Effective Practice Strategies - Notes Reading

Notes reading is such a fundamental skill for beginner and elementary students to have. As a piano teacher, I deeply felt that it is my responsibility to constantly check these young students' reading ability to ensure that they stay on track and continue their interest in music learning.

Because the beginner pieces are often written in five-finger position with fingering indications, they are easy for students to figure out without actually knowing the notes. Therefore, I use the following tips to routinely examine if these young students are failing or getting behind on their notes reading:

1. Single out any note without fingering or hand position indications and ask them to name and play it. It can be a note within the five-finger position that they are currently learning.
2. Evaluate their concept on "correct register," for example, middle C vs. base C

Teachers shall detect signs of any reading deficiencies during the learning process and use methods to prevent possible future reading obstacles.

HOW CAN WE HELP?

• Practice individual notes reading. I like doing this in almost every lesson based on the pieces that they are currently working on. For example, if students are learning specific ledger line notes, working with them on those notes to reinforce their memory and reading speed. I love notes reading Apps like Flashnote Derby, Note Rush, and Noteworks. My students have so much fun and eager to see how much they have improved every week!
• "Landmark" notes and the concept of skip and step. By teaching students landmark notes, such as middle C, base C, G clef, F clef or "treble clef space notes FACE," they will have reference notes to work with the concept of step and skip. (you can be quite creative when introducing landmark notes to suit individual student's learning style!) 
• Seeing "patterns" is essential for advanced students. It fosters a successful sight-reading ability. Students shall be able to analyze a piece and quickly spot patterns such as "C major scale," "chromatic scale," or "certain hand position like broken triads."

When students establish a solid foundation in notes reading plus accurate rhythmic counting, they will soar in playing! And that's when the real fun begins!

Please share your favorite reading tips, can't wait to hear them!

Effective Practice Stratigies - finding time

It is quite often to hear the same student making excuses like “I only practiced two days this week...” which, of course, results in a frustration of working on the same materials week after week that leads to unmotivated and no progress lessons. And you wonder why the other identical student at age, grade, and from the same school district can have consistent five days’ practice.

The most common reason of “no-practicing” is that the student does not have a designated “piano time” in their daily schedule. With the mindset like I will find “time” to practice, the outcome is usually poor and signified the lack of discipline.

What I have learned from my devoted students is that they determine a specific time to practice, for example, “15 minutes before breakfast, and 15 minutes right after dinner.” The fact is that children, even college students, respond well to routine; and once the “piano time” is set aside, they will keep this activity faithfully.

When the “piano time” is planned in students’ time map, it will bring consistency of practicing that granted a good percentage of success in their learning.  Adding “practice correctly and mindfully,” they are guaranteed to accelerate!

For adult learner and piano teachers

Although the “for parents” section in this blog is dedicated to helping piano parents, it has information such as "levels of progress" or "quality practice" that can benefit adult learner to gain a better understanding of what learning piano is about. Piano teachers might also consider some of the points and FAQs when communicating with their students’ parents.

New updates in the “for parents” page:

• Buying a digital or acoustic piano?
• Effective practice strategies, which will be a series of blog posts on the home page.

Parenting a piano student

Over the years of teaching piano, I have met many wonderful parents and valued their unfailing support in their children's music learning. However, when it comes to parenting their children in learning the piano, they all have concerns like many parents do. Luckily, we have good communications that help to overcome obstacles and form a strong Student-Parents-Teacher learning triangle.

In the "For Parent", I shared some common concerns and solutions. Topics include basic ideas of "Parenting a Piano Student 101" and FAQs like "Can my beginner child play famous pieces", "How fast can my child progress", "What means playing well", "Shall my child take a curriculum exam" and more.

Flashnote Derby Version 3 is here!

As I showed a demo of the beta tested version of the FD 3 at my last MTAC SC branch presentation in Nov, I was excited to introduce one of its best new features: the ability to recognize acoustic keyboard! It is a free update for all FD 2 users. If you believe that this note-reading app benefits your students, make sure that they download their copy this week before price increases on January 20th. Here is my full review on FD 3

Note Rush app released a "new theme"

If you are using Note Rush app, be sure to turn on the "Seasonal Themes" setting. They just released a new "Christmas theme" for students to choose in addition to the regular "lady bug" "soccer" "outer space" and "whole note" themes.
Enjoy reading notes with this app, which recognizes various instruments and acoustic piano, no wires needed. Read my review
Happy Holidays!

Music Apps Workshop for MTAC Santa Clara

I am looking forward to presenting a Music Apps workshop for my local MTAC Santa Clara Branch Program on Nov. 9th, 9:30 am, at Lincoln Glen Church, San Jose, CA 95125. What a fantastic opportunity to meet music colleagues of my local branch! Please join us if you are a member of the MTAC!