Jun 25, 2014
by Alison Margaret The piano breathes life into the world of music theory. Many students do not enjoy the seemingly tedious task of completing music theory assignments as a consistent routine in weekly studies. I encourage students to reframe their opinions on music theory by considering the following: The piano is such a marvelous thing because it takes the mathematics of harmony and instead paints a picture. Think of the piano as offering little puzzles pieces to be arranged and ordered. The more you study the piano and learn the sights and sounds of music, the more complete the puzzle.…READ MORE
Jun 17, 2014
by Peter Baggenstoss The Piano was born in Italy in 1709. When Bartolmeo Cristofori first displayed his invention, he called it a gravicembalo col piano e forte, meaning, basically, a keyboard instrument that plays soft and loud. Later it was called a pianoforte, and finally, simply known as a piano. Two instruments in particular led to the development of the piano: the harpsichord and the clavichord. When you press a key on a harpsichord, the string is plucked, kind of like how you'd pluck a guitar string with a pick. The way the harpsichord was designed meant that no matter…READ MORE
Jun 11, 2014
by Nancy Rost Duets can be a great way to spice up your keyboard repertoire. Players of all abilities and tastes can enjoy the camaraderie, variety and learning that comes with an extra set of hands. Let’s take a look at some piano duets in fun, casual settings. The five-tone scale of the black keys and the flowing rhythm make an accessible starting point for pre-reading beginners. You can find similar duets in method books, or even improvise your own -- in pajamas, if you want. Going Home - Yukie Smith Practice feels more like a game when…READ MORE
Jun 04, 2014
By Jourdan Hines Trying to learn all the major chords on the keyboard doesn't need to be as hard as it seems. There's only 12 of them total and they have more in common that you might think. When you learn the chords in groups it can make it a lot easier and who doesn't like easy? Check out the blog about learning the Major Chords that I posted on the Musician's Toolshed. The article focuses on learning the chords using color groupings and includes additional resources, PDF handout, and online flash cards to quiz yourself. …READ MORE