This is your brain on piano...

Playing the piano is fun.  For me, it is also relaxing and therapeutic, but when you stop and think about it, your brain is doing many things at one time....

Eyes...Sight Reading on the piano involves reading two lines of music, each in a different clef.

Ears...Pianists listen to notes being played and adjust their playing accordingly.

Hands...2 hands, each often playing intricate rhythms independently from each other.

Keeping Time...Pianists accurately "keep time" by synthesizing and synchronizing all sensory input and motor activity.  In addition, they are able to subdivide the beat in a myriad of ways.

Fingers...10 fingers...very few, if any, instruments require the use of all ten fingers

Spatial...Pianists know where all the keys are without having to look at the piano keyboard.

Artistic Interpretation...Pianists trasmit emotion by capturing the mood, style and tempo of a song, using performance techniques such as dynamics, articulation, rhythm, and expressive timing.

Feet...2 feet...The left foot is used to operate the left softening pedal and the right foot is used to operate the damper/sustain pedal.

Touch...Pianists use touch to determine how much force is needed to press the piano keys and foot pedals.

Playing the piano activates the brain in ways no other game, gadget, instrument or tool can.  It's a total brain workout.

Calendar Change!

We will have lessons on Monday, February 15.  Please update your schedules to include this date.

Thank you.

Mr. Titus

Here is a video from the Christmas Recital.  Hope you enjoy.  

Mr. Titus Christmas 2015

If you have any photos or videos that you would like to share, please email/text them to me.

Thanks.

Christmas Recital & New Semester

Thank you all for your hard work preparing for the Christmas Recital. Everyone did a great job.  I appreciate your dedication to helping your children be successful with their performances.  Learning to play an instrument and learning to perform/play in front of others are 2 different things.  The performance is just as important as the lessons.  

We are now back in our regular routine of weekly lessons.  Please encourage your children to practice each week.  Most students have a recommendation from me taped in their notebook about how much practice they need each week.  If you have any questions about practice amounts or a piece they are working on, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Here is a link to a few suggestions that might help with practices.  Practicing is essential to learning anything. 

Parent Practice Guide

Thank you for all you do. 

Music Knows No Boundaries

I came across this story several weeks ago and would like to share it with you now.  It is a 15 minute video, but completely worth every second.

Music can truly inspire everyone young and old.  It knows no boundaries!  This man's story testifies to that.  He is blind and severely autistic, but is able to communicate to the world through his musical abilities.  We take our sight and simple conversations for granted daily.  I hope this story inspires you to view the world in a different way.

Derek Paravicini--Musical Savant

Holiday Music

All students should have at least 1 Christmas song to work on for our upcoming recital.  Remember the recital date is December 18!  

 I know things are busier this time of year for everyone, but please make sure there is time to practice our songs each week.  Practice during the week helps us improve the skills we work on during our lessons.  We do not have to memorize our music, I prefer for my students to learn to use their music.  Please help your students find time to practice!

Also, remember tuition is due the first week of the month and there will be no lessons the week of Thanksgiving.

Thanks!

Notes In The Fastlane Competition

We began the notes in the fast lane competition a few weeks ago.  This year we have 2 groups competing. 

The first group is:

Sara
Joanna
Hope
Kaylin
Madelyn
Ethan
Andrew
Olivia

The second group is:

Alyssa
Riley
Natalie
John William
Addison

The notes competition helps students read notes on the staff quickly and correctly.  The student in each group with the fastest time with win a prize.  Winners will be announced at the Christmas concert in December.


Here are our fastest students from week 1 and week 2...

Week 1:
Group 1 - Kaylin with 55 seconds
Group 2 - Addison with 60 seconds

Week 2:
Group 1 - Olivia with 72 seconds
Group 2 - John William with 84 seconds