JAZZ CLASS - Part 2

We really enjoyed a second class from Laurisa Cope, UMTA President-Elect, on implementing jazz into our studios.  It was fun for each of us to play on our own piano (with head-sets on) and experiment with the things we were taught.  We all think a workshop could be a good thing!!

(Maybe next time I will remember to take pictures, rather than just have fun!)

CONFERENCE REVIEW & TEACHING TIPS!

The cinnamon rolls & milk were a hit, and so were all the things we talked about!!

Some of the ideas from conference:

Picture a graph and a student's age starting at 8 and going to 18 across the bottom; the progress of their piano skills being measured  from bottom to top.  In theory, we see progress from the bottom to the top by a diagonal line...as the student gets older, they get better at playing the piano.  It was pointed out that this is seldom the case:  Reality is more like a curvy line progresses and regresses at different intervals, as it, hopefully makes a general progression.  As teachers, we need to be aware of the students needs, the things taking place in their lives, their struggles, their triumphs, that will impact the piano learning.  When we are able to do this, we facilitate their learning!!

Do we point out the little things that we sometimes take for granted that our student knows, or should know...like pointing out that the key signature not only tells us what flats/sharps will be in the piece, it tells us what SCALE will be used by the composer, and therefore, which notes will be primarily used.  This may see obvious, but try pointing it out to your students and see if they say, "Duh!" or if they have an "Ah hah!" moment!!

There were lots of teaching tips shared and some good discussion on ways to help certain problems.  If you weren't able to attend, we missed you, and you missed a really good meeting!  Maybe next month!

Mark Gubler also shared some information about SUPAF being rekindled.  Registration is open!  Piano registration closes January 31, 2018.  All other registration closes December 31st!  Please contact Mark if you have any questions about it!

REGINA ROPER - JUST THE FACTS

We were so happy to have Regina Roper present to our UMTA chapter today!  She shared a lot of information that reminded us of some of the ways our students learn; how we can engage them differently to increase their learning; and showed us some great new theory resources!!  The JUST THE FACTS II Theory Workbooks are great, and we loved getting free copies of a couple of the levels!!  THANK YOU, REGINA!!!

 

WELCOME BACK, UMTA Teachers!!!

Today was our first Chapter meeting for the 2017-18 year.  It was SO nice to see so many in attendance!!  Cynthia Coombs did a great job sharing her thoughts and suggestions on "Partner Lessons" and there was some good discussion  on ways to implement this, or change things a little to be adaptable to individual studios.

Our meeting today reminded me how important each individual member of our chapter is to the group.  Everyone has something to share, and we can all learn from each other!!  THANK YOU for helping us each be better at what we do!

REMINDERS:

Performance Evaluations are coming up quickly.  Registration forms and checks need to be turned in to Lynn Dean no later than our next chapter meeting on October 3rd.  (Sooner is fine...not later!)

SUPAF for Piano will be reinstated this year with Mark Gubler overseeing the piano performance. Hooray for Mark!!

The Monster Concert sponsored by SUU and Dr. Christian Bohnenstegel will be held Tuesday, November 28th at the Cedar Heritage Concert Hall.  Contact me for more information.

AIM Testing will be taking place again this year in April.  Start preparing your students now!
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SEE YOU NEXT MONTH!!!  October 3, 2017 - Regina Roper will be presenting JUST THE FACTS:  Learning from the inside out.

2017 CLOSING SOCIAL

We sure have a great group of teachers in our St. George Chapter of UMTA!!!  And it's always fun to get together!!

Today we had a short "teaching tips on For Elise" presented by Lynn Dean.  There were some excellent suggestions for helping students manage some of the passages much more easily...and the teachers teaching them, as well!!

And then we had an enjoyable time eating lunch (lasagne, salad, parmesan bread, cantaloupe, Cuties, brownie cupcakes, and Skor Cake!!  DELICIOUS!!!  And, it gave us a chance to compare notes on teaching, studio policies, etc.  Great way to end the year!!!  See you in September!!

Jazzin' Things Up A Bit!!!

Our chapter meeting for April was held in the Group classroom at DSU, and UMTA President-Elect, Laurisa Cope presented a great class on Jazz!!  We each had our own piano, plus headset, so we could play and hear ourselves, and the instructor, without hearing everyone else's pianos.  It was great!  Laurissa worked froma C Jam Blues base and gave us different aspects of Jazz to tryout.  There were also some great handouts!!  One was titled "10 Steps to Reading Chord Symbols" and was very informative!!  However, my favorite was "Cracking the Code - A Jazz Pianists' Secrets Revealed!" by Laurisa Cope!  Here are some of the secrets:

• The TRIAD is always MAJOR, unless they tell you otherwise.
• The SEVENTH is always MINOR, unless they tell you otherwise.
• Chords are independent of the key signature. (The melody is not independent!)

It was a great workshop with lots of variety to add to our studios!!  Thanks, Laurisa!!

PROGRESS...Can It Be Seen?

What a treat it was to have our UMTA State President, Cheryl Rytting, here to present to our small local chapter!!!  All in attendance came away with a platter full of inspiration, motivation, and additional ideas to take advantage of!  Here are the highlights:

1.  Mindset:  The PERCEPTION of PROGRESS is key to the student, the parent and the teacher.  What is being perceived?  Is the student aware of the progress he has made in the past 6 months?  Is it pointed out?

2.  Communication:  Three-way between student/teacher/parent.  Using technology to our benefit can help!  Take a phone video of the student working on the scales the way you want them done...then send to the parents (if young child) and/or the student.  A quick little note saying, "Susie is doing great with her scales!  Keep it up!" or other encouraging thing is very helpful.  Email and texts are great, too.

3.  Give students some control.  "What did you work hardest on this week?"  "What would you like me to hear first?"  "What would you like help on?"  When getting ready for evaluations or upcoming recitals, picking three pieces for the student to choose from, helps them feel involved in their music.

4.  Make progress more visible.  This can be done with charts, or with verbal recognition in front of the next incoming student or parent, or highlighting "breakthroughs" like "Wow!  Those crisp staccatos are sounding exactly the way I want you to play them!"  Or something similar.  Write it in the notebook...or a text to them and parents.  Lots of avenues to use!

5.  Visualize Future Goals:  What do they want to accomplish this month?  6 months?  For the next recital?  A year from now?

6.  Recognize/honor them.   Help each student feel like they are YOUR FAVORITE STUDENT!


Rachel France mentioned using the Positive/Negative Cycle to help students/parents SEE what their choices get them:

NEGATIVE: I didn’t practice I didn’t do well at my lesson My teachers mad I didn’t do well at the recital I’m embarrassed I not good at playing the piano I don’t want to practice STUDENT QUITS PIANO

POSITIVE: I practiced I did well at my lesson My teacher is NICE! I performed well at the recital Lots of compliments I’m good at playing the piano I want to practice more! STUDENT LOVES PIANO

We've all seen this take place in our studios!!  

HOPEFULLY, we can help our students recognize their progress so they will continue developing this very important and rewarding talent!!

(See you in April for our Jazz Chapter Meeting with Larissa Cope, our UMTA President-Elect!

Dr. Christie Sowby - Extended Piano Techniques

Dr. Christie Sowby shared some remarkable insights into the world of Extended Piano Techniques and External Sound Effects for the Intermediate Piano Repertoire.  She also gave us access to a great resource in her Extended Piano Techniques Handout.  We all left feeling inspired and impressed!!