Poker Face

(Don't know why this didn't post in March.  Wrote it March 1!.  So, a bit delayed, and the Sonatina Festival was canceled, but the rest of the post holds true.)

My kids are preparing for the Sonatina Festival at the end of the month.  They need to play, from memory, one movement of a sonatina, as well as one other contrasting piece, also from memory.  We've been working on this music since January, and most of my students are ready and eager to perform.

In addition to notes, rhythm, rests, dynamics, the how-to-play-the-music details of performance, I need to teach and reinforce the how-to-play-through-mistakes details of performance.  That is the hardest part!  I think it's human nature to want to fix our mistakes before moving on.  In music, we can't take the time to do that.  The music continues, and we have to keep up!

So how do we go about playing through mistakes, picking up and moving on?  Of course, knowing the music, inside and out, backward and forward, goes a long way in covering mistakes.  I suggest playing from memory, occasionally, but also consulting the printed page during practice sessions.  Visual reminders during practice will aid the recall during performance.

Slow practice is also helpful.  We often want to speed through the difficult passages, but that allows for holes in our learning, for sloppy execution of phrases, and for memory slips.  Yes, you need to play at tempo occasionally during practice, but it pays to slow it down, use a metronome, play every note, and of course, review those tricky sections over and over.

Another trick is not always starting at the beginning.  When practicing, jump around, play the last line first, play up the page instead of down the page.  I had a teacher once add practice numbers, and during the recital he would call out a number and I had to skip to that section.  Needless to say, I knew that piece very well.

On that rare occasion when you just don't remember the next note, skip it, jump to the next section.  No one else has the score, no one else knows the music like you do.  Fudge it, fake it 'til you make it, but don't let on.  Maintain your poker face.  Shrug it off on the inside, but don't actually shrug!  And whatever happens, take time to bow, to show your appreciation to your audience for hearing you out, and walk off the stage with dignity.

Snow Day?

Funny how the weather forecast shapes your day.  Slightest hint of snow and plans get cancelled right and left.  Just because schools close early does not necessarily mean the streets are icy.  A heavy snowfall in Emmittsburg does not always translate to snow in downtown Frederick.

Think about it.  School buses move lots of kids.  In Frederick County alone, there are upwards of 42,000 registered students in public schools, and close to 5800 public school employees.  The powers-that-be need to consider the safe transportation of all these folks when they make the call to close schools.  Sometimes they overreact, miscalculate.  In such instances, I'm still open for business.

I once had to call a "snow day" in September!  Hurricane Irene blew through, took down trees and power lines.  Yes, school were closed then too. 

So,no, I don't have a snow policy.   Since I teach at home, it's no problem for me to get to work!  My students might have a legitimate excuse, but not always.  Mostly, rain or snow, I remain open.

A Fly on the Wall

I had the opportunity last weekend of attending a county-wide piano student holiday recital.  I think 35-40 kids participated.  Between the students, parents, and residents of the assisted living facility in attendance, I was lucky to get a seat at the back of the hall!  All in all, the young musicians did well.  Some were better prepared than others. 

One student in particular arrived late, and without his music.  More power to him: he sat down at the piano and attempted to play from memory.  I was touched by his determination.  He got stuck.  What to do to help him?  Really nothing.  He learned, as did the others in attendance, the importance of being prepared, and the grace of accepting defeat.  He was, even in his vulnerability, an inspiration. 

A few of my students sat in front of me.  I enjoyed watching them as they listened to the other students perform.  The older brother's hands were fingering the armchair as his younger sister played.  I do that!  I was especially humored when another student played an arrangement of something one of my kids was also playing.  Whispering to mom, nudging dad's arm.  They are learning to listen critically, to discern a fine performance.  It was as much a joy to watch the audience as it was to listen to the performance.

Christmas Miracles

Christmas miracles do happen!  I am still on Cloud 9 after a stunning performance by my students.  The Frederick Candlelight Tour of Historic Houses of Worship took place on Thursday, December 26.  It's a 33-year tradition to open the doors at 11 downtown churches, to invite the public in to enjoy the architecture and music.  This year 4 of my students were invited to perform at Centennial Memorial United Methodist Church.  Naomi, age 10, opened our segment with a simple arrangement of Silent Night.  Although I had prepped her as to the nature of the event, she was not expecting the number of spectators when she performed.  Her hesitant start was nevertheless well received; she needed to begin again, but did an admirable job.

Following Naomi, Josie, also age 10, thrilled her audience with 5 Christmas numbers.  I admit, I was a bit nervous; at her last lesson, she played too quickly.  She knew the notes, but had yet to add the nuances to pull me into the music.  In the 10 days between lesson and performance, Josie had perfected her art.  O Christmas Tree flowed from her fingers.  Deck the Hall, and Jingle Bells both combined staccato and legato beautifully. We Wish You a Merry Christmas was very merry indeed.  Josie saved her best for last.  Always a hit with bell choirs, Carol of the Bells was equally stunning on the piano

Josie's brother, Michael, age 12, followed with a stunning performance of Let It Snow!  His light touch, I could see the snowflakes, he was so convincing.  He then knocked my socks off with Vince Guaraldi's Christmastime Is Here.  This piece is complex, starts quietly enough, but the rhythms are tricky.  Moving down the page, it gets more technically complicated, but Michael handled the polyrhythms seemingly effortlessly.  I was beaming.  I think he was too.

Eleanor finished the program out.  To be honest, she is no longer my student.  She now attends the Barbara Ingram School for the Arts and has a teacher there to shepherd her through music selection and practice.  Eleanor played a lovely rendition of O Holy Night,  followed by Sleigh Ride.   That second piece is one of my favorites.  Not to be outdone by her brother, Eleanor whipped through another Vince Guaraldi piece, Linus and Lucy.  Visions of the whole Charlie Brown gang skating on the frozen pond danced in my head. 

All in all, this Centennial experience was joyful, and historic.  I can't speak for the other churches in the area, but this was the first time children were highlighted in performance at Centennial during this candlelight tour.  In the 5 hours that the church was open, over 1800 people entered to enjoy the sights and sounds, and I am thrilled that some of those sounds came from the fingers of my students!

Ebony and Ivory Friday

Happy day after Thanksgiving, everyone!  Some call this day Black Friday, a day for saving beaucoup bucks at the shopping mall; I prefer Ebony and Ivory Friday, an extra day of piano playing with no specific agenda, just the joy of making music for all the family to enjoy. 

Speaking of joyful music, our post-Halloween recital was a Big Hit!  Thank you to all who participated, including Naomi, Michael, Radar, Josie, Anda, and Reese.  Each of you worked hard to learn your pieces, even while I was on vacation.  I am so proud of you!  Pastor Deb of Centennial United Methodist Church was especially moved by your performance and extended an invitation to play something appropriate at the Candlelight Tour of Historic Houses of Worship on December 26.  Let me know your interest.

In lieu of lessons over the holidays, the Frederick County Music Teachers Association will sponsor a Holiday Recital on Saturday, December 28, at 2:30.at Homewood at Crumland Farms, 7407 Willow Road, Frederick.  Mark your calendars now.  Registration deadline is December 7.  Please fill out Video Authorization Form for this one.  I am hoping everyone will participate in this event.

Enough of me pecking at the computer keys.  Each of you can get back to Ebony and Ivory Friday and make a joyful noise on your piano.  I’ll see you all this next week, when we’ll start to polish your holiday performance pieces. 

And it worked!

And it worked!  I took a 2-week vacation, left my students with a Practice Challenge to practice every day with a critical ear, to listen for a steady tempo, a crisp staccato, a convincing phrase.  Upon my return, they each had one lesson before our post-Halloween recital.  I was so pleased!  They were prepared to perform.  A little tweaking, perhaps, here and there, but these kids knew their music, and certainly convinced me.

We held our post-Halloween recital last night.  Seven of us performed, including myself.  (A revelation from my last recital -- my students never hear me perform, so why not put myself in the program?)  We played in a 119 year old church downtown, and the acoustics were great!   The space was filled with creepy Halloween music oozing from the rafters.  Oh, I was thrilled!  Special thanks to Naomi, Michael, Reese, Radar, Josie and Ande for sharing their talent.  I think we had 30 people in the audience.  And thank you, Christena, for the cupcakes!

Almost forgot.  After the performance, while we mingled and enjoyed cupcakes and sparkling cider, the kids continued to entertain us on 2 pianos, at the same time!  I think everyone played through their Halloween pieces again, and played other favorites.  A musical montage.  Oh, I loved it!

When the cat's away...

I'm planning a trip, and that takes me away from my students.  What's a teacher to do?  And just before a performance opportunity!

In anticipation of my absence, I uncovered a Practice Challenge I had downloaded from Tim Topham's Inner Circle.  Basically, keep track of your practice dates and times.  I've extended the challenge to include what you've practiced, and at the end of each week, give yourself a self-lesson.  Listen with your ears as you play, critique your performance.  Did you keep a steady tempo?  Is your staccato crisp?   Is your Halloween music suitably Halloween-y?

I'm hoping this will help each of my students stay focused.  I'm hoping this will help keep them somewhat accountable to their practice time.  I'm hoping that rather than simply playing through their practice pieces and thinking that's enough, they will start to develop some listening skills.  And yes, we have a Post-Halloween recital coming up upon my return.  I'm hoping that carrot will keep them practicing.  I've explained my approach to the parents as well.  It's an experiment.  Wish us luck!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtdf5XxIseE