Ready to Roll: Continuing Piano
An ongoing format class for piano students who have completed one primer level book, and are looking at different approaches, new repertoire, and creativity at the keyboard
Heather Kirkconnell
Average rating:
5.0
Number of reviews:(280)
Star Educator
Popular
What's included
1 live meeting
35 mins in-class hours per weekClass Experience
This is an ongoing piano class for students who have done at least six months of weekly lessons and can play simple songs with all five fingers. We will be building skills in playing with both hands at the same time, as well as challenging our ability to hear and memorize short, level-appropriate songs. Students need to have completed at least a Primer level method book such as that by Faber and Faber (Piano Adventures Primer Level), Bastien, Alfred, Thomson, or Music Moves for Piano, Book 1. This approach is at about the same level as the level 1 and 2 books of these other methods, but with a great deal of ear training and musicianship building added into our class time. Students do NOT need to be able to read music to join this class; we will learn everything by rote through singing, critical listening, and ample demonstration. Every week we will warm up our bodies with light stretching and warm up our musical thinking with gentle, purposeful movement to song. Each week we learn a different song to get a sense of the method and style of my teaching and to enhance student's musical studies in other areas. After learning our song for the week, we will conclude each class with improvisation activities meant to build on what we learned that day. This is a great supplement to other piano lessons or a continuation of group lessons after Music Moves for Piano, Book 1 with me.
Learning Goals
Many piano methods begin by teaching students to play only in certain hand positions, finding guide notes such as C or G. This method will expand your learner's use of the WHOLE keyboard in musical, exciting, and approachable ways. We will learn to 'audiate', or hear music in our heads, which will help students approach any future musical endeavors with confidence and creativity.
Additionally, great attention will be paid to how the students play. Healthy piano technique will be discussed weekly in relation to the song to be studied, and students will know not just the 'how' of piano technique but also the 'why'.
Other Details
Parental Guidance
There will be light movement and light stretching every class.
Students should have a keyboard and video set up that allows them to easily see my demonstrations and allows me to easily see their body and hand position at the keyboard. Zoom audio settings should be adjusted to allow use of the "Use Original Sound" option.
Supply List
A piano or keyboard with at least 60 keys and touch sensitive or weighted keys. A piano bench at the proper height for playing: a student's elbows should not dip below the level of the keys when seated.
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Joined November, 2020
5.0
280reviews
Star Educator
Popular
Teacher expertise and credentials
2 Degrees
Bachelor's Degree in Foreign Language from Oberlin College and Conservatory
Bachelor's Degree in Music from Oberlin College and Conservatory
Bachelor’s of Music in Performance, Oberlin Conservatory, USA
Diplôme de Perfectionnement, Conservatoire à Rayonnement Régional de Versailles, France
15+ years working, performing, and teaching piano, general music, choir, and organ all over the world
As a professional musician and a mom, I put a high value on exposing children to music in fun, uplifting, and creative ways. I particularly enjoy introducing music in ways that support and affirm a student's own innate musical understanding, and help bring that out from the start. I believe in whole child education, understanding that a learner brings their whole self to the lesson, and that my role is to affirm and support their WHOLE self. My ACE Educator workshops focused on different ways to engage the whole child-whether cultural, emotional/SEL, neurodiversity, or other difference, I care about your learner having the best possible introduction to music.
My own musical training included studies overseas, where exposure to a different culture surrounding musical education broadened my own training and goals in teaching beginning students to play. Although I have an affinity for starting students off right as beginners, I have worked with music students of all ages and levels, and value the changing needs and goals when helping intermediate or advanced musicians grow and hone their skills. When I'm not making music and teaching, I'm probably knitting and designing unique knitwear and clothes to wear and gift :-) I also enjoy pottery, painting, and sewing, to name a few things.
Studio policies:
All my classes are currently autoposting recordings. If there's ever a safety reason for a recording to not be posted, you will not be able to view it. If you miss a class, you are encouraged to watch these recordings. I follow all of Outschool's policies regarding refunds and make-up classes.
If you are taking private classes with me, I will always wait at least 20 minutes before closing the section. I otherwise follow the same refund and absence policies as set forth by Outschool: students must be logged in by 10 minutes after the start of class. Given the nature of the classes I teach, I will not teach to an empty classroom, but practice videos will be available when the class listing calls for it.
Many parents are curious about where to start their learners. Here's a quick rundown/sample course of studies:
Younger beginners 3-5:
Ready for Piano->Introduction to Piano and Music Book A, Book B, Then begin Book 1
5-7 Year Olds: Start directly in Book B
Older beginners (8 and up): Beginning Piano Lessons, Book 1. For those who prefer an ongoing course offering, I now offer a class called Piano Level 1, where we cover some of the same materials in Beginning Piano Lessons, but with more abstract concepts of music theory and improvisation. It still includes a lot of fun games, however! :)Reviews
Live Group Class
$11
weekly1x per week
35 min
Completed by 6 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 8-13
2-7 learners per class
