Two things were imprinted on my brain from childhood. I lived on a farm with my grandparents across the road. When I would leave for a ballgame, school trip, or going out on a date, my grandpa would say, “Remember those little folks are watching you,” and my dad would say, “Son, remember who […]
I write this at a time when funding for public education has reached an all-time low, a general lack of respect for what I do grows, and I seriously ponder a question that would have been unthinkable to me twenty years ago, “Who would want to be a teacher”? When I think of the word […]
#21 Model The Path My student teacher landed in my classroom the second semester. She saw a well-oiled-machine. The technique time had very littler verbal instruction. I was communicating with hand gestures. To her it seemed almost telepathic. Hand gestures for the primary vowels, tone placement, rules of transfer, and dynamics. All maticulously taught […]
The issues facing public school educators are real, daunting, and complex. Certainly adequate funding for public schools is a huge issue today but naively blaming budget cuts for every ill misses the mark. I feel that lack of funding may be systemic of other issues. We seem to be in the midst of a cultural […]
#18 SUPERMODELINGWe have all had moments when our modeling for students was less than super and the student performance reflected it. When I model vocally a passage from a piece and tell my students “like this,” I better make sure my body alignment, breath, vowels, soft-palate, diction, and body language are what I want. Students […]
Music has always existed in my life. My earliest childhood memories are of the family, my parents and grandparents on both sides, getting out the hymn books and singing hymns, a cappella, in four part harmony. We especially enjoyed a “new hymn” where we could test our sight-reading skills. Later, I would accompany those hymn […]
I enjoyed my summer morning tremendously. It was a well-kept 1980 Baldwin R, which tuned up nicely. But what made it so special were the conversations with Jacob. This is Jacob’s practice piano. A former Full Chord Press student of mine, a graduate from TMP only a few weeks, and headed to KU in the […]
Read “The Traveler’s Gift” by Andy Andrews this past weekend. Inspirational and challenging, this book is subtitled “Seven Decisions That Determine Personal Success.” These seven nuggets are revealed in a creative story. Story is a powerful tool that makes remembering and applying these truths easier. Plus it is a fun and easy read. I challenge […]
I am trying with renewed interest to finish this book!! I began last summer in an effort to make some notes listing some concrete things I could do to enhance my student’s individual practice. In the process, I hoped to gain knowledge that would improve my choral rehearsals. So, I went back and read through […]
Can your body language help you perform better? We preach that good body alignment is important to breath and tone. Does it help your confidence also? Performance not going well? How about expressing more … consciously change your body language. Watch this TED’s Conference presentation by Amy Cuddy. And I highly recommend this interview with David Kim.