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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November 29th
Francisco:
“The Entertainer”: Reinforce the bit seen in class. Remember to use the 5th finger in G (left hand) when playing the sequence, so it is easier to play the chord.
My Piano Adventures pp. 28: Read for next class. If you have any doubt regarding the notes in the left hand, see the top of the page.
Maria Ines:
“Für Elise”: Practice with both hands and try to speed up the tempo a little bit. Pay special attention to mm. 20-21 (the repeated E’s passage) so that you are playing in the right octave. Read it until the end.
“Hark the Herald Angels Sing”: Figure out the melody. Use the version seen in class. If you can also take a look at the left hand, it would be great.
Noreet:
My Piano Adventures pp. 41. Be careful with the fingering (left hand starts with 3rd finger in F; right hand starts with 1st finger in C). Remember that the left hand is only playing Fs, while the right hand plays Cs and Gs.
“How you like that”: practice the chorus of the song learned in class. Remember to repeat it twice.
December 14th
Gerardo:
Study the Chromatic scale with both hands separately, with the fingering seen in class.
Study the C major scales and chords. For the chords, remember to think the next movement first, then move your hand, and just play when you are sure it is in the correct position.
“The Girl from Ipanema”: Study the melody for part B. Also, Put the melody and the chords together for part A. Start slowly.
Eliam:
My Piano Adventures Primer Level: Study p. 17 “Tightrope Walker”. Make sure you are using the right fingers (2 is index, 3 is middle, 4 is ring), and the correct hand.
Caedan:
“Classic Dance”: Practice from beginning to end. For the first line remember to play mf the first time and piano the second one. From bar 5 to 8, grow progressively louder, and for the last line, go softer.
Read p. 17 “Young Hunter”.
“Super Mario Theme”: Practice from beginning to end. Speed it up progressively. If you want, play it twice, or in loop.
Zoe:
Practice the following chord sequence (you can choose any position):
Gm7 C7 FMaj7 BbMaj7 Em7(b5) A7 Dm7 D7
Sonatina in C major 2nd movement:
Practice from beginning to end. Spend some of your practicing time only putting together the last two lines (mm. 23-end) with both hands. Also, spend a few minutes reinforcing from bars 13-18.
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
