Kapok Press

Ask Olga: I play piano better at home?

KPAdmin — Tue, 15 May 2012 17:43:36 +0000

Every day I hear the same lament from students: “You probably won’t believe this, but I played this piece so much better at home.” I believe it, sort of. There was a recent NY Times article discussing how to optimize students’ study time: you learn better when you regularly change the room you study in. It seems that if you always study in the same environment your retention rate goes down. When you change location you work harder, and you retain more information with greater understanding for a much longer period of time.

Forgetting some of your piece and relearning it at your lesson (i.e. ‘new location’) can vastly improve your memory of the piece. Maybe that is a very positive aspect of piano lessons at your teacher’s studio: you will have learned your piece so much better by playing it somewhere else! See the article for ideas on how to practice here.

Ask Olga: Cooper plays the piano

KPAdmin — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 20:26:29 +0000

10 year old Cooper is teaching his twin brother to play Hot Cross Buns on the piano. Cooper has Downs syndrome and has been playing the piano since he was 8 ½ years old. I ask him how his brother is doing. Cooper says: “I showed him how to use 3 fingers to play Hot Cross Buns. He is doing OK”. There is a proud smile on his face. His mother says: “Cooper has always been the one who holds back with his brother in the lead, but now he is the leader, and it is so nice to see the confidence building that has occurred.”

See the entire article at http://www.specialneeds.com/children-and-parents/general-special-needs/music-special-needs-cooper-plays-piano

ASK OLGA BLOG

KPAdmin — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 00:15:27 +0000

PLEASE SHARE YOUR COMMENTS BELOW

This award winning series, “I Can Do It!” from Kapok Press is ideal for teaching young children how to play the piano. There is plenty of information on the website including how to order the “I Can Do It!” products.

By sharing your questions and comments with OLGA, you will be helping others, and best of all, let others know of your successes using the instruction guides.

ASK OLGA!