4 Tips for expressive playing using 'Green Shade' [RCM Level 6 List C]
Before learning to play music by composers like Chopin, Intermediate piano students benefit from repertoire that nurtures expressive, Romantic-styled playing. Here are 4 tips for playing expressively using ‘Green Shade’. ...continue reading →
Piano Pen Pals - beat the 'solitary-piano-lesson blues' socially [Printables]
Ever want to beat the “solitary-piano-lesson” blues? Here’s a social activity for your studio that’s off the beaten path — pen pal letters! If it's possible, writing and receiving letters is more fun today than ever. It’s motivating for a student to hear from someone their age, writing about practicing the piano and their favourite piece of music. Here’s everything you need to get started. ...continue reading →
Fun and effective weekly piano lesson challenge [Printables]
Many piano teachers enjoy acknowledging hard work with small rewards. This incentive avoids plastic prizes and is simple to keep track of. It focuses on effort and gives students weekly feedback on five points they're working on developing. Do it with or without stickers or candies. It has proven very fun, and is one of my most-shared posts. ...continue reading →
'Starry Dreams (Do Come True)' Level 6 Jazz piano piece [eSheet]
"Do what you love until others love it, too." There are moments in your professional life when you take stock of where you are, how far you've come and what started it all. This post is about rediscovering my genesis as a composer: 1) with a new Level 6 Jazz piece that harkens back to my earliest days of improvising on the piano, and 2) professional photos inspired by the composer who first inspired me. ...continue reading →
Rebekah Maxner 