Wednesday, January 13, 2021 by Chrissy Misso | info

So many people make New Year's Resolutions, but do they stick with them??

If you're looking to change or develop a new or better habit, you need to take it slowly . . . this applies to practicing your instrument too!!!

Students have heard me say it in lessons, write it in their notebooks, sometimes send it in a email . . .  here are some of my TOP tips (and a link at the bottom for a full list from another teacher . . . you might see some similarities!!).

1. Do it EVERY SINGLE DAY!!
   1. Make it a scheduled thing -- before breakfast, while dinner is cooking, right after school. Pick a time that works you and your family 99% of the time.
   2. Smaller chunks of practice are better than 1-2 giant sessions - - this works for school work too!!  Our brains get bored after 30-40min of the same thing.  Do some homework, play your instrument for a while, do some more homework, . . . 
2. Break it down . . . then build it back up!
   1. Start in the middle or at the end so each part of a piece gets worked on.  You won't remember where you made a mistake or had trouble near the beginning once you play through the whole thing!
   2. There are exercises to help you with that!! use part of your practice time for scales, chord progression repeats, or finger exercises to help master those tricky spots in your pieces!
   3. If you make a mistake, STOP!!!!!  Fix it now, figure out why it happened, play that teeny section 5 times correctly in a row before going on.
3. LISTEN!!
   1. Record yourself - not sure what's going on?  Not sure how to improve?  You need to listen to yourself and be a good critic . . . remember you have counting & rhythm, dynamics, articulations . . . !
   2. Listen to others' recordings of your piece (maybe not your specific arrangement) -- what did they do well? what did you like about it? are you doing those thing?

Download a list and chart at HERE or ask Chrissy for a special one just for you! 

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Friday, January 26, 2018 by Chrissy Misso | info

Ever thought about what you should do with your piano in the winter?!?

Well, you need to take care of it; it is make of wood and metal and lots of bad things can happen if you don’t give it enough TLC!  You should be monitoring humidity and temperature around your instrument.  Read some more here https://www.worldpianonews.com/general/winter-tips-for-your-piano/  or here http://www.ptg.org/document//35/ or here https://www.modernpiano.com/How-to-Make-Your-Piano-Winter-Ready-1-28.html.

Need a piano technician?  We know one from the Piano Technicians Guild: Conrad! (Choffsommer@hotmail.com, 563-382-8525)

Also! Don’t forget to take care of your hands!!! (Stay active to keep them warm and use some hydrating lotion to prevent skin breakdown!)

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Monday, February 8, 2016 by Chrissy Misso | info

along with the benefits to your brain, the side effects of practicing good posture improve your health and spirits too!

check out this TED-Ed talk: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/the-benefits-of-good-posture-murat-dalkinic

♮Chrissy

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Tuesday, November 17, 2015 by Chrissy Misso | info

♪ ♩ « Hello Everyone! » ♩♪

We've gone online!  I will be utilising MyMusicStaff to do lots of things to help us keep up with each other!

Once you are signed up through the student portal, you can:

• View the calendar of upcoming events, lessons, public events
• View your attendance
• View borrowed and downloaded library items
• Track practice time and leave notes or questions that you have from your practice session
• Add and track the pieces you have played or the books you've completed
• View your number of make-up credits
• View your teacher's contact information
• Keep up-to-date with studio news
• View the family’s account and invoice information (only visible to parents/adult students)
• REGISTER for lessons! (here)

Please check the News tab for reminders, notes, cool things...who knows what may appear there!

We will be figuring some of this out as we go, but please email me if you have any questions/concerns!

♮chrissy

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