Instructor’s Learning Tips

In this module we are going deeper into counting.  Take advantage of these Rhythm Taps.  If you don’t know how to count correctly, you won’t be able to play a piece of music the way the composer intended.  It just won’t sound as good in most situations. I hear it all the time with private students who get lazy with their counting.

We will be playing a song with several flats. This allows you to get comfortable with playing and understanding flats.  There’s nothing scary about them.  They just take a little practice and the next time you play with flats it won’t seem as intimidating.

Again don’t forget your technique.  Keep your hands rounded.  Loose hand but strong finger tips.

As always–remember to sit up straight on the front half of the bench with your feet flat on the floor.  Your shoulders should be relaxed and not hunched up.  Your nose should be in front of middle C. Contact your thumb with the keys on the side of the nail.  This will keep your wrist in the correct position. Your wrist should be level with the floor.

Also remember to sit up straight as this allows your body to be  balanced. This will give you access to the power from your shoulders and upper body when you have good posture and are centered in front of the keys.

Also are you dropping into the keys and walking your fingers like in your scales?  If this is too much to think about, work on one technique each practice or week. An example, would be, “today I’m going to work on sitting up straight,” “today I’m going to work on dropping into the bottom of the keys.”

You can play along with the orchestrated accompaniments for each song to play at the fast tempo.  If you can’t play with the fast accompaniments, don’t worry, as long as you can keep a steady even tempo at a slower speed progress is taking place!

There are some metronome speeds to practice with, this is all optional. I like to practice with the metronome and then turn it off and with consistent practice you will start hearing the tick in your head.

If you can’t play at the speed of the slowest speed of the metronome without mistakes or breaks–you need more practice!  These songs are set up to be mastered in a week or two.  However if you don’t have time to consistently practice each week, they may take longer.

If you want to really master these skills, be able to keep up with the medium tempos.

Don’t wait too long to practice what you have already learned, so you can keep building upon your new skills.

I realize this is real life and that is the beauty of these videos. You can go back and review if you feel like you have forgotten some things.   

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