How Pianists' Brains Are Different From Other People's Brains

This was a fascinating article from Mic.com that I read yesterday.  We all know that learning to play the piano develops different areas of the brain, but this article does a good job of explaining exactly what happens in several scenarios.  The videos are also helpful.

I think it is impressive that not only can we learn a new skill, but by the act of learning that skill, we can actually create new neural pathways in the brain that enhance many different abilities we already have.

https://mic.com/articles/91329/science-shows-how-piano-players-brains-are-actually-different-from-everybody-elses#.eQl2o7LHc

Ear Training for Interval Recognition

We will be starting Ear Training in the studio after our May recital, so I thought I'd give you a heads up and share a fun way to remember what the different intervals sound like.  We will only take a few basic intervals here, and then later will include all types of intervals.

Today we will review the Major Intervals only.  Are you ready?

The Major Second--An example of this interval is the distance from C to D.  This musical example begins with a Major Second. 

"Happy Birthday"
"Silent Night"

The Major Third--An example of this interval is the distance from C to E.

"Oh When The Saints Go Marching In"
"Kum Ba Yah"

The Perfect Fourth--An example of this interval is the distance from C to F.

"Here Comes the Bride"
Hark, the Herald Angels Sing"

The Perfect Fifth--An example of this interval is the distance from C to G.

"Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star"
"Star Wars" Theme

The Major Sixth--An example of this interval is the distance from C to A.

"Dashing Through the Snow" (from "Jingle Bells")
"My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean"

The Major Seventh--An example of this interval is the distance from C to B.

"Imagine", by John Lennon

The Perfect Eighth (Octave)--An example of this interval is the distance from C to the next C up.

"Somewhere Over the Rainbow"
"Take Me Out to the Ballgame"

A Musical Genogram

Have any of you ever filled out a genogram?  They are a very useful tool (commonly used for medical and psychological purposes and genealogy).  They list your ancestors and find your place on your family tree. It is a symbol picture of your extended family members, and it can describe a number of characteristics (in this case, musicality).

Here is a sample:

 
Here is how it works:

1)  The student works with the teacher to fill in the genogram.  You are the colored box in the middle of the chart.

2)  We want to look at the past several generations, then you, and then your own family unit and your children and grandchildren.

3)  The concept of a genogram is based on the assumption that some basic patterns or traits between mother, father and children are replicas of past generations that will repeat themselves in future generations.

4)  The genogram helps you, the student, to see yourself as connected to your family in important ways.  It defines commonalities and uniqueness with other family members.

5)  The genogram is drawn on a single piece of paper. The various symbols illustrate your family story in a unique way--in this case, we are only looking for musical influences in past, present and future generations.  It is a non-judgmental exercise, and it is helpful to perform regardless of your family relationships.

We will be discussing this in the studio, so be thinking of the 'musical' members of your family.  You may have to talk to other family members to find out more about grandparents or great-grandparents and their musical histories.

Who Was Your First Piano Teacher?

My first piano teacher was a very elderly woman with the wonderful name of Madora Cadwallader.  She had come to the United States from England, a war-bride during World War II.  She had a huge, vintage upright piano in the basement of her home in the Broadview area of Seattle, and it was a very quiet and formal atmosphere.  I'd tiptoe down the stairs and enter the studio, where she'd be waiting for the next student to announcement themselves and then settle down into the routine of the lesson.

I was seven years old when I started my piano lessons, and I always look back and think about how powerful those first experiences are, even if we rarely (if ever) think about them.   I don't remember learning how to read, and I certainly do not remember how and when I first learned to read music.  All I know is that it was an ability that came quickly, and by the time I was eight years old, I was easily reading all of the music that was given to me in my John Thompson Piano Course books. 

Not long afterward, Mrs. Cadwallader found me another teacher who was more advanced, and this teach became the pivotal influence in my musical life.  However, I will always be thankful for the gift of reading music that Mrs. Madora Cadwallader gave to me.

The Piano: A Metaphor For Life

I came across this great little essay about the piano and life itself.  It's thought-provoking and puts a little perspective into the lives of us who spend a lot of time with our instrument.  What do you think?

Life is like a piano. The white keys represent happiness, the black keys show sadness. But as you go through life’s journey, remember that the black keys make music too.

Life is like playing a piano. You need to use all the keys be it black or white to make beautiful music. Happiness, sadness all things in life will always come in pair and both sides prove beneficial as you go along in your journey. Happiness provides satisfaction and resolution, sadness on the other hand provides perseverance and strength.

Remember that life is not always the way we want it to be. At times you are playing a perfect tune but other times you’re not playing good melodies. These are the times when you have to find the right pitch, the right keys and the right timing.  These are life’s challenges. Accept them and for sure you’ll be playing a perfect  concerto. 

Recording our First Maltby Piano Studio CD

After our Group Lesson last September with Matthew Arnold, Music Technologist from Boise, Idaho, our studio started planning to record our first CD!  Matthew previewed some great recording software for us to start with, and Alexis, one of my students (and Microsoft software engineer) got busy and loaded up his laptop with the needed programs for our first foray into the world of recorded music.

When Matthew Arnold taught our class last year, his topic was "The Importance of Musical Imagination in the Digital Age".  He discussed the pros and cons of digital music, and gave us a great foundation upon which to build our knowledge of recording using the abundant array of programs available today. 

Many of my students were interested in working up a piece of piano music for recording, and on March 25, we opened up the studio from 10 a.m. to noon and invited students to stop by and record their pieces.  After a week or two of making the various pieces of music more uniform (same level of volume, etc.), we finally came up with the order of the pieces on the playlist.  We have a total of 14 tracks for our first attempt!

We will be giving out copies of our first CD at our Spring Piano Recital on May 20!  What a great Semester II we have had!  Thank you, Matthew and Alexis!

Alexis, our Recording Software Engineer

Playing back what was recorded

Listening to Bluestone Alley

Fur Elise sounds great!

Flyer from our class last Fall

Visit to the Fandrich and Sons Piano Factory

The best part of my piano studio is my custom-built Fandrich and Sons upright piano!  I've had it for five years now, and it's a joy to play it every day.  It's a lifelong dream of mine come true.

On March 18, students from Maltby Piano Studio traveled 60 miles north of where I live and teach in Maltby to a small town in Skagit County called Stanwood.  There, Heather and Darrell Fandrich have a piano showroom and factory on the property where they live.  We were invited to bring our music along, and spend a couple of hours touring the factory and playing every piano in the showroom.

What an experience this was!  The Fandrich family lives in a gated compound in a lovely country setting.  The piano "showroom" is a large log cabin garage converted to a climate-controlled space where the finished pianos reside. After trying out all of the instruments, we got to see where the pianos are built and finished in the large factory building, which looks like an old barn.  It's so fun to see the computers that are used in the creation of these instruments sitting in what looks like an outbuilding on a rural piece of property.

Here are some pictures from our day.

Piano Showroom--The mahogany piano is priced at $80K!

Heather Fandrich giving us the story of the Fandrich Family

Touring the factory

Tuning the keys

A Piano with the patented Fandrich Vertical Action

Two uprights in the background

Me with Darrell Fandrich