I
received some very positive feedback from last issue of Studio News.Thank you.I hope that
everyone will continue to find the newsletters useful.I will be continuing to discuss aspects of practice and home piano
playing in this newsletter.
Well,
we are about to commence term 2.I
am pleased with the progress of all students during term 1.New students are settling in well.It
is clear that everyone is applying at home what you are learning during lessons.Since much more time can be spent playing piano at home than can possibly
be spent at lessons, this will help you find learning music a satisfying
experience.Well done everyone!
The
Web Site
I
have just launched this web site promoting Individual Dynamics and
providing, what I consider to be, excellent links and resources for students and
families.I intend to continually
update the content on this site to provide you with additional support at home.
As
another part of the web site, I am developing Practice Pages.Pages will be created for those of you who would like to have access to
online support. Content is specific to your learning and includes lesson
feedback, practice advice, sound files, internet links, things to remember,
achievements and sound files for your pieces (where available) – plus anything
you have created that you would like to have on your page.
Music
is a form of communication – just as words in a story, music “well told”
creates images and carries feelings.Music
is built on sound, just like language.Spending time immersed in music (listening and playing) helps
us learn to communicate with these sounds in the same way as spending time
around people who use an unfamiliar language (as an infant or in a new culture)
helps us to learn that language.The
more we are able to understand and communicate in the language of music, the
more rewarding and enjoyable it becomes – study is transformed into
self-expression.
Last issue I talked about music as a social activity and the importance
of sharing the learning experience with the family.In this issue, below, I will mention the benefits of piano playing to
physical development and control – and different things that can be done to
improve the process.
Playing
the piano helps a lot in the development of hand-eye coordination, reading,
small muscle strength and total body coordination.When we play, nearly every muscle of the body is required to
work together – in coordinated tension and relaxation.The feet promote balance and control the pedals.The legs and lower torso provide pivotal movement, to reach the whole 88
piano keys.The diaphragm
(breathing) works in cooperation with the shoulders, arms, wrists and fingers to
produce changes in tone (how the music sounds).The neck and jaw are also involved in relaxation, while supporting the
head and eyes to read the score and locate the piano keys.Expressive piano playing requires conscious control of all these muscles
working together to produce the right sound by playing the piano keys in
different ways.
The
most basic beginner playing needs finger strength and flexibility.Some people have a greater level of natural coordination or strength;
others must work at every movement.The
stronger the muscles are, the easier playing the piano becomes. Practice
exercises all the muscle groups until we are able to use them more efficiently
to achieve more.Similarly, playing
the piano has the benefit of improving coordination and physical control.This control pays off in other areas, such as faster / neater handwriting
at school.
Since piano playing develops and demands muscle
strength and coordination, many activities (both at and away from the piano)
help in the learning of piano. Other
physical interests (e.g. swimming, gymnastics, dancing, netball, soccer)
contribute to breathing and larger muscle control.Many hobbies (e.g. drawing, macramé, model plane building)
can contribute to fine motor development.In
addition, there are some exercises and activities that can speed up the process.
Here are some suggestions:
Play
with plasticine or play dough.Make
small balls, rolled between your hands.Squeeze between each finger.Make
a snake and then pinch it all the way along its back.
Use
a soft, foam ball, squeezing independently with each thumb and finger
against the palm.Hold for the
count of 5, stretch the other way and then squeeze again.
Play
clapping games.Clap a rhythm
and see if your child can copy your pattern.Then you copy their clapping pattern.Start easy and gradually get more complex.
Play
a different copycat game.Clap
hands, tap the opposite shoulder, tap your knees and so on.Especially work on patterns that mean you have to cross your hands
over to tap the other side of the body.
Take
regular breaks at the piano, hanging your arms down by your sides and
letting your shoulders droop.Close
your eyes and take some deep breaths.Then,
with your wrists still in the relaxed position, place your hands back on the
piano keys.
Make
a loud sound with the piano.Then,
without lifting the keys or your fingers off the keys (keep the sound going)
try to relax your wrists and fingers.
Thread
a string with small beads.Place
small beads or pegs onto mats to make pictures.
Pick
up hundreds and thousands between the thumb and each finger separately.See how many you can get into a container in 5 minutes.What’s your record?
Remember…
Talk
with your child about their lessons, especially immediately after a lesson –
what did they learn or enjoy?What
do they need to do or can they do for practice during the week?How can you help them?Did
they find anything confusing?What
do they want to achieve?
Also,
please don’t hesitate to give me feedback or ask questions.I am interested to know what you and your child want to achieve (short
and long term) through playing piano.What
are you finding most helpful during lessons?Is there any particular music you want to learn?Do you have a favourite composer?Is
there anything I could do differently during lessons that you would find more
helpful?Do you need any other
resources at home?
Tchaikovsky had his birthday at this time of year, born in 1840.
Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky was a Russian composer and is still well known
for the music he wrote that has been turned into ballets.He wrote mostly for the orchestra, much of his music being melodious –
some sounding sad and some full of life.Some
of his most famous suites are Swan lake, the Nutcracker Suite and Sleeping
Beauty (best known in modern times as ballets).He wrote a number of large works for orchestra (symphonies) that combine
a group of balanced pieces into one performance.One of these symphonies features solo piano with an orchestra back up.
Tchaikovsky started out his career as a lawyer and philosopher.He was 22 years of age before beginning to study music.He quickly developed his skills and started composing and teaching music
4 years later.He lived a rather
lonely life, but was able to devote himself to composing because of the
anonymous support of a wealthy admirer who he never met although she paid for
all his daily needs.Tchaikovsky
spent 16 years devoted to composing before he died in 1893.
I
trust that you have found the information helpful and that it will go on to
support your development as musicians.
Tchaikovsky had his birthday at this time of year, born in 1840.
