Search found 127 matches

by Descombes
09 Nov 2008, 12:42
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: Help me spend 25k on a grand for my school
Replies: 45
Views: 36758

I have been in your situation in the past. I agree with everything you say. However, I would say that there is no comparison with the kudos of people being able to say "XXXX School, the place with a Steinway grand in the new Music Block". My advice would be to speak to Jeff Shackell: http:...
by Descombes
27 Oct 2008, 17:36
Forum: Learning & Teaching Piano
Topic: teaching my 5 year old son to play the Piano advice
Replies: 42
Views: 50694

Stuart
That is really good news. I'm sure Ethan is looking forward to it. I've just sent you a Private Message.
by Descombes
26 Oct 2008, 09:43
Forum: Learning & Teaching Piano
Topic: Contemporary 'Serious' Music
Replies: 17
Views: 19346

Descombes - mm, well, I don't like much contemporary classical music and I find most of it excruciating. So I don't like much of Schoenberg, Webern, Bartok, Messiaen, Boulez, Stockhausen, Maxwell Davies, etc, etc. As you can see, I'm not even talking about contemporary music, but more about 20th - ...
by Descombes
23 Oct 2008, 21:32
Forum: Learning & Teaching Piano
Topic: Contemporary 'Serious' Music
Replies: 17
Views: 19346

Re: Contemporary 'Serious' Music

yourforte wrote:Does anyone know of any contemporary 'classical' piano music that's not excruciating on the ears? I'm desperate...
Elaine
Do you mean to play (if so, for concert or personal use) or for teaching purposes?

It would also be useful to have some examples of what you consider "excruciating"!
by Descombes
22 Oct 2008, 19:11
Forum: Learning & Teaching Piano
Topic: Sight-reading: An acquired skill or natural phenomenon?
Replies: 23
Views: 21945

Another thing to add about sight-reading: Try to play with other people! Those who play orchestral instruments soon have (or ought to have) the opportunity to play in ensembles and orchestras. There they learn the perfectly respectable technique of leaving things out if necessary, but, above all, ke...
by Descombes
22 Oct 2008, 17:36
Forum: Learning & Teaching Piano
Topic: teaching my 5 year old son to play the Piano advice
Replies: 42
Views: 50694

Thanks for posting that Crispin. I've sent another PM. I agree that he's a talented lad. I'm also glad that so many people have confirmed what I thought about Stuart's son. He really needs to have that talent nurtured by an experienced hand! I hope that Stuart will keep us informed of any developmen...
by Descombes
22 Oct 2008, 17:19
Forum: Learning & Teaching Piano
Topic: Sight-reading: An acquired skill or natural phenomenon?
Replies: 23
Views: 21945

Re: Sight-reading: An acquired skill or natural phenomenon?

Sight-reading: An acquired skill or natural phenomenon? Well which is it? Joseph, Descombes and I have bounced this topic around on and off as a side step to the immediate theme of the threads in which we agreed that sight-reading is a skill that can be taught and developed, but what does everyone ...
by Descombes
20 Oct 2008, 17:10
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: Upright or baby grand ?
Replies: 36
Views: 32227

Sounds to me as if Craiglyon has got it spot on!!

I'm sure the technical folk will give him the full reasoning!
by Descombes
20 Oct 2008, 15:11
Forum: Learning & Teaching Piano
Topic: teaching my 5 year old son to play the Piano advice
Replies: 42
Views: 50694

Hi Stuart Honestly, seeing him play at the ages in the clips, he has an unusually high level of musical talent. He's remembering the melody and playing it rhythmically and accurately; but you can also see he's involved with every ounce of his mind and body. (Look at his rhythmic swaying in the clips...
by Descombes
20 Oct 2008, 13:29
Forum: Learning & Teaching Piano
Topic: teaching my 5 year old son to play the Piano advice
Replies: 42
Views: 50694

Hi Stuart He really sounds exceptional for a 5 year old: picking those tunes out and singing accurately! I'd suggest carrying on with what you are doing now, but perhaps going together to a local music shop (I'm not sure where you are) and looking for a beginners' piano book which catches his eye. (...
by Descombes
18 Oct 2008, 21:07
Forum: Learning & Teaching Piano
Topic: Piano lesson fees?
Replies: 51
Views: 66131

Hi Moonlight I was thinking about you before my rant about qualified teachers and so I was reluctant to have my say. I can see that there are people in your situation who, for whatever reason, cannot get lessons from a proper teacher. So yes, I agree that someone who can play the piano and can teach...
by Descombes
18 Oct 2008, 13:51
Forum: Learning & Teaching Piano
Topic: Piano lesson fees?
Replies: 51
Views: 66131

They may have the technique for Grade 6 but what about the other stuff; I wonder would a typical Grade 6 piano player be able to tell you about assessment techniques, target setting, short-term, medium term and long term planning, target setting, planning or assessment for learning? Even general ma...
by Descombes
17 Oct 2008, 19:09
Forum: Learning & Teaching Piano
Topic: Piano lesson fees?
Replies: 51
Views: 66131

Yeah, but If I find a nice teacher with say only grade 6 then theres still LOADS to learn from them until I reach that level. Gosh, if I were that level I would play Chopin every day! :wink: I know I've got to phrase this carefully if I am to avoid making some mystique out of the business of teachi...
by Descombes
16 Oct 2008, 18:00
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: Dettol advert
Replies: 7
Views: 9872

Dettol advert

I've just seen a TV advert for Dettol disinfectant spray. As a teacher I always shudder when I see a child sneezing all over the keyboard, but have never taken any action, apart from sitting well away from child and piano. In the advert, the concerned mother sprayed the Dettol all over the keys to k...
by Descombes
14 Oct 2008, 17:56
Forum: Learning & Teaching Piano
Topic: Piano lesson fees?
Replies: 51
Views: 66131

I agree that (certainly in this area) £30 an hour seems reasonable. To continue Joseph's comparisons, I recently broached the subject of Personal Training with one of the instructors at my local Gym. His rates were £30 an hour + travelling, which seemed about what I would expect. Then I thought abou...
by Descombes
14 Oct 2008, 16:47
Forum: Learning & Teaching Piano
Topic: Playing piano, with or without your watch on??
Replies: 24
Views: 19713

I take my watch off to practise, though it never causes problems when I perform with it on. I never wear rings, but I notice that some pianists seem to manage. It seems to me that they must get in the way! By coincidence a girl I was teaching this morning was wearing a ring on her 2nd finger. She ma...
by Descombes
14 Oct 2008, 04:10
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: Get Your Copy of 'Piano and Keyboard' in The Guardian
Replies: 31
Views: 22192

Oh.. and Chappells (no longer) of Bond Street. Openwood pauses and sighs longingly at the memory of the beautiful Yamaha S6 he tried in Chappells of No Longer Bond Street during the Easter break. Sigh...... Now that you are a part owner (as a taxpayer) of three big banks, I suggest you give yoursel...
by Descombes
13 Oct 2008, 21:33
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: Get Your Copy of 'Piano and Keyboard' in The Guardian
Replies: 31
Views: 22192

Thanks for that,PianoGuy. Not a part of London I ever travel to! The only piano shops I know in London are Steinways (because they're Steinways!), Morley's (because I used to live in S London and when I went in years ago to buy some music, they asked me if I'd like to try one of their Bosendorfers) ...
by Descombes
13 Oct 2008, 20:33
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: Get Your Copy of 'Piano and Keyboard' in The Guardian
Replies: 31
Views: 22192

On behalf of those who live outside London, could I ask "Who are Markson's"?
by Descombes
13 Oct 2008, 11:23
Forum: Learning & Teaching Piano
Topic: Teaching and developing a sense of rhythm
Replies: 24
Views: 18985

I was there in 1997 to 1998 - the year the drama and opera school did Benjamin Britten's opera A Midsummer Night's Dream (which started my love of opera!) Britten is certainly responsible for sparking off many people's interest in opera (and in music in general.) In my case it was a production of N...
by Descombes
13 Oct 2008, 10:23
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: Get Your Copy of 'Piano and Keyboard' in The Guardian
Replies: 31
Views: 22192

At first I was annoyed at myself at having missed these two supplements, but in hindsight it sounds like what I missed was more akin to the things you aim to miss when walking along the pavement ;) My copies of the two booklets are about to go in the Recycling Bin. If anyone missed them and would l...
by Descombes
12 Oct 2008, 11:54
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: Get Your Copy of 'Piano and Keyboard' in The Guardian
Replies: 31
Views: 22192

Well the 'Buying Guide' (shouldn't that be selling guide?) was a tribute to in-depth journalism! Apparently they rang the (seemingly independent) Piano Advisory Service who kindly recommended all the pianos sold in the Markson shop. The fact that the PAS is owned and run by Markson is, no doubt, sh...
by Descombes
11 Oct 2008, 23:38
Forum: Learning & Teaching Piano
Topic: Teaching and developing a sense of rhythm
Replies: 24
Views: 18985

As a primary school teacher, and given the commercial resources that are available to primary school teachers, it is fact that there is absolutely no reason why a "general primary school teacher" - whatever that means - can't teach music. Absolutely none whatsoever! Since realising that m...
by Descombes
11 Oct 2008, 23:25
Forum: Learning & Teaching Piano
Topic: Which music examinations board do you use?
Replies: 6
Views: 12478

I have not conducted a close comparison between the two, but I can offer some random thoughts and impressions. (I took AB exams as a child and I have always used their exams for my pupils. On the other hand I studied at Trinity and took their diplomas, so I have no axe to grind!) 1 AB have an establ...
by Descombes
09 Oct 2008, 17:30
Forum: Learning & Teaching Piano
Topic: Piano related tv programs or radio, notice board
Replies: 68
Views: 47846

Isn't there some sort of supplement on pianos being given away with the Guardian/Observer this weekend? I vaguely remember reading about it, but can't remember the details.
by Descombes
09 Oct 2008, 17:27
Forum: Learning & Teaching Piano
Topic: Teaching and developing a sense of rhythm
Replies: 24
Views: 18985

This is no help to Mrs Brum, but people who have had a good musical education in their first decade have no problems with this sort of thing. Let's get real music specialists back into Primary Schools and get rid of the claim that general teachers can teach music!! People like Kodaly and Curwen knew...
by Descombes
08 Oct 2008, 06:42
Forum: Learning & Teaching Piano
Topic: Easy Classical pieces for beginners
Replies: 51
Views: 39298

of course sight reading can be taught. and here is another bomb for you all - I think perfect pitch is something that most people have potential for and can be developed. Have a wee discussion on it and i'll put my two pence in later :P I completely understand all joseph's points in favour of perfe...
by Descombes
07 Oct 2008, 06:04
Forum: Learning & Teaching Piano
Topic: Easy Classical pieces for beginners
Replies: 51
Views: 39298

of course sight reading can be taught. and here is another bomb for you all - I think perfect pitch is something that most people have potential for and can be developed. Have a wee discussion on it and i'll put my two pence in later :P Is perfect pitch a desirable/useful thing to have? It's always...
by Descombes
05 Oct 2008, 22:37
Forum: Learning & Teaching Piano
Topic: Easy Classical pieces for beginners
Replies: 51
Views: 39298

Paul Harris' sight-reading books are very good aren't they? I think they are a must-have for piano students throughout the Grade range. Very good material indeed!! Exactly! He treats Sight Reading as something which can be learnt, by gradually increasing the level of difficulty. In the old days the...
by Descombes
05 Oct 2008, 22:33
Forum: Learning & Teaching Piano
Topic: Easy Classical pieces for beginners
Replies: 51
Views: 39298

I know that the Prelude is from The Well Tempered Clavier but not sure which book. It isn't hard to play because it is largely based on broken chords and arpeggios. I was able to sight-read it never mind play it when I was at Grade 1 so I'm sure you'll be fine. It's Book 1. After No 1 they get hard...
by Descombes
05 Oct 2008, 22:21
Forum: Learning & Teaching Piano
Topic: Easy Classical pieces for beginners
Replies: 51
Views: 39298

Thank you Descombes for the name of the sight reading book, I will need to have a look at it next time I'm in a music shop. The only sight reading book I have is the ABRSM Grade 1 Sight reading Specimens for 2009, that I occasionally try to test myself with but always take longer the half a minute ...
by Descombes
05 Oct 2008, 15:50
Forum: Learning & Teaching Piano
Topic: Teaching Style
Replies: 22
Views: 23169

I feel that if you can teach at any level, you should be able to teach child beginners. Perhaps you agree. The reason I say this is because that is where you have to be a real communicator. You have to explain everything in terms that they will understand, they probably wont be able to read words a...
by Descombes
05 Oct 2008, 06:59
Forum: Learning & Teaching Piano
Topic: Easy Classical pieces for beginners
Replies: 51
Views: 39298

and to improve my sight reading, as its rubbish. If you want to improve your sight-reading (and who doesn't?), playing as much varied music as possible is invaluable. However, in addition to that, you should work through a progressive sight reading course. The most useful is Paul Harris's Improve y...
by Descombes
04 Oct 2008, 20:41
Forum: Learning & Teaching Piano
Topic: Easy Classical pieces for beginners
Replies: 51
Views: 39298

Re: Easy Pieces

Hi there Moonlight It sounds like we're at a similar level. I've just learnt Bach's Prelude No.1 in C Major which might be the one you're referring to. It's a lovely piece and not too difficult and is also great for warming up. Good luck! I think the title to this thread needs some second thoughts....
by Descombes
02 Oct 2008, 19:19
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: Eavestaff Mini-piano: How good are they?
Replies: 24
Views: 36390

Just make sure you change it as soon as you are sure hes going to carry on with the piano as an honest point of view from a tech and probably most teachers is they are grotty pianos. I did think about making this statement but decided that its more patronising to be nice about it than to tell you t...
by Descombes
02 Oct 2008, 15:51
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: Eavestaff Mini-piano: How good are they?
Replies: 24
Views: 36390

Re: I've just bought an evestaff minipiano

Thanks for the reply. I will pluck up courage to approach someone soon. The piano is for my young son who is 7, he is well pleased with it so that is the main thing. I am sure he will be thrilled. The piano I started on cost £5 (some decades ago!), but I thought it was wonderful. It took me up to a...
by Descombes
28 Sep 2008, 12:46
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: Bluthner Model A
Replies: 57
Views: 52360

It's a Bluthner A! With gorgeous mahogany colouring and weighing in at just 225kg! . I think that's a really good decision. I had refrained from commenting before, since it's difficult to judge without seeing the pianos and knowing the prospective owner; but, as I see it, there is a huge gulf betwe...
by Descombes
08 Sep 2008, 20:48
Forum: Learning & Teaching Piano
Topic: Finger Strengthening
Replies: 37
Views: 33484

Others may have different views, but the book I consider to be the basic Hanon is called "The Virtuoso Pianist" in 60 Exercises. It's the one with those endless 8 note patterns, repeated a note higher each bar for 2 octaves, then going down again. Wonderful pedantic instructions to read as...
by Descombes
08 Sep 2008, 18:54
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: KAWAI PIANOS
Replies: 14
Views: 18172

I'm not a technician, but I am sure that the answer is to play it as much as you can. I'm sure that the voicing, etc are done as the piano settles down; and it settles down by being played. A piano is there to be played and it must be awful avoiding doing so. I'm sure that there's no problem in play...
by Descombes
08 Sep 2008, 18:48
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: Charges for use of facilities
Replies: 38
Views: 29691

I was really sorry to hear that, Joseph. I know of schools where that has been discussed, but I did not know it was happening as much as it seems to be. I am fortunate to be in a school (independent) where we are employed and have just been given new contracts. Holiday pay, NI, pension contributions...
by Descombes
06 Sep 2008, 12:46
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: Charges for use of facilities
Replies: 38
Views: 29691

Whatever they charge it's better than having sticky fingers on my piano and muddy shoes on my carpet. There are also legal implications these days if you teach at home. (Criminal records checks, insurance against accidents on your premises, etc.) The little old ladies who used to charge half a crown...
by Descombes
06 Sep 2008, 00:00
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: Charges for use of facilities
Replies: 38
Views: 29691

Re: Charges for use of facilities

Hi I've recently started working at a private school and they want to start charging a percentage or termly rental for use of the facilities. Can anyone give me an idea of what amount would be considered fair, both for a percentage of earnings or for a termly rental? I would suggest taking this up ...
by Descombes
02 Sep 2008, 19:20
Forum: Learning & Teaching Piano
Topic: Adult Beginner
Replies: 28
Views: 25073

I'm looking at the music for Fur Elise right now and cannot make up my mind whether I'm looking at Ties or Phrasemarks based on what yourself and Dave have said. . If the curved line is between two notes (or more) of the SAME pitch, it's a tie, so you only play the first one and just hold the note ...
by Descombes
01 Sep 2008, 17:04
Forum: Learning & Teaching Piano
Topic: Advice for 11 year old beginners please :)
Replies: 6
Views: 9652

Piano Lessons by Fanny Waterman and Marion Harewood is a good reliable book - if a little staid. I'm noticing a lot of Pauline Hall books as I go around tuning, and kids seem to enjoy the pieces, and are eager to show me what they're playing. It's quite jolly stuff, jazzy mixed with classics. The W...
by Descombes
30 Aug 2008, 22:21
Forum: Learning & Teaching Piano
Topic: Adult Beginner
Replies: 28
Views: 25073

I'm sure a conscientious adult could cope with the rhythmic complexities you mention. When I say "bad habits" I'm really thinking about things like hand positions, fingers, relaxation - all the muscular things which are difficult to get right without 1-to-1 supervision. If you get these th...
by Descombes
30 Aug 2008, 20:44
Forum: Learning & Teaching Piano
Topic: Adult Beginner
Replies: 28
Views: 25073

46 is one of the numbers which appears on a traditional metronome ;45 does not. I'm sure that's the only reason. To be honest, I've never looked closely at the speeds given for scales, arpeggios, etc; I'm sure they're only suggestions. I find that each pupil finds a comfortable speed, which is in ac...
by Descombes
29 Aug 2008, 22:24
Forum: Learning & Teaching Piano
Topic: What are we all learning to play at the moment?
Replies: 50
Views: 42056

Why isn't playing the piano like reading a book? You can pick up any book and read it aloud straight away. Even with a really easy piano piece, I have to play it over and over again to get anywhere! Have you forgotten those years between the ages of perhaps 2 and 11, when you were developing the sk...
by Descombes
21 Aug 2008, 07:05
Forum: Learning & Teaching Piano
Topic: How important is using a metronome and at what stage?
Replies: 9
Views: 14442

My traditional Wittner metronome is still working well after over 40 years' use. I wonder whether the current crop of electronic versions will last as long! I don't suppose I've used the bell for years, (it is easy to switch off) but it was useful when I was a student. Personally I did not use a met...
by Descombes
15 Aug 2008, 18:28
Forum: Learning & Teaching Piano
Topic: Nightmare Exam Experiences
Replies: 5
Views: 9278

I just remember the fearsome elderly lady who always acted as the Steward in the public centre. She spoke about "The Examiner" in such hushed, reverential tones that she really gave the impression that he had descended from Heaven for the day, rather than popping down the A40 from London. ...
by Descombes
15 Aug 2008, 17:38
Forum: Learning & Teaching Piano
Topic: 2009 Grade 1 pieces
Replies: 119
Views: 65129

While I agree that copying the performance, bar-for-bar on the CD is largely pointless, boycotting CDs, to me, sounds extreme. I've nothing against CDs; just CDs whose sole purpose is to play exam pieces. If you're learning a Beethoven Sonata for an exam, listen to various CDs to see how great play...