thing, I hope that it is how to practice. As a young child, I remember sitting down at the piano…and then what? Maybe glancing at that notebook my teacher wrote in. Half-heartedly playing a scale or two. Opening one of my books and launching into a piece. I’d start with the first measure (which always sounded good considering all the extra repetition it got every time I restarted) and struggle my way through to the end. Do that a time or two or many, and call it a day. I may be dramatizing it a bit in my memory. It probably couldn’t have all been that bad (I did end up a musician, after all…) but it was a lot closer to that version of practice than the one that I had to discover bit by bit, through trial and mostly lots and lots of error.  I didn’t really have a model of what to do at home, and though I had many amazing teachers to whom I owe so very much, I was never taught how to practice. Too often, we as teachers assume that the word itself is self-explanatory. Practice. There is an implication of repetition. There is an admonishment to spend lots of time at the piano. There are circles and arrows and highlighted passages in the music… Continue reading →

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Music Lists on SheetMusicPlus

Posted on May 4, 2011 by Luba

Last week, Joy over at Color In My Piano had a discussion on purchasing materials for students. I have tried various approaches, but this year, I discovered a method that has made life easier for me and the parents.

While I wholeheartedly believe in supporting local business, my nearby music stores don’t always carry all the books I need for teaching and have not proven particularly quick in ordering them. So, most of my studio music purchases happen online. (I reduce my guilt over this by periodically going to those local shops and getting thoroughly carried away once I start browsing around!)

I usually purchase teaching materials from sheetmusicplus.com They have a huge selection and happen to ship ridiculously fast to where I live  (I may be geographically lucky in this regard since I think they have a warehouse in the area). The website also has teacher rebate accounts- 8% back on purchases. Once a certain rebate amount is reached you can opt to receive it as a check, gift certificate or via PayPal. The really nifty thing is that you can create “music lists” which can be sent via email.

I have been using these lists with great success this year. I send parents a list of the exact books needed for their child. If they prefer to go to a local music store- they know exactly what they need! If they prefer to search for the books on another website such as Amazon, that works too. But the easiest thing to do to simply add all the books to your cart right there and then! An added perk for teachers is that if someone orders straight from your list, it counts toward your teacher rebate. Works for me!

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So This Is What It’s Like

Posted on April 30, 2011 by Luba

One of the realities of piano-teacherdom, is that one is left with shockingly little time to play the piano. Day after day, I instruct my students on how to practice. “Don’t just sit and play,” I tell them. Set goals, make a list, use the metronome, repeat small sections! I feel virtuous and teacherly. And then every once in a while, I find myself actually needing to take my own advice. Tomorrow night I will be accompanying at a Benefit Concert for Japan. This has led to a few taste-of-my-own medicine sort of days! One of the pieces I’ll be playing is the Act 2 “Flower duet” from Madama Butterfly. Lets just say that for something innocently marked “Andantino” (and later, an understated “Allegro Moderato”), it is quite a ride. As Cio-Cio-San’s excitement builds, Puccini modulates—every few measures. Then, faithful Suzuki tries to bring Butterfly back to earth and the tempo completely changes—every few measures. Not to mention the joys of playing an orchestral reduction. (Oh why, why do they always assume I have three hands?)

Silliness aside, this really was a great way to practice the way that I tell my students to do it. I made myself write a specific plan in my practice notebook before doing any playing. Get crazy LH 16th note section to MM=72. Check. Figure out how to navigate that one ridiculous page-turn. Done. (I hope!) Keep inching the crazy LH 16th note section toward MM=104. Uh-huh. Remind myself not to clench every muscle in my body. Yes. (Well, that one is a work in progress)

Ultimately, it is nice to know that I can practice what I preach.  (Practice! Literally!) Puccini and I spent some good quality time together these last few days, and I am looking forward to playing the Butterfly Duet tomorrow. The singers are truly wonderful and I just hope to get out of their way and let the music happen (while playing crazy 16th notes at MM=104 in a manner that feels “Andantino”).

And while I spend the day teaching tomorrow, I will give my students the practicing speech with added gusto and authority!

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Bookish Thoughts: Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother

Posted on April 27, 2011 by Luba

 

A parent in my studio recently lent me “Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother” by Amy Chua, otherwise known as That Tiger Mother book. I have been hearing about the book for a while now, and since some of the parents were reading it, I wanted to be in the know! (Funny aside: A ten year-old student recently showed up to her lesson decidedly more prepared than usual. When I expressed my pleasure, she sighed, rolled her eyes and said, “my mom is reading that Tiger Mother book”.)

 

If this is the first time you are hearing of this book, the subtitle pretty much says it all:

“ This is a story about a mother, two daughters, and two dogs. This was supposed to be a story of how Chinese parents are better at raising kids than Western ones. But instead, it’s about a bitter clash of cultures, a fleeting taste of glory, and how I was humbled by a thirteen-year-old.”

Yes. So. Let me try to avoid wading into any sort of controversy…

I very much enjoyed the book, just for the entertainment value alone. Amy Chua’s writing is very humorous and she manages to strike a tone that is a bit self-deprecating and yet sincere.

I think this book should be required reading for piano teachers. I do not say this because I believe it is a totally accurate representation of parenting in a particular culture or because I have a fixed opinion of whether Chua was right or wrong in the approach she took with raising her daughters (to give a sense of scale: the pianist makes her Carnegie Hall debut as an eighth-grader, the violinist is the concert master of her youth orchestra and studies with a teacher from the Julliard Prep, having narrowly missed acceptance into that program).  The value of the book for me was in the questions that it raised in my mind:

  • How do I interact with different styles of parenting?
  • What is my role as a teacher in the context of the parent-child relationship?
  • Do I have clear communication with parents about the musical goals they have for their children?

Continue reading →

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My Cozy Corner

Posted on April 14, 2011 by Luba

Joy, over at Color in My Piano, started a great conversation about pianos and teaching spaces. I have enjoyed seeing photos of instruments and studios on many of my favorite blogs. So, I thought I would join in the show-and-tell!
Here is a shot of my “studio” (aka: one side of my living room in a small San Francisco apartment):

 

My piano is a Seiler upright, which was a gift from my parents when I graduated from Conservatory. We found it at the San Francisco Opera’s annual piano sale. Each year, the opera sells pianos that were used in practice rooms at the Opera House. I don’t know if many other organizations do such a thing, but here in San Francisco it is a great opportunity to find a gently used high quality instrument.

While I love my cozy corner, I dream of someday having a space devoted completely to teaching. That bookshelf you see on the left is overflowing with music (another bookshelf full of orchestral scores is on the other side of the room), and the little shelf on the right no longer holds all of my piano CDs which I like to have on hand to loan out to students. My current space also doesn’t allow for any sort of group lessons or studio class—something I would really like to offer in the future.
The good news is that in the meantime, I am blessed with a beautiful piano and very patient neighbors!

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Fine Work, Farmer Fred!

Posted on April 7, 2011 by Luba

When I started this blog a few months back, I wasn’t quite sure what exactly I was looking to do. At first I intended to write solely for an audience of my own students and parents. Keep the studio folks in the loop, let them know about events and give some practice tips here and there… But when I started sitting down to write, I couldn’t quite find the words or pin down the tone. With more thinking, I realized that what I really needed was a place to share my thoughts and ideas about teaching, and to find a community of colleagues. And so I began to look around a bit, followed a few links, and discovered an absolutely treasure trove! I am sure that my blogroll in the sidebar is just skimming the surface of the amazing music educators who are sharing their ideas, stories and inspirations and the web. Geeky as it sounds, I am excited every morning to check my Google Reader for new posts!

Today was no exception, and here’s what I found! The amazing “Piano Anne” of Pianoantics is hosting a giveaway. It was such a thrill to discover Anne’s blog the other day. She is incredibly creative, tech-savvy, inspirational and of course, the composer of such wonderful pieces as Freddy the Frog, To Fly Like an Eagle and Starfish at Night. I have been teaching her pieces for years and it is just so neat get a glimpse into her world as a teacher and musician.

And that’s how excited I was before I even watched the video!

I love the animations! (and the voices!) What a great way to introduce kids to staff notation and landmark notes! Turns out, Barnyard Friends videos and teaching aids are available for free download. I can’t wait to use the videos with my kids and, giveaway or not, I will definitely be downloading and laminating the Barnyard Board and flashcards. Thank you so much Anne!

 

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The Achievement Program

Posted on April 5, 2011 by Luba

Royal American Conservatory Examinations, National Music Certificate Program and now, The Carnegie Hall Royal Conservatory Achievement Program.

Click here to meet the shiny new face of the Royal Conservatory Program in the US. I think this brand is finally a keeper! The association with Carnegie will certainly boost the organization’s national profile—there has already been a New York Times article! The new website is well organized, informative, integrates a way to purchase materials and generally gives a better picture of what the program is all about. My hope is that the system will really begin to take root deeply in the US.

My students have been participating in the exams over the last five years and I cannot say enough about how much I love the curriculum. It is built to facilitate the growth of a complete musician. Children are not just learning to play a few songs—they must develop their ear-training, sight-reading, and technique skills. The theory, harmony, analysis and music history components of the program are deeply thorough and assure that young people are looking at music from many angles. The publications that are focused toward this curriculum are high quality, well edited and fresh. There is a great spirit of energy and creativity in the community of teachers who are a part of RCM programs. Just in this last year I have discovered great new teaching tools like Tonic Tutor and Ultimate Music Theory, both rooted in the RCM system.

One of my favorite things about the organization’s new face is their new slogan:

“Inspire the Desire to Aspire”

I love this. It epitomizes my purpose as a teacher. Regardless of what a student’s long-term musical goals may be, I believe that it is crucial to strive for excellence. Achieving challenges and working at a high level are extremely motivating to a child.
Piano lessons are a long trek. Every child will cycle through ups and downs, periods of motivation and weeks of feeling stuck. The breakthroughs come when students discover the value of their work and are able to see their own progress, understanding that it is a result of those hours of practice. They feel strong, capable and inspired to achieve even greater levels of mastery, in all areas of life!

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Working Rehearsal

Posted on March 30, 2011 by Luba

One of the supposed perks of being (mostly) self-employed is the flexible and somewhat un-orthodox schedule. As a piano teacher and musician, I am hard at work weekday afternoons, evenings and weekends. Weekday mornings, however, I am left to my own devices. Most of the time, this simply means catching up on an endless stream of emails, doing some household chores and dealing with the week’s inevitable rescheduling of lessons (basketball game, soccer practice, baseball team photos…does the fun never end?)

Well, today I actually made good use of this “free time”! I spent the morning attending one of San Francisco Symphony’s Open Rehearsals. I am a little ashamed to admit that this was my very first time going—so many opportunities missed! But it certainly won’t be the last. For a ticket price of only $22 (admittedly, a $9 fee is added on top of that) you show up at 8:30am for coffee and donuts, hear a pre-concert lecture at 9:00am, and then at 10:00am hear the orchestra rehearse their program. Admittedly, I was a bit late and missed out on the donuts and only caught part of Scott Foglesong’s energetic synopsis of Sibelius’ 2nd Symphony. The whole event is open seating (though Loge, Boxes and Front Orchestra are “reserved”- I assume for subscribers?) and the orchestra level was already quite full by 9:15. Knowing that what I really came for was Yundi Li playing Tchaikovsky’s 1st Piano Concerto, I made my way up to First Tier where I had no trouble finding an entire empty front row with a perfect view of the keyboard. There were plenty of seats to go around, and considering that for a regular performance my seat would have run me $65, I was a happy girl!

And I have to say, I got considerably more enjoyment out of today’s rehearsal that I have out of many a concert. Maybe being a musician myself gives me such great affection for seeing all our esteemed symphony players in their jeans and khakis,  marking their scores as they play, periodically getting up to adjust their chairs. The first part of the program was the Sibelius D Major symphony. First and second movements were played straight through, though Blomstedt did give some notes in between. One the bassoonists, whose chair had been conspicuously empty, walked in about half way through the Andante. Having finished the movement, Blomstedt took them through the opening again- turns out it is a bassoon duet, not a solo!

That second hearing gave me even more appreciation for a piece that is brand new to me. Just listen to this: timpani, low strings, and bassoons (two of them!)

The second half was Yundi Li (in jogging pants and a t-shirt!) on the Tchaikovsky Concerto. His technique really is breathtaking. Perhaps he was holding back a bit expressively without a true “audience”, I don’t know. At the conclusion of the run-through he didn’t acknowledge the audience at all and just leapt right up to talk to Blomstedt about a transition in the Finale. They then ran that section two more times.  I loved that he had a score on the piano the entire time and every time the orchestra was playing, he would be flipping over to the appropriate spot. There really was a sense of the work being done. Thus the term, working rehearsal. I’m a teacher at heart I guess—I  like seeing the work.

All in all Yundi didn’t quite win me over as much as I had hoped, but I did buy his latest CD of the Chopin Nocturnes. And I am definitely won over by SFS open rehearsals and plan on attending whenever I can. Next up: Sasha Barantschik plays the Mendelssohn violin concerto…

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