A newsletter for the piano pedagogy community

Transcription

1 Volume 9 Issue A newsletter for the piano pedagogy community Inside The Teacher s Corner Page & The Student s Corner Page Introducing Schirmer Performance Editions Page In Touch Special Offer Page Dealer Spotlight: Rockley Music Center Page 6 00 Hal Leonard Piano Day Spa Page 7 MTNA Preview Page 8 Invigorate Your Routine By Mona Rejino If only we lived in a perfect musical world where every student practiced consistently and always came to their lessons well prepared If only piano lessons took precedence over sports and other extracurricular activities If only all parents really took the time to Mona Rejino monitor their children s practice schedules and helped them learn to budget their time properly If only Imagine how easy our jobs would be as piano teachers! Ah, but it is amazing how creative and imaginative we can become when faced with the hurried lives our students lead today. The challenge is similar to sneakily getting them to eat their vegetables disguised as something else. We have to find a way to get them excited about music study, to encourage them to get their foot in the door and experience a facet of music making that is truly fun and inspiring. Our job goes way beyond critiquing pieces week after week, placing that shiny sticker on the top of the page (whether the piece is mastered or not), and trudging on. Here are some musical tricks taken from the Hal Leonard Student Piano Library (HLSPL) for those rainy days when students come to their lessons unprepared, or just for the times when you both need a diversion from the regular routine. Each of these activities has a musical purpose, and your students will leave their lessons knowing that they have learned something special about playing the piano. Many years ago I was accompanying my daughter on Toes In The Sand found on pages - of Piano Solos Book (HL009600). During the B Section she was supposed to improvise on A - B - C - D - E. She was really getting into the improvisation and accidentally played an E-flat. I ll always remember the look on her face. It was as if she was thinking I know that black key isn t one I m supposed to be playing, but I sure like the way it sounds! Now every time one of my students learns this song I ask them to experiment by playing an E-flat. Yes, I know it doesn t say to do that in the instructions, but what a wonderful opportunity for students to experience the magical sound of a flatted fifth. Let s face it, learning the I - IV - V triads is not the most exciting activity on the planet. The Hal Leonard Student Piano Library introduces the primary triads in a musical setting in Take It Easy found on page of Lessons Book (HL009606). Played along with the teacher accompaniment or the disk, the music transports you to an exotic island, even though the student is only playing blocked and broken chords. As a follow up activity, give your students the opportunity to read and improvise over these harmonies as they experience playing the -bar blues. Write out the chord pattern below either using letter symbols, Roman numerals, or both. (Each chord gets counts.) C (I) C (I) C (I) C (I) F (IV) F (IV) C (I) C (I) piano@halleonard.com The art of teaching is the art of assisting discovery. ~ Mark Van Doren A young student once asked me what makes the blue note sound blue? (Don t you love those questions that are impossible to answer?) The only way I knew to get to the heart of her question was to experiment with pieces containing a blue note that she had already learned. We first turned to Party Cat on page of Piano Lessons Book (HL009600), and substituted B-naturals for the B-flats. WOW! She was amazed to find that eliminating the blue note completely changed the mood and character of the music. We then focused on the first activity on page of the Piano Practice Games Book (HL009600). Here A Little Latin is written without B-flats. Students are asked to play it this way, and then to write in the B-flats and listen to the difference the blue note makes. G (V) F (IV) C (I) C (I) *Over the C chord improvise on G - B-flat - C. *Over the F chord improvise on C - E-flat - F. *Over the G chord improvise on D - F - G. This activity can be done with one student, or several in a group. At a private lesson you can play the chords and have your student do all of the improvisations, then trade parts. At a group lesson you can divide the different parts, having one student play the chords, one student improvise only over the C chords, one over the F chords, and one over the G chord. Then they can trade parts with each other. This is similar to playing in a bell choir. You have to know exactly when it is your time to play by reading the chord pattern and listening to the other students. continued on page

2 Below is a list of other repertoire in the Hal Leonard Student Piano Library that gives students more experience with the -bar blues: Walk Around The Block Lessons Book (HL00960), page Spike s Blues Technique Book (HL0096), page 9 Two-Four-Six-Eight Lessons Book (HL009606), pages 6-7 Six Ate Beets Solos Book (HL009608), pages 0- You don t understand anything until you learn it more than one way. ~ Marvin Minsky Children are told in school that copying is not allowed. Well, I believe that when they come to their piano lesson, this rule does not apply! The following ear-training exercise is one that can be used with students of all ages and levels. Both you and the student place your L.H. fingers - - on the three black keys and your R.H. fingers - on the two black keys. First the teacher plays a short, simple melody. Then the student tries to copy it. (With younger students you can begin with just the black keys or the black keys, then combine them later.) I am always pleasantly surprised at how well my students can imitate not only the pitches, but also the rhythms that I play. Later on the student can play first and have you imitate his melody. But watch out! The students melodies tend to get long and complex, so you better be listening. For some students, learning swing eighth notes is a real challenge. Bill Boyd has given teachers a marvelous remedy. The final two pieces in Bill s Jazz Prelims (HL00900) will solve this dilemma. In Follow The Leader on page and Imitation on page, the teacher plays the swing melody in the accompaniment first, then the student answers with the same swing melody. I guarantee this is foolproof! You must never tell a thing. You must illustrate it. We learn through the eye and not the noggin. ~ Will Rogers It is good to remind ourselves that some of the greatest music ever written began with one simple motive. Even our youngest students recognize Beethoven s famous four-note motive from his th symphony. In the My Own Song improvisations from page 0 of Lessons Book (HL00960), students learn to sequence a given motive using only the notes of the F major scale and the D minor scale. This activity allows them to understand the concept of motive and sequence, and also reinforces their knowledge of the notes contained in those scales. There is a wonderful follow up to this page in Theory Workbook (HL00960), page 8, called Making A Repeat Appearance! Here students are given longer motives to sequence, creating two lovely little pieces. This type of musical activity can become the basis of much bigger composing and arranging projects. A good teacher is one who helps you become who you feel yourself to be. ~ Julius Lester Many years ago I had the privilege of teaching a very unique student. Elliott studied with me from rd grade through th grade. He was dyslexic, and had some other learning issues as well. Reading music was always a struggle for him, although he greatly improved through the years. He had a terrific ear, and a phenomenal creative knack to boot. One year, Elliott was struggling with one of Bach s Two-Part Inventions for the Christmas recital. As December drew nigh, we were both getting nervous that his piece would not be ready for the performance. One day he walked into the studio and told me that he had picked out Greensleeves by ear that week and had composed a theme and variations on it. (His school orchestra was playing a version of this at the time.) You can t imagine what a treat was in store for me. As I sat back and listened to the music pouring out of Elliott s heart I realized that Elliott knew himself much better than I did. His performance of his own arrangement of Greensleeves was the hit of the recital. It gave a kid who continually struggled a huge boost of self-confidence, and it taught me a lesson I will never forget. So, when you find yourself wishing for that perfect world, a perfect student, or the perfect studio, remember that with imagination and creativity, all things are possible. ~Mona Rejino Music Resources from Hal Leonard See your favorite music store for more information or to order these publications. Lessons Bk/CD (00967) Solos Book (009600) Practice Games Bk (009600) Lessons Bk/CD (009679) Technique Book (0096) Lessons Bk/CD (009680) Solos Book (009608) Lessons Bk/CD (009606) Theory Book (009600) Jazz Prelims (00900) Visit for complete descriptions on these and other resources. An accomplished pianist and teacher, MONA REJINO is co-author and contributing composer and arranger for the Hal Leonard Student Piano Library. Ms. Rejino maintains an independent piano studio in Carrollton, Texas, where she has taught students of all ages and levels since 98, as well as teaching privately at the Hockaday School in Dallas. She frequently adjudicates festivals and competitions throughout the area. Mona is a member of Who s Who of American Women. Other professional achievements include two recordings, Music for the Adult Student and Pupil Savers, produced and distributed by the National Piano Foundation. Her compositions have been featured in Keys magazine. Ms. Rejino received her Bachelor s Degree in Music at West Texas State University, and completed her Master of Music in Piano Performance at the University of North Texas where she studied with pianist Joseph Banowetz. She and her husband, Richard, frequently work together presenting programs on a variety of topics for music teacher associations throughout the Dallas area and at state and national conventions.

3 Notespeller for Piano Book Written by Karen Harrington Symphony Park. Solve the crossword clues by naming the notes.. Complete the crossword puzzle. Across Down.. 6. ly ki t s Sun th Sk t o r in Rol l r l s ll Pl y r s i y l Sk t h S il... R Pl y h ss in ir w t h H v un. This activity is found in Notespeller for Piano Book (HL009667) and can easily be used with any student to reinforce reading skills. We hope you and your students enjoy this activity!.. Hal Leonard grants permission to photocopy this page for your students.

4 By Margaret Otwell Director of Educational Keyboard Publications, Hal Leonard Corporation Notable hallmarks include: We are excited to bring you the debut of a new piano series, The Schirmer Performance Editions, jointly published by G. Schirmer and Hal Leonard Corporation. A respect for the original intent of the composer by careful consultation of urtext scores and contemporary scholarship. I m certain that many musicians undoubtedly grew up with the familiar volumes of the Schirmer Editions on our piano racks. The distinctive yellow cover is truly an icon in the teaching world, and rightly so. As a young pianist, I remember that being given one of the yellow-cover books meant I had reached a very important milestone in my own piano study. Careful attention to the look of the score on the page. All books are newly engraved in a clear, uncluttered format, and printed on vellum paper that is easier for the eyes to read. Many pianists still have a great fondness for Schirmer s piano scores. The Library of Piano Classics has enabled all pianists amateurs, students, and professionals to gain ready access to a huge store of classical repertoire for more than a hundred years. And so, Hal Leonard is deeply honored to work with Schirmer on this new collection of piano music, the Schirmer Performance Editions. Covers are a beautifully designed to invite a pianist especially students to open the books and begin to play. Many hours of planning went into the development of this new series. We constantly thought of teachers and students when we worked on our goal of creating a new library of classics. We believe it will serve as a valuable resource for today s pianists and hope it will become the piano library of the st century. Also included in each volume is a CD recording of the repertoire in the book, performed by the artist-teacher/editor. These performances enhance the value of these books. The recordings aptly illuminate the concepts discussed in the prefatory Performance Notes through artistic, illustrative interpretations that others will value long after they have mastered the repertoire. Each of the pedagogical volumes in the series will include a CD recording of the solos in the book, performed by the artist/editor. We hope that these recordings will serve as an excellent model or performance ideal for students and accomplished pianists alike. The series, which will be developed over a period of several years, will eventually encompass a wide range of repertoire and will include editions for students as well as advanced standard literature. We invite you to explore this new series in your own studio through the In Touch special offer on the next page. Be among the first to review book/cds from this informative, new classical-repertoire series. 7 Sonatina in G Major 0 I Allegretto (q = 88-00) p 0 cresc. f cresc. 7 ] [ p grazioso 8 p leggiero dim. f dim. cresc. simile 8va simile Copyright 00 by G. Schirmer, Inc. (ASCAP) New York, NY International Copyright Secured All Rights Reserved Warning: Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited by Federal law and subject to criminal prosecution. mf f sf dim. cresc. f Clementi Bach Burgmüller Sonatinas, Opus 6 Two-Part Inventions Progressive Studies,Opus 00 HL009666/$9.9 HL00966/$9.9 HL00966/$9.9 PIANO ARTS COMPETITION 9 8 simile p fz J. Friedrich Burgmüller Op. 00, No. Moderato (q = ) (sempre) legato Innocence 6 J.S. Bach BWV 77 ` Invention No. Muzio Clementi Op. 6, No. Milwaukee, WI June 7 -, 00 (Semi-Final & Final Rounds) Preliminary Round videotape deadline: March 7, 00 Open to all young pianists ages through 8. For more information call: pawisc@earthlink.net visit the website:

5 IN TOUCH SPECIAL OFFER Select one book of your choice of the listed here, and we ll send you a complimentary reference copy for your studio. One book limit please. Clementi Sonatinas, Opus 6 HL009666/$9.9 Bach Two-Part Inventions HL00966/$9.9 Burgmüller Progressive Studies, Opus 00 HL00966/$9.9 To request your complimentary copy US AT piano@halleonard.com Please mention Dept. Code ITF0 PHONE: Please order additional copies for your students from your favorite retailer. RETURN THIS FORM TO: Hal Leonard 7777 W. Bluemound Road P.O Box 89 Milwaukee, WI FAX: SHIP TO: Name Address City State Zip Daytime Phone Number (in case we have questions about your order) Address OFFER EXPIRES MARCH, 00

6 dealer spotlight The Next Generation of Print Music Colorado s Rockley Music Center ended 00 with its 8th Anniversary Sale in December. The Anniversary Sale capped a year filled with change and excitement as second-generation owners Bob and Nina Rockley, retired, turning over the business to the next generation, Liane and Tobin Rockley. Rockley Music s humble beginnings started in 96 as a musical instrument and appliance store. Mel Rockley, founder of Rockley Music, was the band director and principal of a local high school. The store was born Original location in 96 out of a love of music and a desire to service the community. At nearly /0th its current size, Rockley Music sold washers, dryers, band instruments, small appliances and some print music. The print music in 96 was a very small section filed alphabetically by instrument. Records were the big seller and made up the bulk of print music until the 970 s when eight-track and cassette tapes came into vogue. In 97 Nina Rockley, daughter-in-law to Mel, eliminated the records and took the next evolutionary step in print music by organizing it into four large departments - Piano, Instrumental, Vocal and Choral. Nina also pioneered the dealer/teacher relationship with her charter membership in the Foothills Music Teachers Association, part of Music Teachers National Association. The 80 s and 90 s brought tremendous growth in the print departments, especially in piano music. Rockley Music s now extensive selection helped provide local teachers with a place to browse, compare editions, and play through music before purchasing it. Displaying the music in inviting, oak browsing bins instead of filing cabinets turned teacher sale day into a social time for teachers to get together and share ideas and favorite pieces with each other. Where are we headed now? Teachers have different needs today than they did even five years ago. They are less likely to take the little time they have to come browse through music and are more apt to buy online. As a leader in the music industry, Rockley Music participated in a national teacher survey for Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) and the Retail Print Music Dealers Association (RPMDA). Survey results were tabulated and presented at the 00 RPMDA convention in Philadelphia and a joint task force was formed to address the changes in the teacher/dealer relationship. Liane Rockley of Rockley Music and Peggy Otwell of Hal Leonard are developing the public relations module for the task force. The task force recommendations charge print music dealers and teachers to find new and innovative ways to re-energize and encourage professional growth and development in their community. For Rockley Music, being at the forefront of new technologies and ideas helps us meet this challenge. Our website and newsletters reach teachers in the comfort of their own homes, on their schedule. Hosting unique workshops like the Hal Leonard Piano Day Spa stimulate professional growth in a fun, relaxing new environment. On the instrument side of the business, Rockley Music provides pianos to schools and institutions though participation in a piano loan program. Liane and Tobin have continued their hands-on approach to the local community by providing opportunities like the Pramberger Piano Festival and Competition, and the Denver Central Federation Festival. The Rockley Music print staff attends local music-teacher association meetings, volunteering time to support these organizations. The MTNA/RPMDA survey also emphasized the importance of selection and knowledge of staff members. With over 0,000 titles in stock and decades of experience in print music, Rockley Music meets this challenge. As our 60th Anniversary approaches in 006, our business focus is clearer than ever. We are in business for the love of music, to support our families, and to service the musical needs of our community by providing the products and the warmth of service that our family can offer. Please visit us at the 00 MTNA Convention in Seattle! You can also visit us online at 6 Inside Rockely Music From left to right: Liane Rockely, Aaron Shields, and Boni McIntyre (Print Music Management)

7 H A L L E O N A R D P R E S E N T S 00 THE PIANO DAY SPA is a unique experience which combines elements from traditional piano workshops with the nurturing environment of a real spa. Designed to restore balance and recapture the creative spirit in your daily teaching schedule, the Day Spa will help you discover new opportunities, explore your potential and follow the path to being the best possible piano teacher. 00 PIANO DAY SPA DATES AND LOCATIONS: COLORADO Saturday, August 6, 00 Lakewood Cultural Center 70 S. Allison Parkway Lakewood, CO WISCONSIN Saturday, August 0, 00 Wisconsin Lutheran College Center for Arts & Performance 88 W. Wisconsin Avenue Milwaukee, WI CALIFORNIA Saturday, September 7, 00 Roland Corporation US Headquarters 00 S. Eastern Avenue Los Angeles, CA Call or for information and more PIANO DAY SPA dates and locations for 00! piano@halleonard.com Co-Sponsored by: Presented by: 7

8 Prsrt Std Rate U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. Winona, MN Special Offer Inside! MTNA 00 April - 6 Seattle, WA Barbara Kreader Join us for the exciting debut of the Hal Leonard Adult Piano Method Right from the start, adults want to play rewarding music and enjoy their piano study. They deserve a method that lives up to those expectations, keep them interested, and eager to learn more. Great music, superb CD/GM accompaniments and helpful tips combine to make it all happen in this exciting new adult method. Join HLSPL authors Barbara Kreader, Phillip Keveren, Fren Kern and Mona Rejino as they demonstrate why, for adults just as for children, their guiding principle remains the same The Music Still Makes the Difference! MTNA Showcase Date: April, 00 Time: 8am Location: Room 6 Phillip Keveren Washington State Convention & Trade Center Fred Kern Mona Rejino Join the Hal Leonard Student Piano Library SHEET MUSIC CLUB! $0 for a -year membership Call: piano@halleonard.com to become a member today!