MelissaAdult Piano Student Practice Routine - Step 1: Warming Up(Includes 10 Easy Scale Variations for Beginners) How do you practice your scales? Do you regularly opt out of warming up, or you use a s...
MelissaMise en Place at the PianoLet's begin our series on practice suggestions for the adult learner by preparing the piano practice space. Mise en place (French pronunc...
MelissaWhat They Don't Tell YouFirst of all, let's give a shout out to everybody who's taking time in life to practice the piano and fill the world with good music ener...
MelissaJess Just Wants to Play Piano“I just want to play the piano!” Jess exclaimed. “I’m tired of putting everyone else first and sacrificing myself.” “I just want to play...
MelissaLinda Likes Being Down an OctaveLinda told me last week she likes being down an octave. That’s unusual. Most students really love the higher registers, especially repe...
ChrisSacred SpacesI always believed that I could practice the piano anywhere: as a girl, in the middle of my parent’s home, after dinner, quietly, while m...
MelissaLessons from the RoadChristmas, MI I’ve been traveling virtually with Patty and Paul in the RV the last couple of weeks. Tomorrow we’ll reach our next destin...
MelissaA Very Basic Guide to Setting Up Online Piano Lessons for Teachers and StudentsI’ve always said I only need one pencil and one piano to do my job. That was true until coronavirus appeared on the scene....Fortunately...
MelissaStart With Your WordsPronouncements abound here. “I can’t do this” is a truly ubiquitous remark. Yes, of course you can’t do this. That’s why we’re here. Bu...
MelissaTough LessonsWhile living in College Station, Texas, in 1989, I studied with a teacher by the name of George Rutherford, student of famed pianist Abby...
MelissaAlan's LessonAlan wasted no time in declining my invitation to join our piano evening at the Belfry. I chalked this up to his being a newbie and let ...
MelissaSheila Doesn't Like First EndingsLearning to navigate D.C. al fine, D.S. al Coda and even simple repeats is pretty basic stuff, but it’s easy to miss these signs in the ...
MelissaHere, we practice NOT apologizing. Dear Beautiful Pianist, Today you apologized for making a mistake. Please don't. Mistakes are a natural part of your music journey. Wh...
MelissaHow you practice matters more than if you practice. You know the saying, you are what you eat? Well, as you practice so you'll play.... What is your purpose? 1. Are you working out a pass...
MelissaIn the beginning, there was rhythm.Students -- adults and kids -- tend to focus on playing the correct keys when starting lessons, generally paying far less attention to th...
MelissaPractice Tips for Adult Piano StudentsOrganize your practice: Any plan is better than no plan. Keep a journal, not of time practiced, but of this plan. It will capture ...
MelissaIntentions1. Be kind. To ourselves. It's easy to be kind to others. We learned that a long, long time ago, way back when we were children. How...
MelissaMindfulness“Anyone who acts without paying attention to what he is doing is wasting his life. I’d go so far as to say life is denied by lack of att...
MelissaSeeing Ourselves in the Mirror of Music We can learn A LOT about someone by listening to his or her piano playing. It’s much harder to observe ourselves. Regarding adult piano...
MelissaFinding TimeWaiting 9-10 minutes for pasta al dente allows for a pretty focused practice moment. Putting your phone on speaker while waiting for th...