Musicianship Boot Camp

Introducing something new for my piano students - This is something we are going to try for the month of October and the first part of November.

For lack of a better name, I'm calling it Musicianship Boot Camp.

What is this?  This will be an alteration to your usual practice schedule for the upcoming month.  I'll be asking you to work on technique, music reading, rhythm skills and ear training.   We will work on these things in October.  During the first part of November, we will take portions of one or two lessons to test these skills.  Please note:  I will be giving you a letter grade for how you do.  Don't worry; Unlike school, the letter has no effect on anything you do outside of private lessons.  The grade is just to let you know where you are versus where you should be.

What is the purpose of this?  The four categories we are working on are tools for any musician to have on them.  If a musician knows their technique well, can read notes well, can use their ear and can figure out rhythms, then they are in a great position to learn music faster and learn it correctly.  NOT knowing these things is a hindrance.  Try reading a book written in a foreign language that you don't know.  This is how music is if you neglect your tools.  I like the word "tools" because it suits the context.  Think of cutting a tree limb with a dull saw.  Imagine driving a nail in the wall without a hammer, or drawing with your pencil that has never been sharpened.  There are things in piano that you should know and know well.  You should never have to figure out certain things when you're learning a piece.  You are wasting practice time if you don't have these tools ready.

What kinds of things will you be doing?

Keep in mind that this will be individualized.  I will be assigning things for each of you to do personally that is designed to fit only what you've studied thus far.  I may, in some cases, push you to learn new things or take the things you know and make them better or faster.

TECHNIQUE:  For piano, this involves scales, arpeggios, and chords.  Beginning students may be limited to 5-finger positions.  Some of you will be doing more keys than others.  Some hands separately, while others are hands together.  Some one octave, while others have multiple octaves.  Some will have tempo requirements, while others will not.  You will not be asked to do more than you should already be able to do unless you are already at that level and desire an extra challenge.

RHYTHM:  I will be giving you rhythm exercises that include any rhythm notes you have learned along with any time signatures you have learned.  We will learn how to figure out the rhythm for any pattern using these.

EAR TRAINING:  Every student will be tested on recognizing notes as going up vs going down.  You will be asked to recognize rhythms.  According to your level, you may be asked to recognize intervals, chords, and scales by their sound.

MUSIC READING:  This includes three parts:
1.  Staff Note Recognition:  For whatever notes you have been introduced to so far, you will be asked to get better at note reading.  I will give you a list of notes to learn.  Important to know: Music Reading tests will be timed.

2.  Key Signature recognition and application -  For several of you, this will not apply.  For those who have started adding sharps and flats at the beginning of pieces, you will be expected to name the key of a piece by sight and to play something easy that includes the sharped or flatted notes.

3.  Sight Reading - We'll be working on playing music you've never seen before and improving how well you can play for the first time.

Next week, I'll begin talking to you about your individual requirements.  If this goes well, it will become something we'll do once or twice a year.  The goal is to make much better musicians of all of you by this time in six weeks.