How to Improve your Flexibility when Playing the Piano

How to Improve your Flexibility when Playing the Piano What type of piano exercise can help you with your dexterity? Chapters What do we mean by dexterity in terms of piano? Scales to Improve your Dexterity at the Piano Advice for Working on your DexterityHow Long Does it Take to Improve Your Dexterity when Playing the Piano? What Gives a Pianist their Dexterity?Learning to play the piano (with or without a piano teacher) requires a certain set of characteristics. Will, determination, and a good ear, of course.Dexterity is one of the most practical qualities to have if you want to learn piano. Personally, I work on my dexterity every time I sit down at the piano. When I first started my piano lessons, I had very little flexibility. I had to work twice as hard on that technique. If you’ve got “small” hands, then you'll have to compensate with flexibility, speed, and precision. It's all about finding the perfect balance.Dexterity is so important when playing the piano. (Source: Christophe Urbain)I often tend to compare music to sport. Both require warming up, regular practice in order to get be tter, and a number of physical and mental qualities.With this in mind, I’d like to discuss working on something that isn’t very glamorous but nonetheless very important when it comes to practicing how to play the piano, your dexterity as a piano player.Discover also the best times to practice playing the piano...When you play piano, dexterity refers to your ability to move your fingers precisely and quickly, when necessary, over the keys. We could also call this flexibility. Having dexterity means that you can put complicated chords together easily and quickly, with a high degree of fluidity.Regardless of their level or experience, precision is essential for any pianist. You can work on dexterity your whole life. In fact, even experienced pianists do.Just like any athlete, musicians need to work daily on their dexterity, flexibility, speed, and agility in front of the piano.  In order to do this, there are exercises and classes that you should be looking at.Which types of pianis ts work on their dexterity?  The answer is so simple: ALL OF THEM!!! Every self-respecting pianist needs to take this step, no matter where they are in terms of ability. The moment you start to think that you're too good to practice on your dexterity is the moment what you start to lose your abilities as a pianist.Working on your dexterity is basically one of the quickest methods to improve your overall playing. If you want to play the pieces you love, you need to work on it!Whether you want to play your favorite piece, play and sing at the same time, or even write music for the piano, you need to work on your dexterity. If you don’t do this, you’re effectively slamming the brakes on your progress. But don’t worry! There are plenty of tools available to release these metaphorical brakes.If you choose online piano lessons you will be offered the same kind of advice to improve on your piano playing skills. Scales to Improve your Dexterity at the PianoWe’ve all heard someone sa y “they’re just a beginner, they’re still practicing their scales”. There’s a reason for this.Why practice scales?Scales are really useful for warming up when you first sit down at the keyboard. They'll also be one of the first things you come across when you learn to play piano or study music theory.Scales are also really useful for building up your dexterity when you first start learning how to play the piano. You should start with C-major since it only uses the white keys. Don't get complacent, though! Crossing the thumb can still be a bit tricky. When you've got this down, you can move onto D-major, E-major, etc.Then you can go faster.  Changing speed is a great way to make some serious progress.  Start with just the right hand on its own then the left hand on its own. Afterwards you can use both hands together and work on your coordination.While scales mightn’t seem like the most interesting thing for a pianist, you’re still technically  playing the piano. Hanon a nd CzernyThese exercises were designed by and named after their composers. You can get books of these exercises, too. The goal of these exercises is to improve your playing.Hanon and the Important ThumbHanon was a composer and a trailblazer when it came to exercises for learning the piano. The idea’s really simple: simple exercises using only the white keys that free up your fingers, rendering them independent from one another.Hanon exercises. (Source: Amazon)You can get books filled with these exercises and you can use any exercise whenever you want, changing the speed and adding other complexities as you see fit. The thumb is really important. You have to practice moving it under your index, middle, or ring finger on a regular basis.Czerny’s Speed Exercises  For Czerny, exercises were for speeding up, working on sequences, and using your fingers independently. These exercises also use the white keys.Czerny Exercises. (Source: IMSLP)While some people think these exercises are j ust for beginners, it's not true! It’s recommended that everyone use at least some of these exercises regularly, changing the speed, and the fingering, eventually.The difficulty generally increases, too. Working with these exercises is very effective. Especially when it comes to piano classes.Find out how you too can make piano playing easier...Piano techniques and Hanon, Czerny, or Van de Velde exercises can be very effective. However, there are a few tricks, too.  You can probably imagine a few exercises that might help.Why not create your own exercises?  For example, imagine a combination of notes for your fingers: let’s say 1-3-2-4-3-5 for the right hand and 5-3-4-2-3-1 for the left hand.  Now repeat this pattern over and over getting quicker every time. Doing an exercise like this can help you recognize your strengths and weaknesses when it comes to fingering and also help you work on your precision. Your imagination, creativity, and inventiveness need to come into play. Us e them all at the same time to come up with exercises which work for you (or a student if you’re teaching) in terms of your needs and whether there’s room for improvement.A skilled tutor will realize this, too. They’ll know how to work with their student’s needs.Putting Simple Chords Together  You can also practice putting together a few simple chords before moving on to more complicated sequences without even looking at the keys. Make sure to keep your hands in the right position.This exercise can help improve visual memory and not just when it comes to playing piano. A pianist who doesn’t have to look at the keys can focus more on the music they’re reading or even on singing and playing the piano at the same time.Discover also the best ways to write music for the piano...How Long Does it Take to Improve Your Dexterity when Playing the Piano?You don’t need to put tons of effort in. Just by regularly training, you’ll start to see the benefits.How much should I practi ce playing the piano?  10 minutes per day should be enough.There isn’t a really a perfect time to work on your dexterity. You can do so before or after practicing the piece you’re learning, or before or after your piano lessons or just when you sit down to tickle the ivories. It’s important not to overdo it or not practice enough.Between 5 and 10 minutes per hour played should be enough.Doing so at the start can help you to warm up (don’t forget that you also use muscles to play the piano and you run the risk of tendinitis or exacerbating an existing condition).Make sure to exercise regularly. (Source: Amazon)Doing these exercises at the end can push these muscles and improve your flexibility, just like a gymnast.Regularity is the key to success.Flexibility can be worked on at any stage of our lives as musicians. Regular training can help you improve more quickly when it comes to reading music and therefore play longer, more precisely, more quickly, and, of course, more happ ily.Just like any other skill, practice makes perfect. Of course, don’t forget to take breaks to avoid fatigue and injury. Not training regularly also is risky. You’ll stagnate and either always remain at the same level or fall behind. What Gives a Pianist their Dexterity?To put it simply, it’s an amalgamation of all their skills. Speed and fingering precision are important technical abilities.Brushing up on technical skills allows any pianist to enjoy themselves. Music and playing the piano have to remain enjoyable.Any exercise that allows a pianist to progress and improve their playing is useful. The goal is to work out an appropriate difficultly in terms of how regularly they practice and what level they want to get to.Dexterity is therefore essential for any pianist. You want to become a better musician.  Furthermore, it’ll help you get better at improvisation.The art of dexterity. (Source: PictaStar)With this in mind, what other technical aspects do we need to consider when it comes to improving at the piano.Dexterity is obviously not the only thing a pianist needs to work on.  What about reading music? Listening? Feeling? Positioning?  There are plenty of things you can be working on. You could say that they’re all just as important as dexterity. But that’s a story for another day.What do you think about these top tips for becoming a better piano player?

What Instrument Should I Learn [Quiz]

What Instrument Should I Learn [Quiz] Sign up successful What Instrument Should I Learn? The Smart Choice: Piano Arguably the most versatile instrument on the planet, the piano is an excellent option for creating inspiring music. One major advantage of this instrument is the way its keys are laid out. The keyboard is a near perfect mirror of the steps needed to understand music theory, and this is why we’ve dubbed piano “the smart choice.” The piano is a great instrument for adults and children. Students of any age or background can learn how to produce tones on the piano within just a few minutes. However it can take years to master more advanced piano skills. The Popular Choice: Guitar Electric, acoustic, and classical guitar there are so many options! Each instrument is unique and better suits the needs of different students. No matter how old you are, the guitar is an absolute blast to play. Students typically learn to master chords and scales after a month or two, but it can take years to master the instruments more virtuosic capabilities like fingerpicking, arpeggios, and soloing. The electric guitar is the best choice for younger students because its strings are easier to play than the acoustic or classical guitar’s. Keep in mind though that you’ll need an amplifier to go with it. SEE ALSO: Top 10 Most Unique Instruments to Learn The Challenging Choice: Violin The violin is capable of producing some of the world’s most achingly gorgeous music, but it’s an instrument that can take many years to master. The violin is similar to the guitar except that there are no frets, and this makes it especially challenging to learn. But even with its challenges, the right violin teacher can help students of any age navigate this incredible instrument over time. If you’re interested in picking up the violin, give yourself six months to a year to master some of its basic concepts. The violin requires patience and persistence; you won’t sound like Joshua Bell or Antonio Vivaldi right away! The Simple Choice: Ukulele The ukulele is the friendliest instrument to learn on the planet, but that’s not the only reason you should consider playing it. Ukuleles are inexpensive, portable, and cheery-sounding instruments that are perfect for creative songwriters. Amanda Palmer and Israel Kamakawiwoole are a few well known uke musicians, but thousands of artists around the world play this fun instrument. The only real downside of the ukulele is that it’s extremely limited as far as sound and dynamics go. If you’re looking for an awesome starter instrument for kids, the uke is best choice available, hands down. Kids can learn how to play simple chords on the ukulele within a week or two. The Fun Choice: Drums If you’re looking for an instrument that lets you be loud and expressive, then the drums are perfect for you. Drums come in all shapes and sizes, but most sets have a snare, bass drum, hi-hat, and toms.   Do Buddy Rich, Ringo Starr, and Keith Moon inspire you? Listening to some of musics famous drummers before deciding which instrument you should learn is a good idea.     It can take a few months of practice on the drums to be able to produce solid and discernible beats. The drums aren’t too difficult to learn, but you’ll definitely want to work with an experienced drum teacher to ensure that you’re learning correct technique. We hope this article and quiz helped you answer the daunting question “What instrument should I learn?” If you need more help choosing the right instrument for you, try sampling a few beginner-level lessons in several different instruments before committing to just one. Check out TakeLessons Live where you can take FREE classes in each of these instruments for 30 days! Need Private Lessons? Search thousands of teachers for local and live, online lessons. Sign up for convenient, affordable private lessons today! Search for Your Teacher Guest Post Author: Patrick McGuire is a writer, musician, and educator. He records and performs music under the name, Straight White Teeth.

How to Respond to a Childs Negativity

How to Respond to a Child's Negativity How to Respond to a Childs Negativity School is the worst! I hate learning! Im stupid! I hate homework! If any of these outbursts sound familiar, its understandable that you might feel concern about what is causing your child such anger and frustration and what you can do to change it. Unfortunately, there may come a time in your childs school life that he or she feels upset or negative about school. If you are struggling with how to respondor you share your childs frustrationhere are a few considerations on what might actually be going on and tips on how best to handle the situation. Your child has never felt the pride that comes with achievement. Children who acquire negative attitudes about school might never have experienced true school success. Gaps in their skills have made it difficult to understand homework and solve problems independently, always leaving them feeling inadequate and behind. If this sounds like your child, a conversation with the teacher is definitely in order. There is likely a mismatch in the type of work that is expected of your child and his or her abilities. An individualized tutoring program with Huntington can help your child gain the abilities to complete work successfully, thereby boosting the self-esteem and confidence. Pinpointing the problem is essential. If your child seems generally exasperated by school, it may be difficult to have productive conversations about what subjects are the most stressfuland frankly, your child may simply not be able to offer you the insight you need. So, rather than grill your child for details on what is most difficult, have your child evaluated so that you can gain specific information about his areas of deficiency, study skills and more. Huntington can perform a diagnostic evaluation of your childs strengths and weaknesses as well as a plan of instruction to help your child. With more accurate information about the problems your child is facing, you can develop a plan together to help your child overcome them. Your understanding goes a long way. While your desire to smother your childs cynicism with unbridled optimism is understandable, doing so might exacerbate your child even more. Instead, talk openly about how your child is feeling and the fact that school problems are not insurmountable. Empathize with your childs fear and anger. Explain that you are committed to helping your child not just earn better grades, but feel better about him or herself. Most of all, remember that your childs problems, however big they seem, can be addressed. Problem solving is a tool every child needs. For many children who struggle in school and dont know what to do about it, acting out, giving up and being negative are resultant behaviors. Certainly, it is expected that a child experiencing repeated difficulties with math homework feels great frustration. However, the child who can move past that frustration, to identify specific problems and lay out a plan to address them will successfully avoid the negative bottleneck that prevents so many students from achieving their goals. While academic knowledge and good study habits are certainly essential for school success, so are traits such as resilience, perseverance in the face of difficulty and a good attitude. Help your child learn to understand that negativity only makes problems feel worse. Identifying issues and creating manageable steps to tackle each one is a far more constructive approach that will help your child feel less overwhelmed. Of course, if school is the culprit of your childs pessimistic attitude, dont wait to investigate. Huntington can help you understand what is at the root of the problem and develop a plan to turn things around. Call us at 1-800-CAN LEARN to discuss how to give your child a whole new outlook on school and life.

English Conversation Class Politicians and Sex Scandals

English Conversation Class Politicians and Sex Scandals Hello! Were back after a 2-week hiatus from giving our group English conversation classes. In that time one of the funniest in a long history of high-profile sex scandals involving U.S. politicians has unfolded.In case you missed it, or something this silly didnt make it to the news in your country, U.S. Congressman Anthony Weiner was accused of sending photos of his weiner (yes, weiner is a synonym for penis in English) to a woman via Twitter. He at first denied doing it, saying his Twitter account had been hacked, but as more photos were released, he eventually admitted to the weiner tweet.Naturally, comedians in the U.S. had a great time with this story. Below is a clip from The Daily Show a popular (and totally hilarious) fake news program in the U.S. Click here if youre interested in taking a class.It seems like there is a long history of politicians involved in scandals like these. Bill Clinton immediately comes to mind, and there is the ongoing investigation of the former Fren ch IMF chief.Some questions for thought before the class:Are politicians constantly being caught in sex scandals in your country?What is the funniest/worst one you are aware of?Why do you think this is always happening with politicians?How are scandals like this handled in your country?Do you think this is real news?What do you think should happen to politicians caught in sex scandals?

5 Reasons to Have a Job on Campus - by TutorNerds

5 Reasons to Have a Job on Campus - by TutorNerds 5 Reasons to Have a Job on Campus Almost all students have to work at least part-time during college, students who are lucky enough to be one of the few that dont are advised to focus 100% on their studies and feel very fortunate. However, the rest of us have some important decisions to make about balancing income and academics. Most professors will advocate strictly for academics, and they should because it’s their job to advocate for education after all. However, if a student can’t pay their tuition, this advice is not entirely helpful. So how can a college student find that delicate harmony between work and study? One of the best ways to achieve this is to find a job on campus. 1. Save valuable time Students who live on campus without personal transportation often find it difficult to get to and from an off-campus job. The 45 minutes or so one-way waiting for the bus or riding a bike is time that could be better spent studying for exams. However, students who work on campus can simply walk a few blocks and be at work. Any time that isn’t spent commuting is time a student can use to either study or work more and earn more. 2. Be a part of the community Students who work on campus will remain a part of the larger campus community. Nearly all of their coworkers will also be students, and they will have the opportunity to meet student colleagues from nearly every discipline and field of study. Students who work on campus can use work as a way to participate in student networking as well as making new friends. 3. Working around a student schedule Students who have an off-campus job often find that they have to make some very tough decisions when finals week comes around. While some part-time employers are kind enough to recognize that their collegiate employees will need time off during finals week, many are not. Countless students have had to choose between either quitting their jobs for risking failing final exams. This is not a decision student workers should have to make. On-campus employers know that all of their employees will be unavailable during certain weeks of the term. They tend to be a lot more flexible and willing to work around a student’s academic schedule (READ: The Dos and Donts of Dropping a College Course). 4.  Income for international students Although students on F1 student visas are generally not allowed to earn money while in the United States, theres often an exception to work on campus. This gives international students the opportunity to earn some pocket money to help subsidize the cost of international tuition. It also allows international students to immerse themselves in US culture and get to know a mixture of local people and make some potential job connections for the future. 5. Keep on top of academics Being on campus reminds students that their primary reason for being there is to study. If a student is starting to fall behind with their educational obligations, being surrounded by fellow students and professors on a daily basis is a good reminder of the ultimate prize. Although being able to pay the bills and tuition is extremely important, students who work off-campus can easily get distracted and veer away from their ultimate goal of obtaining a bachelors degree. In short? Most American students will need to earn pocket change, at a minimum, while in college; there are many different places students can work and many different ways to earn money. On-campus student jobs are some of the best options for students who would like to maintain that delicate all-important balance between work and study. Still in the application phase? Our Orange County college admissions consultants are here to help (READ: 8 Reasons Applicants Fail to Get Into the College of Their Choice). All blog entries, with the exception of guest bloggers, are written by Tutor Nerds. Are you an education professional? If so, email us at pr@tutornerds.com for guest blogging and collaborations. We want to make this the best free education resource in SoCal, so feel free to suggest what you would like to see us post about â€" our Orange County private academic tutors are happy to help. 5 Reasons to Have a Job on Campus - by TutorNerds 5 Reasons to Have a Job on Campus Almost all students have to work at least part-time during college, students who are lucky enough to be one of the few that dont are advised to focus 100% on their studies and feel very fortunate. However, the rest of us have some important decisions to make about balancing income and academics. Most professors will advocate strictly for academics, and they should because it’s their job to advocate for education after all. However, if a student can’t pay their tuition, this advice is not entirely helpful. So how can a college student find that delicate harmony between work and study? One of the best ways to achieve this is to find a job on campus. 1. Save valuable time Students who live on campus without personal transportation often find it difficult to get to and from an off-campus job. The 45 minutes or so one-way waiting for the bus or riding a bike is time that could be better spent studying for exams. However, students who work on campus can simply walk a few blocks and be at work. Any time that isn’t spent commuting is time a student can use to either study or work more and earn more. 2. Be a part of the community Students who work on campus will remain a part of the larger campus community. Nearly all of their coworkers will also be students, and they will have the opportunity to meet student colleagues from nearly every discipline and field of study. Students who work on campus can use work as a way to participate in student networking as well as making new friends. 3. Working around a student schedule Students who have an off-campus job often find that they have to make some very tough decisions when finals week comes around. While some part-time employers are kind enough to recognize that their collegiate employees will need time off during finals week, many are not. Countless students have had to choose between either quitting their jobs for risking failing final exams. This is not a decision student workers should have to make. On-campus employers know that all of their employees will be unavailable during certain weeks of the term. They tend to be a lot more flexible and willing to work around a student’s academic schedule (READ: The Dos and Donts of Dropping a College Course). 4.  Income for international students Although students on F1 student visas are generally not allowed to earn money while in the United States, theres often an exception to work on campus. This gives international students the opportunity to earn some pocket money to help subsidize the cost of international tuition. It also allows international students to immerse themselves in US culture and get to know a mixture of local people and make some potential job connections for the future. 5. Keep on top of academics Being on campus reminds students that their primary reason for being there is to study. If a student is starting to fall behind with their educational obligations, being surrounded by fellow students and professors on a daily basis is a good reminder of the ultimate prize. Although being able to pay the bills and tuition is extremely important, students who work off-campus can easily get distracted and veer away from their ultimate goal of obtaining a bachelors degree. In short? Most American students will need to earn pocket change, at a minimum, while in college; there are many different places students can work and many different ways to earn money. On-campus student jobs are some of the best options for students who would like to maintain that delicate all-important balance between work and study. Still in the application phase? Our Orange County college admissions consultants are here to help (READ: 8 Reasons Applicants Fail to Get Into the College of Their Choice). All blog entries, with the exception of guest bloggers, are written by Tutor Nerds. Are you an education professional? If so, email us at pr@tutornerds.com for guest blogging and collaborations. We want to make this the best free education resource in SoCal, so feel free to suggest what you would like to see us post about â€" our Orange County private academic tutors are happy to help.

5 Things Math Majors Should do this Fall - TutorNerds

5 Things Math Majors Should do this Fall - TutorNerds Tips from a Los Angeles Math Tutor: 5 Things Math Majors Should do this Fall Math is a popular major because it provides students with so many opportunities in different fields ranging from finance to business and engineering to accounting. Whether students are currently learning about math theory or applied math, there are some things they need to know to be successful in their classes. Students will need to get some real world experience in addition to what they learned in the classroom in order to have a good start in the math-oriented career field of their choice our private Los Angeles math tutors are here to help you succeed this fall. 1. Organize formulas Math majors should keep a list of every formula they see on a test or as part of an assignment. It seems easy enough to remember a few formulas here and there, but by the end of the semester, students will have a dozen formulas they need to recall at will to pass final exams. One of the best ways students can prepare for these tests is to have a pre-made list of formulas with any necessary explanations so the student doesnt have to spend hours organizing before they can start studying. Saving time and learning efficiently is one of the best things math majors can do this fall. 2. Join a study group By nature, mathematics is often done alone, sometimes preventing students from social networking and becoming a part of their on-campus community. Students can combat this by joining a study group full of motivated and goal-oriented peers who can provide encouragement and assistance when it comes to completing assignments and studying for tests and quizzes. Regardless of major, all university-level students should have the opportunity to make new friends and make business connections for the future. Joining a study group is one of the best ways of getting to know other smart students with great careers in front of them (READ: 4 Important Things to do Before Taking the ACT this Fall). 3. Learn to love the calculator While many students may be able to get through college math classes geared towards non-majors with just a four-function calculator, math majors will need several calculators in their desk drawer ranging from graphing to financial. Once a student learns how to use their calculator properly, it will make total sense and make assignments a lot easier. However, students who are using a financial calculator for the first time, for example, may find the keystrokes to be very different. Students can either learn as they go or take a few instructions on how to use their calculator before they start their courses. 4. Real life math Math theory is important because it gives students a conceptual background for all of the calculations they will be doing and helps explain why computations are done in a particular way. However, most career fields will require workers to utilize applied math. When students are taking advanced level courses, they are encouraged to think about how a particular formula or calculation can be related to the real world. Does it apply to economics for finance? Can it be used to calculate statistics? Understanding the applications of math helps students understand its importance and also help them choose the particular career field that best suits their talents (READ: 5 Signs You Need a Math Tutor in College). 5. Apply for an internship Its also a very good idea for students to apply for summer internships early on in the year. One of the best ways for math majors to get career experience is to work at a company or firm that utilizes numbers on a regular basis. Internships also provide great business networking opportunities so that students have a foot in the door of their chosen career field upon graduation. Our private Los Angeles math tutoring will help you succeed this fall. Call us today, and we will match you with one of our experience LA math tutor. All blog entries, with the exception of guest bloggers, are written by Tutor Nerds. Are you an education professional? If so, email us at pr@tutornerds.com for guest blogging and collaborations. We want to make this the best free education resource in SoCal, so feel free to suggest what you would like to see us write.

Adolphe Sax`s 201th birthday

Adolphe Sax`s 201th birthday Happy Friday! Today, I have a question for you. Do you know who Adolphe Sax is. Just think about his name Sax. If you are thinking about saxophone, you are absolutely right. Sax was a Belgian musician who invented this musical instrument. If Adolphe Sax were still alive, he would have celebrated his 201st birthday on Friday the 6th of November. To celebrate Adolphe Saxs 201th birthday I decided to listen to some classic Jazz this weekend. I tend to prefer Jazz on vinyl as it has a special charm and atmosphere. Dont get me wrong. I have a huge collection of CDs, but I just love the sound of Jazz on vinyl. If you want to learn how to play  Jazz, check out TutorZ.com. We  have the best Music and  Jazz tutors  you  could ever ask for. Hope you have a lovely  weekend! ??