For most students, today’s lesson was the last before the break! Please keep up your technique according to your individual recommendations below and have a wonder, WONDERFUL holiday surrounded by family, friends, peace and love. See you in the New Year 2019!
Madison
Madison, you can encourage your technique over the break by focusing on scales and Hanon exercise. Please practice the following scales in whichever order you prefer: C Major, G Major, D Major and a minor. Note you should always play hands together and two octaves, but if you find you are struggling with one particular scale, go ahead and practice hands separately first. Play each scale slow and steady and FORTE (LOUD), with lifted fingers. The same goes for the Hanon exercise. I wrote the pattern in your homework note, however you can also refer to Osten’s book if you have trouble remembering (I don’t think you will).
Please complete the two note recognition fun handouts I gave you. You have plenty of time!
Please also practice Knick Knack Paddy Wack here and there. The important point is just to make sure you play only 2 bars at a time when you do.
Above all else, play loud and strong in all you do. See you in the New Year my friend!
Osten
Here are my tips for you for the break:
Play scales or the Hanon exercise on most days, it should only take 10-15 min. Be sure not to play in a hurried way, use proper technique in order for practicing to be worth your while. This means NO pancake fingers! Please always play with tip, drawing your fingers up as you play, think of spider hands, or tiger paws, there should be strength building inherent in your hand position.
Please complete the two note recognition handouts I gave to you.
If you can, it would be great if you can continue making progress with The Entertainer. The ideal would be comfortably playing through the first page. If I had to choose one single thing to work on in this piece however, it would be LH bars 17-19.
Have a wonderful holiday, a beautiful Christmas, I’ll see you in 2019!
Julia
You’re doing a great job opening up into high register with a sense of freedom and ease! Continue bearing in mind that going up feels like those siren swoops we’ve been practicing, it should feel like a lot of breath flow and space without pushing, holding or stiffness in the body.
Memorize The Point of No Return over the break if you can! Then we can pick two new songs upon your return.
Give a thought with your parents whether you would be ok with transition to the repertoire from the Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM) The advantages are having age and level appropriate progressive repertoire and the option to take an exam IF you want to (gives you recognized status in your progress, concrete goals to motivate you, a certificate, encourages ear training and theory training, etc)
Have a wonderful break, Merry Christmas to you and yours, wishing you peace and love in this holiday season!