Over the past few years, new technology has arrived that has revolutionized the way many of us listen to music. Instead of carrying around compact disks or (perish the thought) vinyl LPs, music fans now listen to mp3 files 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 they can share with their friends and family. 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 convert them to an mp3 file and post them to their On-line Musical Memory Book at MyPianoClub.com I also publish their piano recordings to our studio podcast on iTunes, where they can download them free for their iPods or Mp3 players by typing My Tally Piano Music Club in the search bar at iTunes.com. With the iTunes Software on their computers, students subscribe to my studio podcast and share their music with their families and friends anywhere in the world. Podcasting is particularly great for grandparents and other relatives who may live far away from students and may only get a chance to hear them play during visits or recitals. I love doing this for my students and their families.
For information on the benefits of piano lessons for children, read my earlier post, How Piano Lessons Benefit Young Children.
Don’t Wait to Begin Piano Lessons!
Best Wishes,
Cynthia Marie VanLandingham
