I recently had a student who was having some difficulty practicing because she has poor piano skills. I doubt that I am the first teacher to encounter this issue (nor will I be the last!). Despite our best efforts, it is sometimes difficult to convey the importance of keyboard skills to young singers. Spending time in the lesson to improve practice habits is necessary but giving piano lessons on top of the voice lesson just doesn't seem practical.
Here is a tool that could be helpful for that beginning student in learning the piano via the internet (imagine!). LA based singer and teacher Ariella Vaccarino has created a number of products for singers but the most exciting (and free) product is her explanation of broken and solid chords and how to "warm up" at the piano.
Lesson 1 is the longest and outlines major chords:
Lesson 2 adds the octave:
Lesson 3 is an overview of 5 finger patterns:
Lesson 4 combines everything:
Thursday, November 6, 2008
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4 comments:
AWESOME! Thanks for posting this. I hope to come back to it when I can make some time.
What a great post, Elizabeth. I know a lot of singers who have struggled with piano. Fortunately for me, my mother made me take piano. In fact, when I was 11 years old, I begged her to find me a voice teacher. She called someone who a friend had recommended, and the woman told her I was too young. She recommended that I continue to take piano lessons and sing in a choir. I hated that advice at the time, but looking back it was priceless.
I hear you Catherine! I wish that I was better at the piano BUT am working at getting better!
Thanks for the info. I will definitely share this with my students. Hope you continue sharing these music teacher resources.
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