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Putting Pen to Paper: Q&A with Canadian Composer Jean-Michel Blais

by Sean Wales

Jean-Michel Blais is a world renowned Canadian-French composer. You may have heard his compositions in the past on Spotify or YouTube. We have included a video of one of his pieces in this post, so be sure to have a listen! We are so lucky to have had the chance to ask Jean-Michel a few ... Putting Pen to Paper: Q&A with Canadian Composer Jean-Michel Blais

08/07/2017 Read more

An Open Letter to Parents of Piano Students

by Tim Topham

A Document for Piano Parents Everywhere As the nature of music education shifts from one of note reading, performance and interpretation to one of creativity, curiosity, composition and exploration, many piano teachers are finding it hard to explain the value and importance of this change with parents. This means that there is sometimes a conflict between what ... An Open Letter to Parents of Piano Students

04/15/2017 Read more

How do Rockschool Piano Exams Work?

by Stuart Storer

This month, to help piano teachers with their understanding of piano exams, I have two fantastic guest posts from experienced AMEB examiners.  Today’s post is all about a creative new piano syllabus. Rockschool is a syllabus run in the United Kingdom and they have teamed up with AMEB to bring it here.  It is all ... How do Rockschool Piano Exams Work?

04/12/2017 Read more

Fun First Piano Lesson: 12 Bar Blues [videos and lesson plans]

by Tim Topham

The first piano lesson of the year is a great time to do something different with your students. And I don’t mean just choosing a new piece of music. I mean scrapping the music altogether and getting off the page. It’s easier to do than you might think and kids love it. Want to know ... Fun First Piano Lesson: 12 Bar Blues [videos and lesson plans]

01/24/2017 Read more