Tag: piano practice

beginner tutorial, Music Lessons, piano lessons, piano practice, piano teacher, Uncategorized

Application of math in music and a free resource!

lizteachespiano

The application of math in music is a simple one, as music and mathematics share a strong connection, often revealed through the concept of note values. At their core, both disciplines explore patterns, ratios, and structures, making the relationship essential to musical composition and theory.

Note Values Explained

In music, note values determine the duration of a sound. Semibreves (whole note), Minims (half note), quavers (eighth note), and so on, each have a specific value that relates to a common beat. 

For example, a whole note (semibreve)  lasts four beats, while a half note (minim) lasts two. This hierarchical system can be expressed mathematically; a whole note can be seen as the sum of two half notes, or four quarter notes, illustrating how musical time is subdivided. Good fraction practice!

Rhythm and Time Signatures

Rhythm is another area where math shines. Musical beats are divided into fractions, giving rise to the note values like whole, half, and quarter notes. Time signatures, such as 4/4 or 3/4, dictate how these beats are grouped, creating a mathematical framework for rhythm. This structure allows musicians to create complex patterns that are both engaging and logical. 

Application of Mathematical concepts

Composing music involves mathematical thinking—understanding scales, intervals, and time signatures all require a grasp of mathematical principles. This real-world application can make abstract math concepts more relatable and easier to understand.

Enhancing problem solving skills

Musical improvisation encourages creative problem-solving. This flexibility in thinking can translate to math, where finding multiple solutions to a problem is often beneficial.

The application of math in music not only enriches the learning experience but also bridges the gap between the two disciplines, fostering a deeper appreciation and understanding of both.

I’ve created a simple music math worksheet you can download by going to my Free music resource page. This is a math and music worksheet for people new to music values, incorporating both addition and subtraction. I hope this helps you teach or learn an introduction to music values! Thanks for reading!

beginner tutorial, learning environment, Music Lessons, piano lessons, piano performance, piano practice, piano teacher, singing lessons, Singing teacher, Uncategorized

Get prepared and stay organised! Your music teacher checklist

lizteachespiano

As a music teacher preparing for the back-to-school season (or maybe you are starting this semester!) you’ll need a variety of resources that can help you organize your lessons, engage your students, and enhance your teaching.

Here are some valuable resources I have discovered across different categories which I have put together into a music teacher checklist available to download in this blog!

Your music teacher checklist, Lesson Planning and Organization

You will need some sort of planner. Now, personally I like to have a notebook AND digital notes- I use a notebook often for when I travel, and for planning child lessons, and I use digital for when I am teaching from home, or teach adults.

I use Microsoft OneNote because I already had it, and I like that I can just write on my laptop like a tablet, then email the notes to my student after the lesson.

For students: If you are a student reading my blog, don’t worry I haven’t forgotten you! A lot of these resources could also work for a student taking the leap with piano lessons or other music lessons too!

Music practice notebook : this little book has a space for teachers, and parents to write notes- and at the bottom gives a tip for practice that week!

I created “Your music teacher checklist”: available to download for free here!

Teaching Materials and Sheet Music

These are the most important things for teaching music. Figure out the payment systems, and scheduling later, because without teaching materials, you will struggle to teach. It is also important to remember: you will build these up gradually. Take it step by step and don’t buy everything at once: Firstly because if you buy a lot of things which turn out to be not useful, you’ve made a loss, and secondly because your teaching path may go down a different route than you first anticipate.

You will probably want:

Music books

  • Music books: just get a few to start with- I like Piano Time books by Pauline Hall, and also the Faber piano adventures look clear and structured.
  • Duet music book: I have found that duets are great for sight reading (both yours and students!) and is a way to help your student build confidence in playing music. Plus, it shows music can be fun (its always quite fun for a student to see if you make a mistake, and its rewarding when you play the finished piece together.)
  • Music Theory resources, which follows nicely to:

Supplementary Materials

Worksheets and Printables:

  • Teach piano today: A very useful resource.
  • Flashcards: You can easily make some. Also Musical snap is very popular with my students. You will need some sort of musical game, because learning a skill is tiriing, and it is nice for you and the student to keep it fresh and fun. Google and you will be amazed the free resources on offer!
  • Making Music Fun: Offers a variety of printable music theory worksheets and activities.

Games and Activities:

  • Teach Piano Today’s WunderKeys: A program with fun, game-based learning for young beginners.

Technology

Use technology. Even if it sounds scary- there really are an abundance of resources online and you can also find out lots of things about how to improve your teaching, and different learning techniques etc etc.

Digital Tools:

  • Online Music: musicnotes.com is useful, but I am sure there are others!
  • Online music notation software that allows you to create and share sheet music. I like Noteflight
  • Stand for a camera or phone so you can record you playing a scale, or a section of music to send to your student.
  • Consider providing students with recordings of their playing, which can be a valuable teaching tool.
  • Spotify: to listen to songs your students like and you can try to transpose!

I hope the ” Music teacher checklist” resource I have created can help you get started for the new semester! You can download below:

Music-Teacher-ChecklistDownload
learning environment, Music Lessons, piano lessons, piano performance, piano practice, piano teacher, singing lessons, Singing teacher, Uncategorized

Music Activities for Piano Students During the Summer.

lizteachespiano

Plus a free resource!

The Importance of Music Activities for Piano Students During the Summer.

Summer break offers a great opportunity for piano students to deepen their musical skills, explore new avenues of their talent, and maintain their progress. While the school year is often packed with structured lessons and practice schedules, the summer months can be a time for creativity, exploration, and enrichment through various music activities.

Here are several reasons why engaging in music activities during the summer is crucial for piano students:

Preventing Skill Regression

One of the primary reasons for maintaining music activities over the summer is to prevent the loss of skills. Extended breaks without practice can lead to a decline in technical proficiency and musicality, which can then lead to a lack of interest. Regular engagement in music activities helps ensure that students retain their abilities and hopefully want to continue music lessons with you next semester!

Creative Freedom and Improvisation

During the summer, the pressure of recitals and exams is often lifted, allowing students more musical freedom. This is an ideal time for them to experiment with improvisation and composition. These activities can enhance their understanding of music theory, boost their creativity, and increase their confidence in playing.

Fostering a Lifelong Love of Music

Engaging in music activities during the summer can help foster a lifelong love of music. When students associate music with fun and exploration, they are more likely to continue playing and enjoying music throughout their lives. Summer activities that blend learning with enjoyment can help create a lasting passion for piano and music in general.

What musical activities can students do in the summer?

Attend a concert!

Concerts provide music students an opportunity to witness professional musicians at work. Observing high-level performances can be very inspiring for students to elevate their own playing standards. If I have a live show, I will often invite my students to come and watch, as live music has a unique way of inspiring and motivating students. If you’re local, be sure to check my events page 🙂

Learning Music Technology

The summer break is an excellent time for students to delve into music technology. Learning to use music software, recording techniques, and even basic sound engineering can be both fun and educational. These skills are increasingly important in the modern music landscape and can add a new dimension to a student’s musical toolkit. Even something as simple as your student video calling a relative and performing for them can count!

How can you as a music educator help your students with summer practice?

Prepare

Keep in mind when your students last lesson is before summer and make sure you give them some music to work on which you have worked on in lesson- something new and complicated will not keep that music passion going, only cause frustration!

Save time to thank your students and parents at the end of the lesson for their time.

Learning a skill requires dedication and commitment- as well as giving your students instructions as to what to work on during the summer, be sure to acknowledge that.

Give them a summer activity!

Give your students a simple summer activity related to music which they can work on throughout the summer. Keep in mind that some students will be travelling and not have access to a piano. This is why I have created a Music Bingo worksheet! There are others around, but I have come up with some of my favourite ideas, a mixture of practice and enrichment to keep students engaged in the summer months. Of course they do not have to complete every activity, but its great if they do!

Music-BingoDownload Music bingo here!

Thanks for reading! 🌞😎

beginner tutorial, learning environment, Music Lessons, music performance, music production, piano lessons, piano performance, piano practice, piano teacher, singing lessons, Singing teacher, Uncategorized

ASIO4ALL: A Simple Guide

lizteachespiano

If you’re like me and have a basic computer but make music, latency (the delay between input and output) and crackles in sound can be a real issue!

ASIO4ALL helps reduce latency, and interference, ensuring smooth and real-time audio processing.

This ASIO4ALL: A Simple Guide is for people – like me- who had no idea where to start on their music production journey.

What is ASIO4ALL?

ASIO4ALL is a low latency audio driver for Windows. It’s designed to work with pretty much any audio interface and sound card, providing a simple solution for musicians and audio engineers seeking decent audio without expensive dedicated hardware. It bypasses the windows audio system when working in your DAW, but don’t worry, you can easily go back to your regular windows system when you want to listen to music, and videos etc.

This ASIO4ALL: A Simple Guide is for people – like me- who had no idea where to start on this music production journey. Keep in mind this is just my opinion– I am not very experienced, but I have found ASIO4ALL to be a useful tool on my quest to produce and record my own music.

Be sure to do your own research of it, and other audio drivers and software to see what would be best for what you want to achieve.

How to find ASIO4ALL

Step 1: Download and Install

  1. Download ASIO4ALL: Visit the official ASIO4ALL website. Please research and download the legitimate driver.
  2. Install ASIO4ALL: Run the installer and follow the on-screen instructions. It’s a straightforward process.

Step 2: Configure ASIO4ALL

  1. Launch your DAW (Digital Audio Workstation): Open your preferred DAW. (see my blog on what a DAW is if unsure!)
  2. Select ASIO4ALL as your audio driver:
    • Navigate to the audio settings/preferences in your DAW.
    • Choose ASIO as your audio device type.
    • Select ASIO4ALL as your driver.
A simple guide of how ASIO4ALL will come up in a DAW.
You can select and deselect ASIO4All as you please, but once installed it will probably come up automatically as the sound for your DAW.

Step 3: The settings- This is where it can get a bit complicated- hold on I will try to help!

  1. Open ASIO4ALL Control Panel:
In Ableton I go to the top right of the screen to get this menu.
  1. Configure Audio Inputs and Outputs:
    • Ensure the correct inputs and outputs are enabled. This might require some trial and error depending on your setup. This for me, has been crucial in getting better sound quality. The less inputs and outputs I have on whilst recording audio the better. I turn off outputs because I just want to record music into my computer- and its not powerful enough to cope with a lot of things running if I want a clear recording with no latency. I turn the outputs I need back on again after recording the audio. MIDI files do not make my computer work so hard, so this is only fiddly when recording audio.
  1. Adjust Buffer Size:
    • The buffer size setting affects latency. Lower buffer sizes reduce latency but may cause audio dropouts if your system can’t handle it. Find a balance that works for your setup. Use the test sound button to hear how it will sound.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

  • No Sound? Check that the correct audio outputs are enabled in the ASIO4ALL control panel. I usually use my 2nd output as this is for headphones or my speaker, and just keep the main output off for music making, regardless of audio or MIDI. Remember- whilst recording you don’t want to hear anything- anything you hear, will interfere with the sound going IN.
  • Audio Dropouts? Increase the buffer size or close other running applications to free up CPU resources.

Limitations:

  • Can be complex: While ASIO4ALL is powerful, it can sometimes be complex to configure correctly, especially for users unfamiliar with audio settings and terminology.
  • Variable Performance: The performance of ASIO4ALL can vary depending on the hardware and software environment. Users might need to experiment with different settings to achieve optimal results.
  • My solutions will not be good enough if you do this as a full time professional: but if you do, then you probably have a way better computer and sound system than me anyway.

Conclusion:

I hope my ASIO4ALL: A Simple Guide has helped with your sound problems! ASIO4ALL is a useful tool for Windows users who need low-latency audio performance but do not have access to professional-grade sound cards. By providing a bridge between consumer-grade audio hardware and professional audio software, ASIO4ALL enables a wide range of users to achieve better audio performance and stability.

Music Lessons, music performance, piano lessons, piano performance, piano practice, piano teacher, Uncategorized

The benefits of sight reading and how to get better at it.

lizteachespiano

Plus a free resource!

The Benefits of Sight Reading Music

Sight reading is being able to play a piece of music without having seen it before. There is no denying that sight reading is one of the most useful skills you can acquire when learning to play music. Ultimately, you want to be able to play music by yourself, not just with your teacher sat next to you. Although, be aware that sight reading is no substitution for lessons in your instrument and learning how to play holistically.

Sight reading has always been personally one of my own biggest challenges, and something I continue to work on! However, I know that sight reading music is an invaluable skill for musicians of all levels and instruments. To name a few of the skills acquired:

  • Improved Musicianship: Sight reading enhances your overall musicianship by improving your ability to understand and interpret new music quickly. This can also be very useful if you want to play music with other people.
  • Better Timing and Rhythm: Regular sight reading practice helps develop a stronger sense of timing and rhythm, as you must keep playing without stopping to correct mistakes.
  • Increased Versatility: Being able to sight read well allows you to play a wider variety of music.

How to Start Sight Reading Music?

Starting to sight read independently can seem daunting, particularly because you may feel like you do not know if you played the music correctly! With a structured approach, and some initial training during lessons, it becomes manageable and rewarding.

Here’s a quick guide to practicing at home:

🎵Learn the Basics: Ensure you have a simple knowledge of musical notation and rests. As the complexity grows, you will also need an understanding of time signatures, key signatures, and dynamics. Your teacher will be able to help you start sight reading in lessons, and build your confidence and knowledge (they can also tell you if you played the piece correctly! )

🎵Start Simple: Begin with simple pieces at a slow tempo. Children’s music books or beginner-level pieces are excellent starting points. An idea I recommend when first starting is to play a song you know. This will take away the worry of knowing if it is correct, and feel rewarding when it sounds how it should. I’ve created a very simple version of “Hot cross buns” which has simple notes and rhythms, and repetition to reinforce note learning. You can find it here, the first free resource in my free resources section!

🎵Another Idea: Practice with a metronome to maintain a steady tempo. Start slow and gradually increase the speed as you become more comfortable. I mention just as an idea because playing with a little “tick tock” can stress some people out, but if you can persevere, it can really make you KEEP MOVING WITH THE BEAT which is one of the most key skills to build up in music learning (many mistakes have been minimised this way in my experience!)

🎵Read Ahead: Train your eyes to look a few notes ahead while playing. This helps in anticipating what’s coming next and improves fluidity.

🎵Daily Practice: Make sight reading a part of your daily practice routine, even if it’s just for a few minutes. Consistency is key to improvement.

🎵Challenge Yourself: Gradually increase the complexity of the music you sight read. This could include pieces with more intricate rhythms, key changes, and various dynamics. If you are unsure how to work out which music will be suitable for you in increasing difficulty, ask you teacher.

In the end, the benefits of sight reading will outweigh the struggles with it.

    Sight reading is a skill that pays off in many ways, making you a more versatile and confident musician. With regular practice, input from your teacher and a step-by-step approach, you’ll find yourself sight reading with ease and enjoyment.