Counterpoint Music
  • Piano Lessons
    • Children's Piano Lessons
    • Adult Piano Lessons
    • Online Lessons
    • F.A.Q
  • The Teacher
    • The Teaching Studio
    • Contact Dion
    • HDPiano Tutorials
  • Sign Up Now
  • Testimonials
  • Songwriting Lessons
  • Performance & Mindfulness
  • Blog
  • Merchandise
  • Student Login

Weekly Studio Update

9/8/2019

0 Comments

 
Meccano M.A.X.
How's everyone been coping with the wind and dust and smoke over the weekend? I mainly kept myself shut up inside the house, watching lots of sports with mixed results. Wonderful to have the Ashes retained in the cricket, but losses over the weekend to the Broncos and the Lions made for frustrating viewing.
Do you ever notice what happens to your body when you get frustrated watching TV? Maybe you clench your jaw or other muscles, maybe you freeze everything in place, maybe you yell or groan. ​

Is it any different when you're playing piano? Chances are that when you're frustrated you'll notice a tightening or stiffening in your body. That tightening makes it harder to move your limbs - just try clapping while you tense your arms - so it's important to be able to recognise when you're frustrated and find strategies to work with those sensations or moods when practising.
Do you currently have any strategies when you find yourself getting frustrated at the piano?

This week I bought myself a new toy - M.A.X. by Meccano. I'll have Max on the shelf so you can say hello at your lesson. He's very sociable.

I'm always humbled by the reviews I receive from my students - I do try my very hardest to make each lesson as engaging and rewarding as possible. Here's what Adrienne had to say on Facebook after her lesson last week:

Here’s what I did in my last 3 piano lessons. If the last time you had a lesson was from a nun - you might be surprised what goes on! 🎵
Week 1- Sorted out the chords for a version of Yellow Brick Road (YBR) that I worked out by ear. A few tricky ones I had missed.
Week 2 - I was feeling stuck in interpretation so we played random 90’s songs, picked out elements and applied to some YBR chords . So freeing and fun.😎
Week 3- Re-harmonisation- working out totally new chords to a simple melody -We collaborated on a jazz version of Twinkle Twinkle. Mind expanding! 🤓
Last few weeks have helped me play and experiment more at the piano. Dion is an amazing teacher and you move at your pace, no pressure ever.
Where was Dion when I was a kid!!!

Last week one of my long-term students Liam had his last lesson (for a while) and left me his five-star feedback on Google:
​
Do yourself a favour and sign up! Dion is the best teacher for those returning to the keys in their adult life. I have been doing piano lessons with him for the last 18 months. In that time I have grown as a player but also as a person. He was able to unlock my frustrations and mental blocks so I could start to enjoy the music I played. I had trouble with maintaining tempo and rhythm from years of traditional music lessons. He broke these bad habits with an insightful and patient teaching style. And he never gets too upset if you don't practice much ! ( You will also learn to stand and sit differently - you'll need to ask him about that)

I'm always very welcoming of your reviews, so if you feel inspired after your lesson, please let me or the world know!

Things I've been watching/listening to this week:
  1. How To Play "Summer of '69" by Bryan Adams | HDpiano (Part 1) Piano Tutorial and How To Play "Trauma" by NF | HDpiano (Part 1) Piano Tutorial - my two most recent tutorials for HDPiano went live this week after a long break from filming due to injury and travel.
  2. 8/24/19 Vulfpeck at Lockn Festival - a full-length Vulfpeck concert on YouTube? I'M SO THERE.
  3. TOP 20 DRUM INTROS OF ALL TIME - any of your favourites make the list?
  4. How Facebook Helped Solve A Musical Mystery - 12tone is a YouTube channel whose theory videos move so quickly that they make my head spin sometimes. I love it!
  5. Podast: Switched on Pop - 'Make me Feel' with Lizzo. Janelle Monae's fantastic song is dissected with the help of Lizzo.
  6. Podcast: Song Exploder - 'Honey' by Robyn
  7. This week's chores have been soundtracked by albums starting with the letter B: Ben Folds Five (Ben Folds Five), Regina Spektor (Begin to Hope), Ben Kweller (Ben Kweller), Pomplamoose (Best of 2018), Ben Folds (Ben Folds Live) and The Bens (The Bens). Lots of Ben Folds this week. Certainly not complaining!
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

Counterpoint Music Academy, Piano Lessons in Stafford, Brisbane. Phone 0423 254 246 or Email academy@counterpointmusic.com.au
Photo used under Creative Commons from kezze
  • Piano Lessons
    • Children's Piano Lessons
    • Adult Piano Lessons
    • Online Lessons
    • F.A.Q
  • The Teacher
    • The Teaching Studio
    • Contact Dion
    • HDPiano Tutorials
  • Sign Up Now
  • Testimonials
  • Songwriting Lessons
  • Performance & Mindfulness
  • Blog
  • Merchandise
  • Student Login