Halloween is upon us and unfortunately here in Ireland there will be no parties or trick or treating this year. So, without the usual social events that happen at Halloween how do we entertain ourselves and celebrate the holiday a little?
Well let’s re-create music we have heard from scary scenes in film and tv using the piano, I have some suggestions that even beginners can use to create a spooky, ominous atmosphere perfect for Halloween.
Read MoreMusic has been my constant companion, since I was a child. When I didn’t have access to a piano or lessons for a year or two at a time, immersing myself in music was all that would calm and centre me.
Now as an adult and the harsh reality that modern houses and living don’t accommodate grand pianos easily, I learned renting for years and having to compromise my acoustic for a basic digital, that there is always a work around.
Read MoreMaybe you’ve heard whispers of these maybe you haven’t.
What are the technical exercises?
Well they fall into different categories there are mechanical technical exercises like Hanon there are more technique-based exercises like Brahms 51 exercises, Liszt exercises, Czerny technical exercises Geoffrey tankards exercises even down to a dozen a day for beginners.
So, what do they do and why is there such a divide about them?
To put it bluntly technical exercises without the guidance of a teacher to hear how you're progressing every week to spot errors as they occur can be of benefit. Without a teacher to guide you technical exercises can lead to bad technique as it is very difficult to spot your errors, unless you record and critically listen to each practice.
Read MoreHappy 2020 everyone!And what can you do today that will definitely better your future self?
….... Be creative!…..
You could learn more about music by taking those piano lessons you always wanted, or re start lessons from where you left off. It's like riding a bike - you never really forget it! Go for it and book a lesson with a local teacher or online.
Having a creative outlet is so important for our mental and physical health in daily life and our thinking. Our brains are wired to make creative solutions to problems, and we ensure children and young adults have creative outlets but we neglect ourselves as adults.
Read MoreAvoidance - We need to move on to the more tangled topic of avoidance, the fear and not practicing. Most people enjoy their piano lessons with their teacher most people leave their piano lessons with all the intentions to practice and improve. Then life happens and practice didn't happen, a week goes by. Then you go to the next lesson apologize to the teacher for not practicing as you feel like you're wasting their time and you should have done more so you put guilt into the fear and you continue to not practice and not improve. You get frustrated disappointed in yourself and guilty you end up stopping lessons, wondering why we even thought you could try. Oh, dear this isn't how it’s supposed to go.
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