5-Minute Piano Lessons

For a few, actually playing keyboard and piano beats simply listening

I have been thinking a lot lately about the differences between two types of musical joy- the joy of consuming music as a listener and the joy of making music as a piano or keyboard student.

As our technology improves, it becomes easier and easier to simply be a consumer of music rather than a producer. Now we all love to listen to music, and where would any producer be without a consumer?  However, some few folks want to take things further and actually make the music themselves. Naturally, I believe playing keyboard or piano beats other instruments but that’s my bias. (more…)

Online piano lessons succeed – but not for all piano students

My previous post, Part 1 of this essay, is available here.

There are two final necessities which I didn’t even imagine when I began giving online lessons a couple years ago. I guess I had become too accustomed to dedicated piano students I taught in my home piano studio. I didn’t recognize that teaching at a distance requires these traits in the piano student. I also didn’t completely see that these traits the KEY traits which can make or break that student’s success at learning the piano. Now I do and use these in deciding to accept new online piano students. (more…)

(This is the third and final part of Ivan Olarte’s excellent essay on practicing the classical guitar. Part One is here, Part Two is here.)

The key to all this is that whether it’s 10 minutes of just scales, or a 20 minute portion dedicated to learning the fingerings of a new piece. I can focus on each of these activities without worrying or thinking of the final goals that it will lead to. By doing this I can invest 100% of my attention and effort into the present moment and enjoy every minute of it to boot. (more…)

(Part Two of Ivan Olarte’s essay on practicing the classical guitar. Part One is here.)

Well luckily, through the internet I found some great resources such as Dan’s great blog, and a great community which is dedicated to classical guitar at http://delcamp.us . Through sources such as these I explored other points of view, different ways to approach the mastery of my instrument and specific ways to approach something as “mundane” as the act of practicing. I quickly realized that I was falling into the same trap of music becoming a task and a chore.  So I decided to revisit my approach to music and to my daily and very rigid practice routine. (more…)

Hi!  My name is Ivan Olarte. I’m 48 years old and I returned to classical guitar almost 3 years ago after a 30 year absence.

I have been an avid fan of Dan Starr’s blog, as I find Dan’s essays very informative and downright inspirational. So I was very flattered and happy when Dan invited me to write a short article and share with you some of my thoughts about the act of practicing music. (more…)

Creativity is sometimes inhibited by reading and obeying sheet music

I had a big and unhappy realization this week during teaching. An adult student had to be encouraged to do something other than what was specified by their sheet music (poorly written sheet music, I would hasten to add) and my sole child student asked me, “Aren’t these pedaling marks sorta an option?” Now my child is a very precocious 10 year old but I would have thought my adult student wouldn’t feel compelled to simply follow orders. Turns out I had it backwards.

My “realization” was:

Many piano student work hard to get good at
“Monkey-See-Monkey-Do” music reading. (more…)

Some piano students make emotional trouble for themselves

Instead of focusing on the sheer enjoyment of making music which they love, they wonder if they are “doing it properly.” Similar concerns are too common as well. Such folks have been indoctrinated, often at a young age, that there is a right way and wrong way to make music. I’d say something different – that there is a way that makes the listener happy and a way that does not. By “listener” I include the pianist him/herself. (more…)

How to NOT be Frustrated with piano playing and practicing

There isn’t a bigger enemy to the piano student and pianist than frustration – and nothing is easier to defeat, if you wish it. All you have to do is change your mind. The key element, I believe, is keeping things in perspective. What is playing piano to you, dear reader? Life and death? Your family’s life and death? Your survival? The key to your happiness? Naw, of course not. For almost all piano students, playing piano is a source of enrichment, fascination, enjoyment, etc. In short, it’s their favorite HOBBY!

(more…)

What YOU can Do to Create Faster, Better, and More Enjoyable Lessons

Once you’ve found a good piano teacher, someone you trust, someone who understands you and your needs, then almost all the rest depends on YOU. The piano student is mainly in charge during a series of piano lessons, for the simple reason that most of your learning occurs during your regular piano practice. Sure, your instructor can tell you what to practice and how to best practice it, but only you can follow those directions. Learning to play piano is something you do without the teacher present. Thus, anything that helps you do that would also make your lessons faster, better, and more enjoyable – right? (more…)

How to Overcome Your Fear of Piano Lessons

Do you have a creeping anxiety that comes on as lesson time draws near? Have you actually used those evil words during your piano lesson, “I played it so much better at home?” Many, maybe most, piano students suffer from this dread affliction to some degree. Some start lessons with an advanced case and some develop the infection as lessons go forward. Either way, a fear of piano lessons makes instruction less than joyful and something you tolerate rather than something you look forward to. Wouldn’t it be great to lose that fear? (more…)