Practice = Points = Prizes!

Happy New Year everyone!

It was great to hear you play so many Christmas carols and songs but things can fall a bit flat in the new year, we all need something to get us going again. With the help of Oliver T, Amelia and Oliver W, I devised this system to help reward piano practice this year. Everything on this list will gain you points and points will mean prizes! Read it carefully and see how many you can achieve before your 1st lesson.

Piano Practice = Points = Prizes!

This year you will be able to gain rewards by doing and achieving different piano tasks and skills. Points = Prizes!

Weekly Points:

+ 1 for 5 days of practice. Parents to sign this off in the practice diary.

+ 1 per page of pieces learned and passed by me.

+ 1 per warm-up or technique exercise learned and passed by me.

+ 1 per set of theory exercises completed.

Bonus Points:

+ 2 for each piece memorised.

+ 1 extra for more than 5 days practiced. (Parents must witness and sign this).

+ 1 for completing a listening sheet.

+ 1 for playing a scale accurately 2 ways. +2 for playing it 4 different ways.

Super Bonus Points:

+5 for attending a classical musical performance (a piano recital, a concert etc. A copy of the programme is required).

+ 5 for completing a book.

+ 5 for participating in a performance.

20 points = a certificate.

25 points = a prize from the prize basket.

50 points = a trophy.

 

 

 

Christmas Crafts.

Last year we made origami pianos in many lessons. This year I did that with new pupils; if you want to make some at home the instructions can be found here: http://www.origami-instructions.com/origami-for-kids.html Our new craft in this week's final piano lessons has been pipe cleaner treble clefs with beads to hang on your Christmas trees. Some pupils twisted two cleaners together, others added beads in their favourite football team's colours, and some stuck pom poms on the end! As always when we did these crafts, I learnt a great deal about you all and your skills.

Merry Christmas from Yohondo!

Yohondo now have two free We Wish You a Merry Christmas iPad Apps for pianists. One is for beginners to Prep Test level https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/we-wish-you-merry-christmas/id940168163?mt=8 and the other has a little bit of hands together and is suitable for grade1-3 pianists https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/we-wish-you-merry-christmas/id938079710?mt=8 These Apps have the full score, playalongs, chances to record and share as well as great animations and professional video recordings. Well worth a try!

Piano versus Keyboard.

This is a regular question and I do appreciate the problems you can face.  However I want to write in praise of the piano! If you have signed up for piano lessons in school, congratulations, it's a great decision and one that can change your child's life forever. However, can I beg you to get a piano. I know they're big and will take up room but they are lovely pieces of furniture AND THEY SOUND FAB-U-LOUS!  

A piano will have full size keys, more notes, a pair of pedals and you will be able to play a range of dynamics on it. Also if you learn to play the piano you can then move on to play the keyboard.  A keyboard is not the same; the keys are smaller, it has no pedal, you can't play with different dynamics, there aren't as many keys and fingers will not develop much strength.A digital piano is a good alternative to an old-fashioned acoustic piano. Try one out, maybe look at some Yamaha ones as they're a good price and there is a great variety.

You can survive on a keyboard for a term or maybe even two but your child will miss out on several things even in this short time. If you have a keyboard consider keyboard lessons, for piano lessons you need a piano! When you're ready to get one, ask my advice, talk to the lovely people at Allegro or go to a piano shop. Then enjoy your piano.

Welcome to Piano Lessons.

Welcome to Piano Lessons!

My name is Fiona Lau, I have been teaching the piano for many years and have had great success with pupils. You can find out more about me at: www.fionalau.com  and you can contact me via email: fionavalerielau@hotmail.com If you haven’t already done so, could you let me know your email address?

I also communicate regularly with parents and pupils via my blog so do check it for updates and information: www.mrslaupiano.blogspot.com

 To get the best out of piano lessons:

·         You need a piano, either a traditional acoustic one or a digital one. Keyboards are not the same and your child will not develop the skills needed. Allegro, High St., Chelmsford have a selection of new and used pianos.

·         It is essential to practice every day. For beginners 10-15 mins a day is enough but it does need to be every day. Grade1-3 pupils should be playing for 30 mins daily, grade 4-5 for 40 mins and advanced pupils should be practising for 45-60 mins a day minimum. Sort out a regular time for them to do this. With all children you will probably have to remind them to practise...

·         The piano diaries your child has are our basic method of communication; I write what has happened in the lesson and what I expect to be practised during the week and you can write in what you have noticed and how you think your child is responding. I am always delighted to hear what has happened during the week, after all I only see your child for 20, 30 or 45 mins per week- you have them the rest of the time!

·         You can buy the music you need from Daces, Broomfield Road and Allegro also has some but will order it for you if they don’t have it. You can also go online to buy music at www.musicroom.com

 

Parents play a huge part in their child learning to play the piano, I can’t do it alone! Please remind your child to practise, encourage them to perform their pieces to family and friends and take them to concerts or encourage listening to music.

 

Thank you, I look forward to hearing your children play and progress!

 

Fiona Lau. Nov 2014.

 

We Wish You a Merry Christmas!

Yohondo have produced and released a free IPad App to help you learn, practise and play We wish You a Merry Christmas. It's free, it's fabulous, suitable for g1-3 pianists and it's here: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/we-wish-you-merry-christmas/id938079710?mt=8

Enjoy!

Half term update.

Hi everyone,

I hope that you are enjoying your half-term break and playing your Autumn and Halloween pieces. Next week we are back to piano lessons and it's time to start the Christmas music! If you want to buy your child a Christmas music book it is best to get them one from the same series as the tutor book they are using: Piano Adventures or Hal Leonard. These and many others are available from www.musicroom.com

Susan Paradis also has several seasonal pieces for beginners: www.SusanParadis.com
I will also provide some music in piano lessons.

If you have exams or the Chelmsford Competitive Festival this term, keep playing and practising and especially remember to do some daily sight-reading. Also, look under the Guides and Reviews section of this blog for a guide to surviving exams and competitions. Nearer the date we will do a countdown and have a pre-exam play through to each other.

In the next couple of weeks I will also explain this year's incentive/reward scheme so keep your eyes peeled for that. The 30 Piece Challenge worked really well last year but it's good to mix things up and change things around so that's what I will do!