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Next Term!
If you have your lessons on Mondays, Fridays or Saturdays, please check the calendar for next term. There are some weeks where I am not available to teach you, and I have offered alternative dates. I need to hear from you by 21st March to let me know which date and time would suit you…
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Composition
Remember to View the Post! The link is at the bottom of your email. When we play from sheet music, we’re playing someone else’s idea. You may be at the very beginning of your studies, just learning how to find Middle C on the piano and play a short piece on one note; or you may…
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Repertoire
Remember to View the Post! The link is at the bottom of your email. Why do people learn to play a musical instrument? Children can be inspired by seeing a professional play, or knowing that one of their friends is learning music. Many children are offered lessons in school. Some are encouraged to learn by…
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Open the Post!
In last week’s Humoresque I presented you with three recordings so that you could see the effect of changing either pitch or rhythm on your perception of a melody. But the audio tracks didn’t show in the email. I should have realised this, as it’s happened once before, and I should have warned you that…
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The Chicken or the Egg?
Which came first, Pitch or Rhythm? Pitches = the notes you play or sing, in the correct order. Rhythm = the duration of each of those notes, i.e. how long they last. Musicians measure pitch with letters of the alphabet: A, B, C, D, E, F and G. Sometimes sharps or flats are added, but…
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Pumping Iron
Years ago I read Arnold Schwarzenegger’s autobiography, “Total Recall: My Unbelievably True Life Story”. In it, he tells a story which illustrates his mindset before competitions. Actually, I think the entire book is about this. Mindset. Competitions. Winning. Being the best. I’ll give you the story in a bit, but first let’s put this into…
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Little and Often! But how little? And how often?
Humoresque has decided to tackle the subject of music practice. Yes, I know. Again! It has long been a mantra of music teachers everywhere that it’s better to practise “little and often”, rather than one enormous splurge on the morning of your music lesson. In principle – I can see why people say this. In…
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Happy New Year!
Humoresque welcomes you back and wishes you all a Happy New Year! We had a lovely Christmas in Malvern with all the family, and then Carly and I celebrated the New Year by ourselves at home. The new term started this week, and so Humoresque is up and running again, and keen to help you…
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The Donkey – Results!
Well done everybody! I loved hearing all your performances of The Donkey, and there really was a huge variety. In Category 4 there were clip-clopping donkeys, donkeys with strange and exotic chords and donkeys who picked up speed as they neared their destination! Category 3 was even more inventive, with wonderful added harmonies. In Category…
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Extra Humoresque – Donkey Update!
I’m looking forward to hearing everyone play The Donkey next week. Yes, the competition begins on Monday 8th December and runs until Saturday 13th December. There’s a first and second prize for each Category winner, and Humoresque will announce the winners on Monday 15th December. If you’ve won a prize, you’ll get it during your…