When most people hear the word diva they think of a strong, big-voiced female singer who is always demanding of those around her.

But, have you ever heard of a Piano Diva?

The first time I saw this phrase was in Erica Sipes' blog Beyond the Notes. She posted a great reflection on why one might need to be a piano diva now and again.

In this post, she offers the following definition:

pia.no di.va
"A pianist who demands that attention be paid to his or her needs,
especially without regard to anyone else's needs or feelings."


I have to admit, she really got me thinking about my own inner diva as a pianist, an organist, a congregational leader, and a choir director.

Because most of my performances are as an accompanist or congregation leader, I try to be a low maintenance performer. For the most part my flexibility has worked out well for me, but sometimes I feel like I'm viewed as a machine instead of a musician.

The piano for your wedding hasn't been tuned in 3 years? - No problem.
 
One of the black keys is broken off? - No worries, I'll work around it. (eep, all my pieces have 3 or more accidentals!)

You need me to sight transpose because last night you went to a concert, screamed your brains out, and can't reach the high F today? - Umm, okay. (*eyeroll* crap)

You want me to play this one piece on the piano at the alter, go to the organ upstairs at the back of the sanctuary during the prayer to play the next hymn then come right back to the piano for your candle lighting ceremony? -  Sure, I could use a good workout.

Yes, these are all true stories...and that last question is exactly how I worded it to a bride, though my response to her excited "yes!" wasn't quite as cheeky. (I don't think she realized how unreasonable her request was.)

Fortunately, I haven't reached my breaking point, but who knows where that line is...

Do you have any stories of unreasonable requests on your talents? Have you ever had your inner piano diva emerge? Where's your line?

I wrote this cute little bunny song for one of my beginner piano students who started learning the staff a few weeks before our recital.

I've found that giving young students a prereading piece after they have started reading on the grand staff can be demoralizing, but it's quite difficult to find recital worthy music that has only two notes (and isn't a total snooze!).

This student loves to explore high and low sounds on the piano and she also loves bunnies.

So I give you "Bunny Hop"!

This piece has rests and octave leaps that can be taught by rote while your student reads the rest of the piece with their new found note reading skills.

I hope your students enjoy it as much as mine!

This song is free on my Teacher Pay Teachers store for a limited time.

How do you use the iPad during piano lessons? I use it as reinforcement for new concepts/skills or as a kind of reward.

Having an iPad has given me so many more options as a piano teacher. This summer I'm trying to use it to the fullest. As mentioned in my bingo post, summer is different for all of us.

And if summer is different, why shouldn't piano lessons be different?

In their first lesson of the summer we discuss their summer goals & wishes. Over the years I've found that my students' summer needs seem to fit 4 paths:

1. Reinforcement:
Some of my students, particularly the younger ones, need a little extra help with note and rhythm reading as well as ear training. Since summer is a great time to break away from their books and give them something new, why not use technology?


We're using apps like Ningenius, Treble Cat, Bass Cat, Note Rush, Tune Train, Blob Chorus, & NoteWorks.


2. No time to practice:
If you thought the beginning and end of the school year was busy, wait until you hear the summer schedule for some of my students:

They start at a full day camp at 7am, followed by sports (game or practice), then its home for dinner, promptly followed by bedtime. Lather, rinse, repeat - all summer long.

Now I know they get a break from running around over the weekend, but sometimes that's the only time the whole family is together. While I don't have kids of my own, I know I would rather spend time doing things as a family than making them sit at the piano alone.

For these students my goal is to keep them playing so they can retain as much as possible. Then in the fall we can pick right up again as if no time passed.

I primarily use Piano Maestro by JoyTunes for these students, but will also throw in a few board games to mix it up. If you haven't heard of Piano Maestro, I highly recommend you check it out!

3. Need a break, but still want to play & take lessons:
This year is different for many of my students who usually fall in the previous category. because social distancing requirements have made most camps shut down. Since they're not in camp all day, they're not as busy and theoretically have more time to practice.

But...not being busy doesn't mean a break isn't needed and sometimes not being required to practice is more motivating than pushing the same way we do during the year.

For these students I use any app that keeps them at the piano and engaging in music and music making.

Some favorites are Note Squish (which, sadly, I believe is no longer available), Flashnote Derby, and Rhythm Cat.


4. Sight-reading:
Several are taking this summer to focus on their sight-reading skills (their idea not mine #teacherwin!) We use ALL of the note reading apps listed above for their in-lesson sight reading and I send them home with a "Home Challenge" in Piano Maestro or different book to sight read each week.

Beyond that we have been using flashcard apps to hone their note reading and board games to keep other concepts fresh.

Many of these apps used to only be available on Apple devices, but now many of them are also available on Android and Amazon devices making them even more more accessible!


There are so many new apps coming out all the time, sometimes it feels difficult to keep up. The nice thing is you never have to do the same thing twice...unless you really want to :)

What are some of your favorite music learning apps?

We may still be in quarantine, but I'm thinking ahead to summer when, hopefully, we'll be able to see our friends and family and students face-to-face. It's at that time when I'll be kicking the practice incentives into high gear.

When I started teaching, I didn't have any trouble getting my students to practice over the summer. I'd give them an assignment, write a little practice log in their books, and they'd come back the next week with their work complete.

Then about 7 years ago, something changed and I started hearing excuses..."I didn't have time", "I was at camp all day", "We went away for the weekend"...instead of music.

So, over the past few summers, I've given my students fun and new ways to practice.

One of those activities is Summer of Music Bingo. I haven't done this particular program in a few years and I'm excited to be bringing it back!

How to Play:

To complete the challenge, students must get bingo - 5 in a row (vertical, horizontal, or diagonal). And of course I will add an optional challenge to finish the whole board by the end of summer!

Students color in the square when they've completed the activity and we go over the board together at every lesson to track their progress and answer questions. Once they achieve BINGO they are to take a picture of themselves with their BINGO board and send it to me!


The Reward:

It's up to you whether or not you want to give out prizes. Sometimes just letting the fun of finishing be the reward is just what kids need.

In years past, the student(s) with the most activities completed at the end of August would receive a surprise at their summer piano party (more on that later). Since I'm not sure whether or not we'll be able to have our summer performance parties, I'm doing rewards a little differently. This year, I'm doing a 3 part reward system.

1. Every activity students complete will earn them a sticker on their cards -- see this post for more about stickers.
2. Every student who completes Bingo will receive an Iwako Puzzle Eraser.
   
3. Every student who completes the entire board will get to pick a prize from the prize box.

Most of the activities can be completed within a day or two, but some of the activities will take them a few days or weeks to complete. My goal for this, as it is with all of my practice incentives, is to encourage consistency in my students practice habits.

Want your own copy of Summer of Music Bingo? Download the pdf here

Our nation is in turmoil right now for several reasons - pandemic, violence, protests, and an inability for our government to adequately lead us through these issues.

When thinking about what I could possibly write for today's post, I was reminded of something Mr. Rogers said. "When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me 'Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.'"

Take that one step further. Be the helper.

Be the helper fighting injustice.
Be the helper fighting against indifference.
Be the helper fighting for the rights of all humans.
Be the helper that our children can look for in times of trouble.
Be the helper who is part of the solution.

My dad sends me a-joke-of-the-day every day. And I mean, who doesn't love a good joke? Even the groaners.

So here's one of my favorite "bad dad" jokes that happens to also be a music joke! :)

Here in the United States, Memorial Day is celebrated on the last Monday of May. It is a time for us to mourn and honor those who lost their lives serving our country in the armed forces, but for many Americans, it's become a day off of work to play and eat with family and friends.

This year will be different since many of us are still in quarantine and are unable to gather. So, I'd like to challenge us all to treat the day with the respect it deserves. We can and should still enjoy ourselves, after all that's what those brave men and women gave their lives for, but let's take a moment to remember and be grateful for their sacrifices.

I've compiled a few playlists of music to help your weekend of remembrance. Some are traditional American songs, others more modern and contemporary. Whatever genre speaks to you, I hope you enjoy a wonderful Memorial Day weekend and God Bless America!

Instrumental Patriotic Songs

Country Music Songs

American Patriotic Songs and Marches

Memorial Day Weekend Playlist (Pop/Rock Summer Songs)

I love this little sticker more now than I did when I put it in my planner a few weeks ago.

I keep flipping back and looking at it because even though it's torn and wrinkled, it's still sunny and happy, and it brings me joy. (The picture really doesn't do it justice.)

It also serves as a reminder that no matter what life does to me, we can still shine through all the wrinkles and tears and messiness of life.

So let your light shine, even in your darkest days.

Happy Wednesday!

 "You Watch Your Phraseology" has been a statement that I've thought of a lot over my career. (Btw, 2 points if you know where that quote comes from!)

A few of years ago, I was working with a young student on finger shape. I used all of the imagery I could think of, I showed him with my hand, I shaped his hand for him, and when he finally got it, I said, "Yes! Can you play like that forever?" His response, "Yeah!"

And you know what? He has!

Granted, he still needs reminders from time to time, but this one student, who struggles like all kindergartners do with their hand shape, has been more consistent than any other young student of mine.

That got me thinking - what was different? Was it the student? Was it the song we we working on? Was it what I said? Was it where he is in his studies?

After mulling over all of those questions, I decided to do a little experiment. Whenever a student and I fixed their finger shape I said, "Yes! Can you play like that forever?" That's when I realized that it was how I said what I said that made the most impact.

We all have been taught that our tone matters as much as our words, but I'm finding that kids are hearing the same phrases from every adult and they are starting to tune them out.

Here are a few of my favorites:


Rephrasing Common Statements 
"Tell me." Instead of "Use your words." (This one has been HUGE! My students give clearer responses and actually think about what they're going to say.)

"Show me how you did this at home." instead of "Did you practice the way I asked you to?"

"I'm going to remind your thumb that he belongs on the keys too." instead of "Fix your hand please."


Replacing Statements with Questions
Asking questions makes us think. So naturally rewording a statement into a question will get your students more focused on what's going on rather that what you said.

"Did your eyes get lost on the keys?" instead of "Look at the music."

"Are your words confusing your fingers?" instead of "Don't stop playing when you count out loud."


"Placing Blame"
Changing our wording also gives students the opportunity to think about their mistakes from an observers point of view. When we make poor word choices in our corrections, we make our students feel like they're failing or being attacked for making a mistake. But when we take the time to address the mistake as a learning opportunity, students are able to see that they are in control of the situation. They are empowered to make the necessary mistakes of learning and to take initiative to fix those mistakes.

Sometimes I blame their fingers for the mistake to help my students save face and give them the chance to get over the embarrassment of having a train wreck moment. I'll hold up the offending finger and have a candid conversation that goes something like this....

"What are you doing, finger 2? It's not your turn to play there. That's not fair to finger 4 who was supposed to play. Do you promise to let finger 4 have it's turn and to only play when it's actually your turn?" I then have the student tell me if their finger agreed and they happily play the passage again without finger 2 getting in finger 4's way. 🙂



Now, there have been some unsuccessful phrases, but sometimes rewording what we say reaches our students where they are in the moment and makes for a happier and more productive lesson.



What interesting phrases have you caught yourself saying?
Do you have a different way of correcting your students? I'd love to know!
 

Happy National Apple Pie Day!

Apple pie is said to be America's favorite dessert and today, May 13, 2020, is designated to be its nationally celebrated day.

How do you like your apple pie?

Warm or cool or chilled...
A la mode or with whipped cream or are you a purist who likes it plain...
Lattice pie crust, or a full double-crust or Dutch crumb topping...

Anyway you like it, I hope you're able to enjoy a slice today!

Happy Wednesday!