The Piano Lab Blog
Featuring fresh ideas, tips and inspiration for piano teachers and students. Find older posts by category or keyword by visiting the Categories and Tags sections in the right sidebar. Welcome!
The Piano Masterpieces of P.D.Q. Bach
Every classical piano student needs a break from the serious stuff now and then. What better way to take one than by turning to the music of P.D.Q. Bach, Johann Sebastian Bach's long-forgotten 21st child (of his 20 children). Born in 1807 and living until 1742, P.D.Q....
Five Facts About the Piano Every Player Should Know
“Piano” Is Just a Nickname The first and original name of the piano was gravicembalo col piano e forte, roughly translating to “soft and loud keyboard instrument.” Unlike its predecessor the harpsichord, the piano's new and more complex technology enabled the player...
Enhancing Musical Creativity with Meditation
As a music teacher, and former instructor of an undergraduate class on mindfulness meditation (at Indiana University Bloomington from 2007 to 2014), I am fascinated by the many possible applications of meditation to music. One of these applications is creativity. The...
Don’t Play This Piece Fast (Maple Leaf Rag)
It's a truism among piano teachers that the average piano student can't wait to play Scott Joplin's The Entertainer. And while The Entertainer's first two sections are undeniably catchy and memorable (particularly if you've heard the local ice cream truck blare it...
The Father of Stride Piano
James P. Johnson (1894-1955) was the leading pioneer of the exciting and influential stride piano style. Born in New Jersey, his proximity to New York allowed a young Johnson the opportunity to be influenced by a tremendous range of musical experiences. Johnson was a...
The Chord Play Series (Review)
The world of music education lost a shining star in 2019 when pianist, educator and author Forrest Kinney passed away after a brief battle with an aggressive form of cancer. I can personally attest that Forrest was generous to his fellow teachers. I contacted him a...
Beginner’s Guide to Using Your Digital Piano As A MIDI Controller
In this guest post by Chris Senner, you'll learn about the exciting perks of connecting your digital piano to your computer. Buying a digital piano is an exciting feeling. You are essentially purchasing an instrument that you could be using for upwards of 10 years....
Mysteries of the Moonlight Sonata
The Piano Sonata No. 14 in C# Minor is one of Ludwig van Beethoven’s most famous compositions, and arguably his single most well-known work for piano (Fur Elise notwithstanding). Indeed, it is probably one of the most famous solo piano pieces ever composed – if not...
Getting to Know Adult Piano Students (Interview with Teri L.)
This is the first in a series of interviews with adult piano students. Teri returned to piano lessons in her retirement with the intention of learning to play jazz. What’s your background with piano? I studied piano off and on from age 6 through my sophomore year in...
Mindfulness for Musicians: Q&A
Interested in exploring mindfulness in music teaching? Here are my answers to questions from my Mindfulness in Music Teaching workshops given to members of the Oregon Music Teachers Association. What are some benefits of utilizing mindfulness as a pianist and piano...