MusicAbility

Recital details! I’ll be reaching out this week to confirm times 💚❤️

Note: this is a private event only for registered students and their family and friends

If you’re wondering, yes I have started introducing my daughter to piano 😅 she’s only four, so I’m currently using the Piano Adventures “pre-reading” book to take her through some initial introductory ideas like playing loud/soft and finding the groups of black keys. It’s going…ok 😂 It’s less of me teaching and more of her doing what she wants. Which is fine by me! I’m happy to have her discover the instrument on her own 👏

Great job at the recital yesterday everybody! And thank you for a great send-off for Ms. Blair. She will be missed! 💙🧡💙🧡

Welcome Gracie!

Gracie Ault, MT-BC graduated in 2023 with a Bachelor of Music in Music Therapy from Belmont University. During her time as a student Gracie worked with populations including children with Down syndrome, older adults in assisted living, a pediatric oncology and hematology unit, and children under refugee status. Gracie completed her internship in Indiana working with individuals under the Medicaid waiver.

Gracie believes that music is a powerful tool, and her approach includes meeting clients where they are in order to work toward becoming the best version of themselves.

Great job at the recital today everybody! Merry Christmas!!

Christmas Recital! If you aren’t sure your time, feel free to reach out by email or text. Directions to the location on the second slide—we are at the same location as this past spring!

Happy Halloween!! What’s your costume today?

Adaptations in action! If needed, we can use stickers on the piano to help students find the right keys.

Some of these stickers are from my daughter putting them on the keys 🤪 but I like to put a bright, colorful sticker on middle C to help students get oriented on the piano. I try to avoid putting stickers on every key because I don’t think it’s necessary and it can become more distracting than helpful!

So proud of you and how hard you worked to achieve this! It is not an easy exam!

Piano instruction books!

I like to start kids off with either the Piano Adventures Primer or the Pre-reading book. I like the slow pace, thoroughness of the lessons, and written activities.

Last fall I started trying out the Piano A-G series and a lot of my students really love the songs! I usually give students the option to learn songs out of those books once they reach level 1 in Piano Adventures!

I have found six years old to be a good age to start lessons if the student has expressed an interest. Sometimes we can start younger if they are highly motivated, but there's no need to force it. There is also no age limit to starting lessons!

It's a very common assumption that students are better off starting with piano and then adding on other instruments later. In my experience, this causes more resentment and strife than it's worth, and the student would have been better off starting with their preferred instrument right away.

Tomorrow!

We put on recitals twice a year at Christmas time and in the Spring. Hosting recitals and watching our students perform is truly one of my favorite parts of this job, as stressful as it can be! Of course students get nervous to perform (as do I!), but I hope someday they will look back on these recitals with a fondness and understand the benefits and invaluable life experience.