traditional lessons--one-on-one twenty minute lesson. Each student is given assignments and incentives to practice (see incentives). Each week they come to the studio (except for group lesson week) we will work together on a few pieces. Students will be rewarded for the goals they achieve and encouraged to continue to work hard to attain future piano goals. We try to make this 20 minute station fun and enjoyable. However, it is not always enjoyable for the student if they don't make time to practice and end up working on the same pieces of music for several weeks in a row.
listening station-20 minutes of music exposure. There are many uses of this station. First, the students will listen to 2 or 3 pieces of music, specific to them, which they will be playing throughout the year, in order to help them develop an ear for music. Second, through this station, students are exposed to a variety of classical music. We will be having them answer written questions about what they are hearing and the story they think the music is telling. Third, this station will reinforce the song memorization of specific songs we have learned in group lessons (see group lessons for more details).
computer time-20 minutes of piano learning games. We are currently using 2 computer programs at this station: Music Ace Maestro and Sibelius. Music Ace Maestro is a fun and interactive music theory program with 48 lessons, ranging from basic tempo to reading key signatures. Sibelius is a music publishing program which allows students to compose and then print their music. New student use only Music Ace during this 20 minute station while more experienced students switch between Music Ace and Sibelius (unless a new student has a keen interest in composition). I have plans to publish a book every year of my students original pieces accompanied by a CD of recordings by the students. It is my hope that when students leave my studio (hopefully after years of training) we will be able to publish their own book of their works throughout the years with a CD of their original recordings.
