By Cynthia Marie VanLandingham
Over the past few years, new technology has arrived that has revolutionized the way that many of us listen to music. Instead of carrying around compact disks or (perish the thought) vinyl LPs, music fans now often listen to mp3 files that they have loaded onto their laptop computers, I-pods, and even cell phones. This technology is also a powerful tool that can add a new dimension to piano lessons and make them more rewarding, productive, and fun for students and their families.
We all know that sports coaches have used technology for many years. Coaches have videotaped and analyzed football plays, used high-speed cameras to help gymnasts learn new routines, and have even filmed golfers to help them overcome that nasty slide. Piano teachers can use the new audio technology in similar ways.
In my studio, students can use digital pianos to record the songs they are playing. We can then play the songs back and review whether they hit all the right notes, used a consistent tempo, and captured the emotion in the piece. This often allows students to quickly identify how they can improve their playing, and makes instructions like “make sure to keep the tempo and count the rhythm through this difficult section” come to life. It also provides a powerful incentive for students to do their best and to use their creativity to express their music in an artistic way. They can hear each recording and decide whether to try it again to play it better. This encourages students to persevere and master difficult pieces, and gives them something to look forward to – a refined product and a little bit of fame. Often, students come to the studio saying “I’ve learned my new song and I’m ready to record it!”
Once students record their songs, I can convert them to an mp3 file that we post to the studio website on their personal webpage listed at www.TallyPiano.com/students.htm. Plus, I also publish their piano recordings on my studio podcast at iTunes where they can download them free for their iPods at My TallyPiano Adventure Club Music After downloading the iTunes Software to their computers, this allows students to subscribe to my studio podcast and share their music with their families and friends.
Podcasting is particularly great for grandparents and other relatives who live far away from the students and who generally only get a chance to hear them play during visits or recitals. Students and their families enjoy downloading their songs to their home computers and mp3 players and playing them on their I-pods and car stereos. Students enrolled at my studio benefit from this technology to help them achieve their best in piano while having more fun! You can visit our Kids Piano Page for examples of children achieving innovative piano goals that take advantage of today's technology.
Teachers, parents, students and music organizations, learn how to award your piano students by enrolling them in the My Piano Adventure Club where they'll enjoy the benefits of this exciting program!
Please click on the heart to enjoy my piano recording of Mozart's Rondo ala Turca.
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Posted by: Matsue | September 26, 2007 at 11:37 PM