I truly believe we are all created in a way that lets us be whoever we want to be. And when we delve into how we work we discover exactly who we are capable of becoming. Let's do this!
-Michelle, studio instructor
Mission: To help students on their journey by putting their goals first. Focus on overall musicianship with repertoire (solos), theory, technique, improvisation, sight reading, and ear training; students may also learn to compose, transpose, or score read.
Makes piano as easy as possible by finding patterns in music for note-reading/memorization and helping students understand how they move to get the sound they want--more efficient than simply clicking up the metronome speed. Enables students to practice effectively on their own and find their own confidence by helping them find the answers to their questions; encouraging with specific feedback; and helping students see how advanced they're becoming.
Makes piano as easy as possible by finding patterns in music for note-reading/memorization and helping students understand how they move to get the sound they want--more efficient than simply clicking up the metronome speed. Enables students to practice effectively on their own and find their own confidence by helping them find the answers to their questions; encouraging with specific feedback; and helping students see how advanced they're becoming.
HOW WE WORK
Repertoire
Students can learn to play whatever genre they like at a level slightly above the one they're on, working in their "zone of proximal development," to borrow an educational term: basically, their ideal amount of being stretched while maintaining a feeling of achievement. Most of the real technique of learning to move at the piano is done here.
Theory
Theory is the "building blocks" of music, and a fundamental way we make pieces easier to learn. Students learn theory along with technique, supplemented by recommended YouTube videos and handouts to make concepts easier to understand.
Technique
The purpose of traditional technique--scales, arpeggios, chords, etc.--is to build a toolkit of chunks of information we can apply to pieces. Students learn the theory behind their technical exercises to make them meaningful, rather than just the most boring thing they have to practice. Technical exercises are carefully chosen and leveled for optimal learning.
Method books
For many students, having a method series to work semi-independently in provides an opportunity to apply concepts learned in lessons in their own way as well as give yet another opportunity for the "chunking" of information. Since students learn method pieces so quickly, it also provides an opportunity for developing "self-efficacy," where students believe they can accomplish their goals.
Students are assigned method books based on their needs. Piano Safari, an imaginative method geared toward how young children learn, works for 4-6 year olds; Faber Piano Adventures provides a layout of patterns and easy achievement for most beginners; and Czerny, an older traditional method, provides the best basis for learning patterns and applying advanced techniques for the intermediate student. Advanced students may also work with Czerny if they wish.
Students are assigned method books based on their needs. Piano Safari, an imaginative method geared toward how young children learn, works for 4-6 year olds; Faber Piano Adventures provides a layout of patterns and easy achievement for most beginners; and Czerny, an older traditional method, provides the best basis for learning patterns and applying advanced techniques for the intermediate student. Advanced students may also work with Czerny if they wish.
Improvisation
Students improvise to allow for increased creativity. It's also a way to reinforce awareness of theory and how they're moving to create sound, as their improvisation challenge for the week goes with what was learned in their lesson.
Sight reading
Four Star sight reading books provide a basis for rhythmic and melodic patterns to be learned and recognized. These patterns, along with music theory, soon go beyond intervallic reading (reading by interval, though we do that too) to make for "chunking" information as we read music and a much easier experience than reading each individual note.
For the young beginner, Piano Safari makes a sight reading program to go along with their lesson books.
For the young beginner, Piano Safari makes a sight reading program to go along with their lesson books.
Ear training
Students may learn ear training along with their sight reading, in separate exercises, or both. Through ear training, students learn "audiation," the ability to hear in their head how they want things to sound: an opening of the doors to artistry, and what the Gordon Institute of Music Learning calls "the foundation of musicianship."
Beyond traditional technique
Students sometimes wonder why they can't seem to hit the right notes when they've never stopped to figure out how they're moving to that note. We play piano with our whole body, so expanding awareness of how we move at the piano increases accuracy and comfort. Students learn to relax and free their playing. This is facilitated by learning what inside of you actually does what (there actually aren't any muscles in the fingers, contrary to what Hanon preached; even though our fingers are different lengths, their natural relaxed position is perfect for resting on piano keys and facilitates playing with the greatest ease; the shoulder joint is not a ball-and-socket joint and allows for a wonderful range of motion which equals freedom for greater artistry; and more surprises): this is where students learn we are ALL MADE TO PLAY PIANO!
Mindset matters
Relaxing physically is made easier by first relaxing mentally. Students learn to reset after making mistakes or during an off practice session; address problems while practicing in a productive rather than "I just can't do this" manner; and perform even with people watching.
Behind-the-scenes
Instructor Michelle Hylton seeks to stay up-to-date on pedagogical trends.
- Does not try to adapt to students' individual learning styles (visual, aural, kinesthetic), as literature has shown the most effective approach is to use multiple means to address the same concept
- Does adapt to individual personalities and goals
- Uses techniques such as guided questioning to help students find their own answers
- Believes the most motivating factor for students is them realizing what is possible, and sets up situations for experiencing success in lessons so practice is more looked forward to
I have seen a great change in my tween daughter’s attitude toward piano lessons since she started with Michelle. She used to take lessons because I made her. Now she takes—and practices!—because she wants to.
-Gail S., working mom and relieved piano parent