M.Mus (York U) in-progress
B.Mus (Pontifical Catholic University of Chile)
B.Arts (Pontifical Catholic University of Chile)
Colomba is a Chilean Canadian pianist and musicologist. Born and raised in Chile, she has been a piano and music theory teacher for over six years. She is currently studying an M.A. in Music at York University with the York Graduate Scholarship.
Colomba completed her Bachelor of Music as well as her Bachelor of Arts (Major in History) at the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile. During her time there, she served as Teaching Assistant in Harmony, Analysis and Music Theory courses. She also had worked as private Piano Teacher from 2016 and at Schlotfeld’s Online Music Academy throughout the pandemic.
As a pianist, Colomba served in 2019 as keyboardist in the 2022 Pulsar Award Winner (Best Jazz & Fusion Album) “Ensamble Escondido”. She also has experience as a pianist for private events and weddings. Colomba seeks to encourage her students to discover their own music tastes and creativity by balancing traditional skills and innovative methods.
Get to know Colomba…Beyond the Bio!
Hobbies: Piano, music research on Classical and Latin American Popular Music, History, Drawing.
Music influences: Music from the Romantic and Impressionist era; Chopin, Satie and Debussy in particular. Popular Music genres such as Classical and Progressive rock. Folk-rooted Latin American genres (Peruvian Landó, Bossa-Nova, Cuban Son).
Favourite food: Any dessert will do the trick. I also like Italian food, Arepas, Asian food. I’m not a picky eater so I enjoy almost any food.
Least favourite food: Beet salad. It doesn’t have too much flavor.
Favorite music: Anything that has an interesting rhythm and melody. My favorite genres are Jazz, Rock, and Latin American Folk Music. Regarding Classical Music, I’ve always been a fan of the Romantic Era.
Favourite song: I like too many songs to choose just one! Negra Presuntuosa- Susana Baca
Time – Pink Floyd
Favourite movie: No Country for Old Men.
Favourite movie music: Pirates of the Caribbean, The Incredibles.
Favourite musical theatre/opera: Carmen – Georges Bizet.
Best quote from your teacher: “a hard-working student in the long term will surpass a prodigy”.
Favourite quote: “Fools who don’t respect history are doomed to repeat it.” “Traveller, the road is only your footprint, and no more; traveller, there’s no road, the road is your travelling.”
Favourite book: One Hundred Years of Solitude – Gabriel García Márquez.
Best thing about teaching at ABC: Helping people to develop a love for music.
Latest Homework from Colomba
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June 13th
Maria Ines:
“Another Love”: Practice the song’s instrumental part in a loop, until you feel comfortable following the backbeat rhythm between hands. If you need, listen to the music and play along. That will help you with the rhythm’s precision.
Miabella:
Practice “A Teenage Love” from beginning to end. At first, remember to count out loud for half and whole notes. When you feel confident, count in your head. Pay special attention to the rhythms.
June 14th
Gerardo:
“The Willow Tree”: Practice at a slow tempo. Take a few minutes to focus on the B section. Make sure you are using the correct fingers, and that you anticipate the hand positions when you have the space to do so. Start playing the piece with the repetition (A-B-A-Coda).
Francisco:
Read “Halftime Show” (Piano Adventures, p. 51). Keep in mind that the piece is based in the same notes shown on p. 50.
Practice the Underwater Theme slowly and take a few minutes to repeat the ascendant scale in a loop. Try to keep a steady tempo.
Caedan:
Read p. 34 “Rain Forest” for the next class. Be careful with the skips (they are 5th!).
Practice the Bob-omb Battlefield theme. If you can, listen to the song and try to figure out what’s next.
Zoe:
Focus this week’s practice on finishing reading “Rush Hour”. If you need, practice by bits, or half phrases.
Use a few minutes of your practice time to play the Sonatina in C major, 2nd movement. Focus on the passage with the thirds and the last bars of the piece.
For the Polonaise in G minor, practice the whole piece at a slower tempo and with the repetitions. Pay special attention to bars 4-5 and 9-10.
Preferred Books for Colomba’s Students
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Belting - A
Written for ages 5 and 6, My First Piano Adventure captures the child’s playful spirit. Fun-filled songs, rhythm games and technique activities develop beginning keyboard skills.
John Thompson's Modern Course for the Piano
Time-tested bestseller around the world! The legendary Modern Course series provides a clear and complete foundation in the study of the piano that enables the student to think and feel musically. It’s known as the method for quick, dedicated learners. It’s also well-regarded as a self-teaching method for the mature player. The First Grade may be preceded by Teaching Little Fingers to Play and/or Teaching Little Fingers to Play More .
Mikrokosmos
Béla Bartók wrote the first four volumes of the Mikrokosmos as a series of beginning piano exercises for his son Péter. The great Hungarian composer’s complete six-volume collection represents one of the most comprehensive anthologies of contemporary technique ever assembled. This edition, consisting of the first two volumes, presents more than 100 pieces of study material suitable for first- and second-year students.
Rational Principles of Pianoforte Technique
