Studio News

March, 2006 -- 

Practice!    Practice Suggestions    Bach

    Welcome to another issue of Studio News.  Beginning with this issue, and through the next few, I will be mentioning the idea of practice.  These principles are critical to the ongoing development and enjoyment of students.  I am very pleased as I can see evidence of home learning from every student.  The greatest reward I have in teaching is seeing the pleasure every one is showing because they are growing musically.  Above all else in teaching, I wish to see this continue as students progress into higher grades.  

 Business Matters

    The public school holidays, end of term 1, are approaching quickly.  I believe that it is important to continue lessons throughout holiday periods, whenever possible.  A break in lessons can result in forgotten learning – which can set a student back several lessons, which also costs you financially. 

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Practice!

    The old saying goes, “Practice makes perfect!”  Practice is central to learning a skill, such as playing piano.  Most students start lessons with the understanding that they will need to devote some time to practicing apart from lessons.  Yet, not many students start with an understanding of why or how they should practice.  Over the next few issues, I will try to explain why practice is important, to note some common misunderstandings about what practice is, and to offer suggestions for practice activities.

    As time goes on, a lack of purpose can lead to frustration.  When asked why they need to practice, a student might reply, “To get it right!”  I don’t want this to happen to any of my students.  Music is a challenge and a discipline, but above all it needs to be pleasurable.  Music provides a way of communicating that is difficult with mere words.  An unhappy student will communicate their feelings through harsh sounds.

    A positive approach to practice is developed most easily in the early stages of learning.  It has been a joy to see most of my students excited about the time they spend playing piano at home.  Every student is different and the activities enjoyed also vary – some like composition and improvisation, some work diligently at every note, others find anything new to sight-read.  Please continue to encourage and reward these efforts.

Why should we practice?  

Practice builds the brain and builds the muscles.  (This will be looked at in detail in following issues.)

Music is a social activity – just like language.  It is meant for enjoyment, communication and sharing.  

HOW should we practice?  

    Practice is far more than playing lesson pieces over and over in the hope that next time there won’t be any mistakes!  Parents and students who have studied music in the past might have been required to play the same scales and pieces repeatedly in the hopes that one time, maybe next time, they will “get it right”.  Students who do not have this background are fortunate not to have this false expectation.  

    Although the practice methods for learning music and for perfecting a performance piece are different, an overall repetitive approach should never be used.  (It is still important to review material covered in lessons at least once every 2^nd day.  This builds the new content into memory.)

    Practice includes many activities that involve experiencing, creating and reacting to patterns of sound.  Many of these experiences are more meaningful when they are shared.  

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Practice Suggestions:

    Useful practice activities depend very much on age and learning styles (if the student likes to learn by listening, doing or seeing).  Here are some suggestions:

    Whatever practice a student chooses, it is vital that they are encouraged at home (self-rewarded or praised and rewarded by a parent) for the efforts they make.  All the time you give to helping your child learn will enrich their musical learning experience, whether they go on to higher levels of performance or are simply studying music to broaden experiences in the shorter term.  

    Please read notebooks after lessons.  Sometimes there are comments about excellent work, any achievement or special effort when anything really stood out during a lesson.  If a student earns a merit award, please ask them what they did that was special.   

Congratulations!

    Well done, Sid.  Sid has earned his first Bronze Award this month.  The Bronze Award is earned through consistent effort and new learning.  Sid is currently the youngest member of our studio family.  This month he has also graduated into reading the music stave.  He has been trying very hard lately.  A big pat on the back!  

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Bach

    Happy Birthday wishes to those with birthdays this month. 

    This month also marks the birthday of Johann Sebastian Bach, born 21^st March 1685 in Germany. 

    Bach is considered the greatest composer during a period of music called the Baroque.  Baroque music, written in the early 1700s, is very complex – usually two melodies are played at the same time and balance each other in sound (similar to a round in singing, except using different songs). 

    Bach was not a young musician, even though he became very important – mostly when other composers discovered his work after he died.  Bach was left an orphan and lived with his older brother from 10 years of age.  His brother taught him keyboard instruments.  He learnt violin and keyboard until his 18^th birthday and then began performing in Cathedrals as part of services and composing for special occasions in the church.

    Bach spent most of his later life devoted to his wife and children and composing music to use outside church.  He married Anna Magdalena, a singer, and had 13 children.  He became blind 10 years before he died but continued to write music – some of the most complex ever written.

    Bach was a very religious man, and so much of his work was written for church, in opera-like form.  Although he wrote about 60 books full of music for use outside the church, most of this was not acknowledged until 100 years after he died.  The later work was very grand and used for royal ballroom dances.  His music is made of many complicated melodies, with high and low notes in balance.

Competition

    A reminder that competition entries are due this month: on the 24^th March.  I hope you are finding this task satisfying, although challenging.  Remember, I am here if you need any help. 

Annah-Valerie Hyrst (teacher)

individual dynamics piano studio

Rouse Hill, Sydney

Last modified: January 16, 2008