Dean Curtis Music Studio

Dean Curtis Music Studio Piano and musicianship instruction for children and adults

A 15-year-old focusing, and a 5-year-old having a good time.
02/04/2019

A 15-year-old focusing, and a 5-year-old having a good time.

02/04/2019

An adult student has been struggling with rhythm for YEARS. At her last lesson she performed a difficult piece with a steady beat and easy-going rhythmic precision, an absolutely huge triumph. Brought tears to my eyes. (I think BTTME should become a thing.) I'm seeing impressive progress with most of the CM participants--gratifying of course. Just got a new adult student who is open and enthusiastic, if slightly nervous. She has her first lesson tomorrow and I cannot wait.

One of my adult students is an administrator with the Red Cross and therefore travels a great deal. We communicate electronically to mitigate the damage of missed lessons. She is smart, talented, and organized, so she manages well. Like most of my adult students, she had lessons when young, then abandoned them, now longs to be able to play again. This work is a great joy.

The beginner I was thrilled with has had an arm injury and hasn't had a lesson for a while. She was doing so well picking up and retaining concepts and training her hand. I do hope to see her again soon.

The work of preparing six students for the MTAC Certificate of Merit exams goes on apace. Wow, it's a lot. Of course the...
01/01/2019

The work of preparing six students for the MTAC Certificate of Merit exams goes on apace. Wow, it's a lot. Of course the tricky part is connecting the students to the MUSIC and not just "teaching to the test." Technique and theory--choreographing the hands, and knowledge of all the scales and chords and rhythm analysis and phrasing and form, are musicians' tools, as paint, brush and canvas and imagination are a painter's tools. It can be difficult, though, for a student to make that essential connection. Another delicate matter for the student is managing the pressure to do well, using it as energy instead of allowing it to cripple, and how the teacher communicates can influence how this goes.

11/29/2018

Preparations for Certificate of Merit (the annual state music exam) are in full swing. Seven students are participating. They are to be evaluated showing off their scales and chord patterns and their sight reading and playing two, three, or four pieces depending on level. There is also a theory exam which is quite demanding at all levels. The program is fierce and regimented, but it requires a kind of focus that actually leads to freer and more expressive playing. Some tools of the musician are ear, technique, heart, energy, and will to communicate, and all these are developed in this kind of preparation. I'm so impressed with my students and their willingness to stretch.

11/09/2018

New student, 30-year-old beginner! I won't lie, it's hard to start piano as an adult, but with patience one can succeed. This young woman is well under way after one lesson--she is motivated.

10/13/2018

Kara has mastered her tricky hand-crossing piece; Luella has two pieces recital-ready; EJ has had that breakthrough in playing the Bach prelude all the way without breaking down; Shankaran has improved his already-impressive performance of his jazzy piece by refining the dynamics; Sahira has three pieces ready for Certificate of Merit already; Aleya is creating a beautiful mood with a piece called Under Starry Skies; Khoa is gradually getting control of Beethoven Op 79, a Maykaypar prelude, and a Bartok piece; Ravi, 5, has had only three lessons and has learned his key names and finger numbers, how to keep a steady beat, values for half notes and quarter notes, and how to play Hot Cross Buns. Twins Eli and Lilian are off in Switzerland for some months and are keenly missed.

Adult students: Hilda is making steady improvement on a difficult arrangement of the Pachelbel Canon, a Chopin Mazurka, and a Carole King song; Rachel is getting closer to playing the Brahms G Minor Ballade with fluency and the Chopin Op 10/1 with security; Loretta is playing Bach, Mozart, Tchaikovsky, and Reger. I love teaching these people.

Address

Brisbane, CA
94611

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Dean Curtis Music Studio posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The School

Send a message to Dean Curtis Music Studio:

Shortcuts

Share

Category