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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March 14th
MAKEUP WEEK
Francisco:
Piano Adventures, “Morning”: Play it from beginning to end, always keeping count in your head. Add the dynamic marks (mp, mf). Also, slowly increase the tempo of the piece.
Read the next page for the next class.
Maria Ines:
“In the Stars”: Practice playing the chords over the original song. If needed, you can slow down the song on Youtube.
“City of Stars”: Practice the first page with separate hands, until you can play both hands without even looking at them. Try to put both hands together.
“In the name of love”: Figure out the melody for the next class. Try to figure out the chords as well. The song is in Em and uses three chords.
Gerardo:
(See Wednesday)
March 22th
Gerardo:
Girl from Ipanema: Start practicing the whole chord sequence with your left hand. Count while doing it, and remember that just before going back to the A section (Am7-D7-Gm7-C7) they fall every two beats. When you feel confident with that, try those bars with both hands as practiced in class. Finally, play the whole song.
Caedan:
Read “Mozart’s Five Names” (Piano Adventures).
Keep practicing the last Mario song, and practice the bit seen in class for the new one.
Miabella:
Practice the following chord sequence:
G minor (G-Bb-D) x2 – C minor (C-Eb-G) – D major (D-F#-A) with both hands (left hand does the note that names the chord). In the first stage try going with both hands together. When you feel confident with that, try playing the rhythm learned in class.
Zoe:
“A little piece”: Practice up to mm. at a slow tempo. Count out loud while you are playing: it will help you keep track of the rhythms. If possible, add the articulation marks (staccato and accents).
Preferred Books for Colomba’s Students
Click to buy them here, and they’ll come right to your house! What could be easier?
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
