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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May 30th
Francisco:
Practice p. 49 “Waltz”. Remember that in lines 1 and 3, you have to move your thumb, and in lines 2 and 4, you must move your third finger. If you can, add the dynamic marks for next week as well.
Practice the “Underwater Theme” with separate hands.
Maria Ines:
“City of Stars”: Practice from beginning to end. Keep in mind the following:
- In bars 26-27 and 34-35, do the e in the right hand shorter.
- In bars 28 and 36 don’t forget the last D in the left hand.
- Use a few minutes to play from bar 40 to the end.
Noreet:
Practice the last song of the book a few times for next week, so you don’t stop in between the bars. Congratulations!
Miabella:
“A Teenage in Love”: Read for next class. Remember that in this piece you play C# instead of C. Focus on the second half of the piece first (the one with the left hand), and then try the first part. If you feel confident about the parts separately, tart practicing the complete piece.
June 7th
Gerardo:
“Willow Tree”: Focus on section B for the next class. Practice slow, and go line by line if needed. be careful to maintain the notes in the melody for the whole bar when indicated. Try to match the speed of section A for the next class.
Francisco:
“Underwater Theme”: start practicing the left hand alone, with 5-2-1 as fingering. Then, practice with both hands, slowly.
“Waltz” (p. 49): focus on practicing mm- 7-8 and the end, so you don’t stop when the left hand enters.
Write the notes on p. 50 and read them for the next class.
Eliam:
Practice “Yankee Doodle”. Don’t stop between parts or lines, and try to keep going from beginning to end, even if it is at a slow tempo.
Caedan:
“Zelda Theme”: Choose the notes you will play with the left hand and practice the song like that. Also, try to listen to the song, so you can have a better idea of the song’s parts.
Practice “The Runaway Rabbits” for the next class. Pay attention to the notes, and make sure you are reading the skips correctly.
Zoe:
Etude in C major: Practice at a moderate tempo, and make sure every single note is on the beat and it’s not sounding louder or softer than the other ones. Try to do a little dynamic arc as well.
Polonaise in G minor: Pay attention to the articulation (especially the detached notes) and dynamic marks. Practice with the repetitions.
I know It Won’t Work: Sing while playing for next class.
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
