1.  Technique and Artistry:  You Can’t Have One Without the Other – how to master technical skills and how to implement them to make the playing of the music more beautiful, fluid, artistic and simultaneously maintain relaxed physicality. 

2. The Magic of Imagery: Unlocking Creative Potential – how using imagery can inspire us as teachers and inspire our students  to connect to the emotional and expressive character of the music as well as being more confident and intuitive interpreters. 

Presenter: Catherine Rollin

Date: Wednesday, February 14th, 2024

Time: 10 am

Zoom Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88636307163?pwd=1E68ToNOB52owB9YXZbHBeqDEDEgSR.1

By Dr. Svetlana Belsky

Date: Wednesday, February 8, 2023

Time: 10 am

Zoom Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84200630766?pwd=UlNGRGdydlBpQXVTOUh0K3ZMZHVnZz09

“Bach’s 18 Little Preludes, too rarely taught and performed, offer an unparalleled window into Bach’s own pedagogy.  While Inventions and Sinfonias teach the contrapuntal style and compositional techniques, the Preludes concern themselves with expressive playing. Each one focuses on a specific challenge of technique, touch, style, or character – in a setting so beautiful that the students are meant to enjoy the struggle, as they prepare to tackle the great masterpieces of the Baroque Era.”

Date: Wednesday, January 11, 2023

Time: 10 am

Presenter: Nicola Cantan

Zoom link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0rcO2qrzgoG9yCMTqCYFO6n34Kh6DId-hb

Interleaved Teaching: Taking Practice and Lessons to the Next Level

Teaching this way so that our teaching can also be more efficient and so that our students can learn interleaved practice by osmosis.
The concept of interleaved teaching is really very simple, but it can provide extraordinary results for students in so many areas such as: reading, rote learning, and technique. In this workshop, we’ll discuss the benefits of interleaved teaching and practice.

Move it or lose it! 17 Easy Strategies for Rock Solid Rhythm Skills

The nitty gritty of teaching and what the students consistently struggle with, rhythm is a common topic of much agitation and exasperation. In this interactive session, we’ll play 17 different rhythm games that can be used with students of all ages and levels. 

Bio

Nicola Cantan is a piano teacher, author, blogger and creator of imaginative and engaging teaching resources. She loves getting piano students learning through laughter, and exploring the diverse world of music making; through improvisation, composition and games. 

Nicola’s membership site Vibrant Music Teaching is helping teachers all over the world to include more games and off-bench activities in their lessons, so that their students giggle their way through music theory and make faster progress. Nicola also runs a popular blog, Colourful Keys, where she shares creative ideas and teaching strategies, and hosts regular training events for piano teachers.  

When: Wednesday , November 9, 2023

Time: 10 am

Presenter: Eik Siang Mar

Eik Mar has always been interested in making theory fun for students.  In graduate school, she earned the nickname of “Master of Games” after showing up with hand-drawn Disney characters and a homemade velcro keyboard for a pedagogy class presentation.  Her 20+ years of teaching experience gives her the insight into how individual needs differ from student to student, and she has first-hand experience with the hassle of finding good theory resources to supplement the existing available methods. In 2014, Eik founded SproutBeat to provide high quality worksheets for teachers. SproutBeat has since added interactive games to the platform and is used by teachers around the globe.

Meet our old and new members and find out what programs our branch has in store for you!

• Wednesday, September 14, 10:00 a.m.
• Lincoln Glen Church, 2700 Booksin Avenue, San Jose.