by Carter McMullen | Aug 7, 2018 | Technique
In Part One of this series, I showed how to teach students the proper scale technique for playing smooth one-octave C major scales, hands separately. After mastering one-octave scales, hands together, (as discussed in Part Two), it’s time to teach the two-octave...
by Carter McMullen | Jul 30, 2018 | Teaching Tips, Technique
In Part 1 of this series, I talked about how to show students the proper technique for playing a smooth one-octave C major scale, hands separately. The essential thumb-under and 3rd finger-over techniques can take a while for students to learn, but once they have been...
by Carter McMullen | Jul 12, 2018 | Technique
As a beginning piano student, I was never interested in practicing scales, and I know I wasn’t the only one. In fact, it wasn’t until after studying piano in college that I came to fully appreciate the art of playing scales smoothly and cleanly. Looking...
by Chris Owenby | Mar 20, 2018 | Teaching Tips, Technique
Many thanks to those who were able to join me on the recent Facebook live training on the topic of teaching basic technique to beginners. It was a joy to share the spotlight with my almost five-year-old daughter, Emma-Kate. She was oh so good and did a fantastic job...
by Chris Owenby | Mar 6, 2018 | Technique
Scales are important, but why do we learn scales? To play music, of course! They help improve finger dexterity, hand and finger strength, speed, and coordination. But scale exercises don’t have to be boring. So don’t put your students (or yourself) through...
by Carter McMullen | Jan 14, 2018 | Technique
Breaking bad habits is hard to do, and this is especially true with damper-pedal technique. Students don’t always get direct advice and instruction on how to properly use the damper pedal, and this can become a real problem when they advance to more difficult...
