01 Nov 2021
By Shelly Davis
PPP265: You Know More Than You Think You Know with Christopher Oill

PPP265: You Know More Than You Think You Know with Christopher Oill

Podcast, Teacher Interviews, ,
Christopher Oill is a concert pianist, composer, and teacher, who leads performance and pedagogy into the future, perfecting “what is” and experimenting with “what could be.” Through his teaching business, the Oill Piano Universe, he helps open up the minds of creative musicians around the world, and he gives them the tools to succeed in their own niche way. In addition to teaching, he also assists in production work for the Faber Piano Adventures and publishes pedagogical piano music through the FJH Music Company, inc. His piano compositions have been described as “unique” and “refreshing,” so they make a nice…
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12 Oct 2020
By Shelly Davis
PPP212: The Importance of Note Values – Musical Speech Patterns

PPP212: The Importance of Note Values – Musical Speech Patterns

Music Theory, Podcast, , ,
You may have heard the expression that music is the universal language. I agree. There is an article on Psychologytoday.com that goes into greater detail about what comprises language. I'll link it in the show notes for you. Listen to the full episode here I often equate music reading to reading a book; young students learning to read music is similar to learning to read words. Music is called a language, rightly so. It uses all the elements of language We first become acquainted with the alphabet and what the letters look like. We start to associate a sound with…
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13 Jan 2020
By Shelly Davis
PPP175: Student Case Study: Ray, one-year anniversary

PPP175: Student Case Study: Ray, one-year anniversary

Podcast, , , , , , ,
About a year ago, in episode 135, I introduced you to Ray (not his real name), a brand new student in my studio. Since then, in each episode ending in 5, I've given you an update on how Ray is progressing in his lessons and the things I'm learning as I work with him. In today's episode, we continue the journey as I share some of Ray's goals for the upcoming semester. Listen to the full episode here Making a lateral shift to keep him playing but not necessarily advancing in the method books. As I expected, Ray has rapidly…
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21 Oct 2019
By Shelly Davis
PPP165: Student Case Study, Ray, Chapter 4

PPP165: Student Case Study, Ray, Chapter 4

Podcast, Practicing and Motivation, , , , , , , ,
In these episodes  which end with five (155, 145, 135) we are following the journey of a typical student as he learns to read music and play the piano. This student, I'm calling him Ray, began lessons with me in January of 2019. His older brothers studied with me a few years ago and I am delighted to be working with him.When we last shared Ray's story, he had just begun learning the pieces in the Piano Adventures Method book 2A. Listen to the full episode here Lesson 10 Ray has been eager to get to the Level 2B book,…
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29 Oct 2018
By Shelly Davis
PPP116: How to Change Major to Minor

PPP116: How to Change Major to Minor

Music Theory, Podcast, Practice Challenge, , , , ,
 Happy Halloween! No matter what you choose to do with this holiday, there is no denying that a lot of music we hear this time of year tends to have a more creepy, spooky spin on it and it seems like that’s what I enjoy talking about on the podcast. Last year I talked about how young children tend to respond to music in a minor key. Episode 066 was about the powerful effect music can have on our emotions.I also interviewed Marcia Vahl (like wall), president of the Minnesota Music Teachers Association, in episode 067. On the episode, Marcia…
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