April 26, 2021

We are having a Summer deal! $20 off the first month! Use the coupon code, SUMMER to take advantage of this discount!

This article includes

• Part 2 of the 21 Best Practice Techniques.

• Student showcase of Jerry, Nathan, Haley and Lee

• Upcoming MOM events includes our next "Crescendo Kids Online" class

• Parents Ask Pam - Do you offer private lessons?

Feature Article: Beyond Practice, Beyond Part 1 - More Ways to Make Piano Time Fun (and Effective!) (Part 2 of 2)

I recently discovered a review on yelp, “ . . .The MOM program has made it very fun for them (they enjoy going to class and they enjoy practicing).  I think part of the joy for them came because of the beginning sense of accomplishment that the program/teacher provides. . .”* This is the key!  There is a sense of accomplishment that happens from piano playing!  It is this pride and excitement that propels many students to keep going forward. Practicing is breaking down harder tasks into smaller, achievable goals.  When you can see daily success, it is exciting!  

(*Want to read the whole review?  It is from Laila T in Kirkland. testimonials)

Last month we listed 8 of 21 practice techniques to keep piano time fun and engaging.  Here are the rest of the activities.  This is definitely NOT an exhaustive list!  There are many different ways to make playing the piano fun and engaging!  

1. Start and end practice time with something fun, perhaps a song already learned, or their own made up song. I try to keep a list of fun songs students learned to play well and still enjoy playing. In addition to keeping it fun, this activity also keeps them with several songs at their fingertips to be played on demand when the opportunity pops up.

2. Instead of playing from start to finish, play the lines or measures randomly. This silly activity helps engage the brain, which then makes the practice time more productive as well as fun.

3. Use a metronome or drum beat during practice sessions. This is not easy! It will take training and a developed ear to be able to play and listen at the same time. But it is such a valuable tool!

4. Record the student during their practice session. Then have the student be their own teacher. As they listen to their recording they can following the music to see if they actually played the right notes, rhythm and maybe dynamics. It is amazing how much they learn about reading music as well as improving their own playing by doing this activity!

5. Do not use practice time as a punishment. You want your child to enjoy playing the piano. Setting limits, like so much video time after so much piano time is fine. Children do need to be reminded and they need a schedule, even if they love playing the piano.

6. Have a pretend recital. Get those stuffed animals out! Pretend you are a concert pianist that everyone loves and can’t wait to hear! This will also encourage more “perfect” practice.

7. Play a music theory game instead of playing songs. The best games can be the ones made up on the spot. Also, it never hurts to review music theory while having a little interaction with someone else, like a parent or sibling, for a change. Need some game ideas? Ask your piano teacher. Our teachers love making up games to teach various music theory concepts!

8. Play the song in different octaves. This is especially useful for our newer students who have songs just in one or two octaves. Why not play it again and use the whole piano!

9. Play the song with different instrument sounds. This is a benefit of having a keyboard instead of a piano. But using different instrument sounds provides variety when needed.

10. Play in different tempos. You would be surprised, but sometimes even playing it slower can be difficult! Changing it up like this helps engage the brain, which makes the practice time more productive.

11. Play with different dynamics. It is always fun to play loud, but can you also play it softly? How about starting soft and gradually getting louder, or vice versa? Using these different techniques also help make practice time feel more like a game or a challenge.

12. Play each hand alone. I always encourage every student of all levels to be sure to play each hand alone when starting a new piece. Sometimes you find little “musical shortcuts” that didn’t stand out with hands together. But it always makes playing hands together a little easier.

13. Play with different rhythms. This is especially useful with pieces or sections of a piece that have a steady rhythm, like all quarter notes or all eighth notes. Changing up the rhythm helps to learn the notes as well as learning to play with a steady beat.

Which practice activity is your favorite?  Your thoughts and comments are welcome!  

Student Showcasing

Each week we showcase a different student from our classes. Thanks to Jerry, Nathan, Haley and Lee for sharing their music with us! Like us on Facebook to see the new student each week.

Upcoming MOM Events

Summer discount special! $20 off the first month! Use the coupon code, SUMMER.

Want to see all upcoming events? Check out our calendar. It is a new feature on our website.
FREE Online Piano Party! Students share their own music as well as participate in musical games, creating music and learning some music history. Each party is a little different with a theme and a special guest instrument. Come, meet our piano teachers, play some music, and have fun! All ages and musical levels are welcome. Parties are available to non-students, former students as well as current students. Click the link to sign up.
Piano Party Sign Up

Sunday, June 20, at 11:00 am. RSVP required.

Spring Recital - Our online recital will be over the weekend of May 21, 22 and 23. Contact Miss Pam if you would like to join us. Former students are welcome, as long as they are currently taking piano lessons.

Parent Information Meetings - Have questions about our online piano class program? Want a tour of our practicing app? Click the link to schedule your meeting with Miss Pam. Parent Info Meeting

May's Crescendo Kids Online begins Tuesday, May 4. This is a great way to start your child's musical education and begin or continue piano lessons. Students are put into one of 4 classes depending on their age and musical ability.
Crescendo Kids Online Sign Up

Pre-Reading - Ages 3 - 5 years, or students not yet reading, 
We use a color-coded method for the students to match their five fingers to five keys on the piano.  New songs using only those 5 notes are given each week.  

Primary - Ages 5 -7 years or older and brand new to music, 
This group is for the very basics of piano playing.  Students learn to play simple rhythms, correct hand position, and the names of the white keys on the piano.  

Beginning Elementary - Ages 7-12 years or younger and reading notes, 
This is for students just starting to read notes on the staff.  Students are taught how the staff relates to the piano and how to translate the notes to making music.  Also, having the students memorize a few key notes on the staff will help greatly with their ability to read music.

Advanced Elementary - Ages 7 - 12 years with previous piano lessons
This group already reads notes on the staff and can immediately identify many of the notes by name.  They will learn more advanced technique and music theory beyond the initial basics of learning to play.  

Parents Ask Pam

Have a question for Miss Pam? You can email, text message, or message on Facebook your questions. She will respond immediately to you, and your question might be featured in future newsletters.

Q: Do you offer private lessons?

A: Yes! Since moving our school online, we are now offering 30-minute private lessons to all ages. Our teachers, Kevin Kenney, formerly of North Bellevue Community Center, and Sachie Tunick, formerly of North Kirkland Community Center, are offering private lessons through Move Over Mozart. These teachers are not only skilled musicians, but also fabulous teachers! They will tailor your lesson to meet your individual learning style and musical goals. Click here for more information.

Your Comments And Questions

We want to hear from you!  Please visit leave your questions and comments below.