Halvorson Music Studio - Teacher

Thank you for visiting my website. Let us know what you want to learn. Halvorson Music Studio strives to help each student truly understand music. We use innovative tools to achieve student's goals. This web page answers your most Frequently Asked Questions. If you need more information, please ask. There is also more information on the Lessons page. We are here to help.              

Before starting piano lessons information. 

It is important to set students up for success right away. They will enjoy lessons more and become life long learners of music. Students need a practice instrument with velocity sensitive keys (preferably weighted) and a sustain pedal. Students in lessons for 2 or more years should have a full sized keyboard with velocity sensitive weighted keys and a pedal or an acoustic piano. An acoustic piano must be tuned at least once a year or more often if there is a technical problem with the instrument.                      Tuner/Technicians: Tom Kaplan https://kapstan.com/About_TK.html        Greg Junker  http://www.gregjunker.com/contact-us.html . 

What is more fun than a metronome?

Counting rhythms with a steady beat allows you more time to think and play accurately with musicality. Rhythms are a basic music element that makes the piece sound like the piece. When you count rhythms steadily and accurately you will be able to play music easily with other musicians. Using .mid   .mp3 and videos to help in your practicing is the quickest way to help your rhythms be steady and accurate.

Grand Staff Notation

The faster students memorize grand staff notation, the easier it is to learn all music. 
1. Each staff has 5 lines and in between those lines, 4 spaces. Look at the graphic, the 5 lines and 4 spaces of the staff of the Bass (bottom) and Treble (top) Clef show their note names. The alphabet names of each line and space are identified from the lowest line or space to the highest. The staves use the same music alphabet order (A,B,C,D,E,F,G going higher and G,F,E,D,C,B,A going lower).
2. Think of the Bass Clef Staff as the lower staff that is usually played with the left hand. The stems on notes in beginning music will usually be going down.
3. Think of the Treble Clef Staff as the top staff that is usually played with the right hand. The stems on notes in beginning music will usually be going up.
4. The Grand Staff shows how far each note should be from Middle C. There is only one Middle C on the piano shown in the white area between the staves. It has 2 note names (one each for the Bass Clef/Left and Treble Clef/Right).
Fun facts: 
1. Since music uses the same recurring alphabet pattern of 7 letters, the Bass Clef Staff uses the exact note names as the Treble Clef Staff, but is 1 line or space lower on its staff (ex, the 3rd space in the Treble Clef is the same alphabet note name as the 2nd space note in the Bass Clef). This is a quick way to identify the alphabet note name.
2. The space notes are just in between the lines. An easy way to remember the Space notes of the Treble Clef is: F A C E (G is above the staff). The Bass Clef also uses (F is below the staff) A C E G, but starts 1 space lower on its staff. Same letter order, same note identification patterns. Quickly and easily find the line names of notes from first identifying the spaces. The line names are just in between the spaces. Use (A,B,C,D,E,F,G going higher and G,F,E,D,C,B,A going lower). 
3. Usually, the treble clef notes are played with the right hand. Usually, the bass clef notes are played with the left hand. If both hands are playing in one staff only, the up stem notes are played with the right hand and the down stem notes are played with the left hand. 
First Lesson is Free.

The white area between the staves is always notation for the Middle of the piano. Ledger lines are short lines above or below a staff and are an extension of each staff.  Keep using the same music alphabet order (A,B,C,D,E,F,G going higher and G,F,E,D,C,B,A going lower) to know note names that are off of the staff. There are 2 note names for each Middle note, but one key to play (Bass/Left and Treble/Right). This graphic doesn't show all of the ledger line notes.
Fun Facts:
1. Use the Grand Staff as a mirror. Middle C has one ledger line and is the closest C to the Middle of the piano with either the Bass or Treble Clef Staff. 3 space notes up in the Treble Clef is High C (1 C above Middle C). 3 space notes down in the Bass Clef is Low C (1 C below Middle C). 2 ledger lines above the Treble Clef is Very High C (2 C's above Middle C). 2 ledger lines below the Bass Clef is Very Low C (2 C's below Middle C).
2. The 2nd line note up in the Treble Clef Staff runs through the curved part of the Treble Clef naming the G above Middle C. The Treble Clef is also called the G Clef.
3. The 2nd line note down from the top of the Bass Clef Staff runs between the two dotes of the Bass Clef and names the F below Middle C. The Bass Clef is also called the F Clef. 
4. Keep using the same music alphabet order (A,B,C,D,E,F,G going higher and G,F,E,D,C,B,A going lower) to know note names that are on and off of the staff.

1. Never guess notation, use this graphic or other graphics to help. Music notation is never identified by fingering numbers. Piano music moves to many places using different fingering on each alphabet name of a note. Fingering shows the easiest way to move and continue playing music on the keyboard, it isn't identification of a note. Identify the note name, then look at the fingering to use.
2. Never write all of the alphabet letters by each notes in a student's music. Students will only look at the letters and will not learn to read music on the staff easily.
3. Using common sayings to identify note names usually confuses piano students as there are two different staves. Students sometimes know the sayings but don't relate them to the alphabet name of a note. All of the saying has to be completed before identifying one note. It is much quicker and easier to learn Landmark keys of C, F and G and use the music alphabet (A,B,C,D,E,F,G going higher and G,F,E,D,C,B, A going lower) to find other note names. 

Practice FAQ

Daily practice is best because it is easiest for remembering what to do and how to do everything that is assigned. Practice until you know how to play what is assigned. You can break up practice sessions into shorter sessions during the day. You can break up assignments into smaller goals which are easy to achieve. It is best to have a mix of pieces, technique exercises and sight reading. (not only songs that you recognize). This builds better reading skills and technique. Following your teacher's advice on using the best hand shape and technique allows you to play more easily and build finger strength and dexterity. This helps you to avoid injury as your pieces become more difficult.

Daily practice builds music reading ability, dexterity and confidence. Students are excited to share what they can do when they come to lessons and want to learn more when they establish a daily practice routine. It helps students establish and achieve their goals. First Lesson is Free.

The assignment is emailed at the end of each lesson. Practice or do what is assigned by your teacher. Follow practice instructions. Everything outlined on the assignment will help you learn more quickly. Daily practice is easiest. It is important for students to see the practice assignment each day before practicing.

How can I help myself or my child in lessons?

1. Read the lesson assignment before practicing each day. Print it out or look at it on the My Music Staff app. 
2. Learn and memorize the Staff notation quickly.
3. Set aside time to practice each day.
4. Do all theory, technique and sight reading assignments because it all helps you to play easily and better.
5. Print and use attachments or links sent by the teacher. Use downloadable files from My Music Staff's online resources. Using assigned midi, mp3 and videos helps you practice efficiently.

Put upcoming recital dates on calendars (mid-October; mid-December; mid-March and mid-July). Check to see that students are preparing required pieces during their practice. Students work harder to learn how to play piano when you watch them and let them know that you appreciate their music. If you can't participate in an upcoming recital, let your teacher know right away. A different lesson plan will be assigned.

During the practicing week ask us questions so you can keep progressing instead of waiting until your next lesson to ask. Your teacher wants to help you learn easily.  First Lesson is Free.  

Why is this part of lessons?

When students know how everything works in the notation of their pieces, it is easier to play and learn new music. Memorizing the names of the notes on the staff is critical for quick learning of music. Knowing how intervals, chords and key signatures work helps students learn new music easier. Ear Training helps students hear the correct intervals, Knowing Major and minor keys, chord types, etc. helps students play the correct notation. Students who really know how music works can more easily play improvisations and write compositions. A fun way for students to create something that is uniquely theirs is to compose. What they create shows the teacher how they are internalizing the music knowledge they are learning. Students are very creative and have cool ideas that should be kept and shared by composing.

Playing 5 finger patterns, scales, chords, arpeggios and technique exercises helps students gain better knowledge of fingering and and key signatures in their music. It helps students develop better fine motor control. The technique patterns they practice are patterns in their pieces, it helps students learn more quickly.

The more music students play, the more music students will always be able to play. It is important to use the sight reading steps when reading all new music (like those found at the top of sight reading examples in the Music Study Sheets or Music Experience books). All students need to train their eyes to look at the music while trusting their fingers to the play notes. Sight reading does this but students need to learn to trust their fingers and look at the music. Excessive up/down eye motion causes students to memorize to learn notation instead of reading. Students who look up/down while playing lose their place in the music easily and often play with rhythm unsteadiness. When students work on transposition, it strengthens their ability to quickly recognize intervals, patterns and key signatures. Learning to add chords and harmonize a melody helps students understand the music structure in pieces and be able to create their own music more easily. First Lesson is Free. 

Recitals/Contests

Students who are given opportunities to share their music with others often work harder to learn their music and are proud to show off their achievements. Playing music for others motivates students. The recital or contest is like the test or sports event, it helps students learn more about what they can do when they do the work. Recitals and music contests help students learn beneficial life skills of how to handle themselves in a pressure situation. First Lesson is Free.

Students perform 3 pieces, preferably from memory. Often, one piece can be a student composition. It is great when students work hard to play all of the music elements their music requires (correct notes and rhythms; steadiness; required tempo changes; phrasing as it is marked in the music; all dynamic changes and played at the tempo required). It is nice if dress clothes can be worn, except for themed recitals like Halloween. Costumes are welcome. When are recitals and contests scheduled? Recitals are held mid-October, mid-December, mid-March and mid-July. Theory AIM exams are in mid-February. Performance AIM exams are in Mid-March or April. M.A.M.A. is usually the last weekend in July or 1st weekend of August.

Start learning and memorizing music that is assigned for recital or contest as soon as it is assigned. This gives students time to be able to play the pieces with a lot of musicality and be proud of their achievements. Confidently memorizing music and playing it well takes longer than most people think it does. Learning recital pieces right away also gives students more time to work on other music besides the recital pieces. Cram memorization of recital or contest pieces is never the best way to learn music and play it confidently.

Recipe for Playing Music

1. Should say, "Follow the instructions and understand the score."

How do you easily learn a new piece?

These are the steps to use when learning a new piece. Always using these steps creates confidence in learning new music.

Memorization Tips

Always using these tips to memorize your pieces will help you easily be ready for any upcoming recital or music contest.