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 22nd
Francisco:
“The Entertainer”: Practice the left hand seen in class (first alone). Then, play the last phrase with both hands as shown. If needed, see the supporting material. Be particularly careful with the fingering there.
Maria Ines:
F major scale, parallel and contrary motion, both hands.
D major chords and arpeggios, with both hands separately.
“In the Stars”: Put together the chords of the chorus. Remember that not all chords last 4 beats:
Bb/D (x1) Eb (x4) Bb (x4) F (x4) Gm (x3) Bb/F (x1)
Be careful with the bass, since it does not always fall in the root note of the chord.
Noreet:
Piano Adventures p. 39: “Best Friends”. Pay special attention to which hand has to play which note. Also pay attention to when they go together.
December 7th
Gerardo:
“Ice Skaters”: Play with metronome. Don’t forget to play the dynamic changes throughout the piece.
“Snowfall Ragtime”: Play with both hands. Pay special attention to the fingering indicated, and where the left hand falls in relation to the right hand.
Eliam:
“Graduation Party”: Make sure that he keeps both hands on the keyboard at all times. The notes above the lyrics (in blue) are always with the right hand, and the notes below the lyrics with the left hand.
For next week, it would be ideal if he can have the “Piano Adventures Lesson Book – Primer Level“.
Caedan:
Piano Adventures, p. 16 “Classic Dance”: read as much as possible. Be careful with the articulation (legato/staccato).
“Super Mario theme”: try to figure out the last phrase by listening to the song. The notes for the bit learned today were C-C-C C-D-E-C A-G; in case you didn’t get to write them all.
Zoe:
Sonatina in C major:
1st movement: memorize it for next week. Practice from m. 24 to the end in particular, so you can memorize that part easier.
2nd movement: Practice from the beginning up to bar 18. In bar 3, remember to put the trill as explained in the footnote. Divide your practicing time 1/3 into repeating mm. 13-19, and the rest playing from the beginning up to there. Play at a slow tempo.
Search and listen songs from Nina Simone and Ella Fitzgerald. Explore their music.
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
