Stairway to Heaven!

Post by Little Piano House.

As always,
remember that private piano lessons
(as well as semi-private piano lessons)
are available
in The Beautiful City of
Wyandotte, MI
Contact me here
or on the Little Piano House Facebook page. 

John Thompson Method Books

After "Teaching Little Fingers To Play" books
many students continue with
the John Thompson method books.

Teaching Little Fingers

My favorite method books are the John Thompson books.
Beginner students start off with "Teaching Little Fingers to Play."

And after that initial book, there are several more to choose from
in the "Little Fingers" collection.

I even use these "Little Fingers" books for adult beginners
because the print is easy to read and the images help the learning process.

The "Teaching Little Fingers" books are a rote and note learning method.
You'll be playing simple melodies by the end of the first lesson.
And let's face it,
small accomplishments help keep a student of any age
motivated to continue!

Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata - Video

One of Beethoven's finest works. . .
. . .Ok, Ok!
All of Beethoven's works are great.
I'm particularly a fan of the 2nd movement of
The Moonlight Sonata.
Enjoy!

Download sheet music here.

Piano Lessons in Wyandotte, MI

 Yes, piano lessons in the beautiful city of Wyandotte.
I recently moved things around
in The Little Piano House.
The room for group lessons is just about ready.
I still have one more instrument
that needs to be moved in.
And I hope to purchase another,
an 88-key keyboard w/weighted keys,
but that probably won't happen until the spring.

And,
The White Board is up
and in use!
Here's a pic of the White Board.
I had to take several as the window
kept giving me a glare.
I finally figured out
that I have to put a curtain in that window!!!

Anyhow,
the White Board will feature things
like quotes from composers,
music terminology,
words of inspiration, etc.
This will be the first things students see
when they come in for their lesson.

And yes,
The Little Piano House
is actually a little house
in the city of Wyandotte
near Roosevelt High School.
It's guest house on our property
used for music and art and things creative.

Remember,
private, semi-private
and group lessons
are available,
with discount for Senior Citizens.

Are you ready for your first piano lesson?

 

Gift - Blue Upright Piano Poster

grand blue upright piano with music.png print by MusicianEvents
Browse more Music Posters
And here we have that upright piano in blue.
To order this poster just click on the image above. 

Gift - Upright Piano with music poster.

grand upright piano with music.png print by MusicianEvents
See another framed artwork on Zazzle
An upright piano in a more traditional color.
To order just click on the image above.

Gift - Purple Upright Piano Poster

grand purple upright piano with music.png poster by MusicianEvents
Browse for more framed art posters at zazzle
Another poster of an upright piano, this one is purple (my favorite color).
To order this poster, just click on the image above.

Gift, Red upright Piano Poster

grand red upright piano with music.png poster by MusicianEvents
Make custom prints online at zazzle.com
Ah, the quality of sound that comes from those old upright pianos.
True, they can take up a lot of space in your living room.
But the music that comes from those babies is awesome!
To order your copy of this poster of a red upright piano
just click on the image above.

Gift - Butterfly Kisses Poster

Butterfly Kisses Print by ReveriePhotographie
Browse more Butterfly Posters at Zazzle
I really like this one, too!
A butterfly kisses the piano!
To order this poster just click on the image above. 

Gift - Renoir's Yvonne and Christine Lerolle at the Piano Poster

Renoir's Yvonne and Christine Lerolle at the Piano Poster by MyHeartRenoir
View more Renoir Posters at zazzle.com
Another Renoir masterpiece!
To order, just click on the image above. 

Stars And Stripes - One Piano, Six Hands!

A piano trio!
One piano, six hands!
Enjoy!
The Stars and Stripes Forever!

Gift - Van Gogh's Marguerite Gachet at Piano Poster

Van Gogh; Marguerite Gachet at Piano, Vintage Art Posters by VanGogh_Gallery
Print posters online at zazzle.com
An art classic,
you can purchase this Van Gogh Poster Print just by clicking on the image above.
As always, this poster is available in a variety of sizes.

Gift - Renoir's Portrait of The Daughters of Catulle-Mendes Poster

Portrait Of The Daughters Of Catulle-Mendes Posters by Artcollection
Find other Children Posters at zazzle.com
Another great classic art piece by Renoir.
To place an order for this poster just click on the image above. 

Gift - Blue Piano Poster

Blue Piano Posters by mveronicar
Check out Prints & Posters online at Zazzle.com
I've posted a lot of piano posters in recent weeks,
but in all honesty I have to say this one is my personal favorite.
She looks like an old gal who has really seen a lot in her day.
But she keeps on keepin' on!
My baby grand piano is 100 years old,
but like the piano in this poster,
she continues to offer up great music.
As always, all you gotta do to order this print is click on the image.
And as always, it's available in a variety of sizes.

Goft - Piano with Yellow Flower Poster

Piano Flower Print by Geoffrey_Attwood
Shop for Posters & Prints online at Zazzle.com
To order this poster of a piano keyboard with yellow flower
just click on the image above.

Gift - Piano keybaord and Pink Roses Poster

Petal Pink Keys Posters by Debrene
Find more Piano Posters at Zazzle
A piano keyboard with pink roses:
Classy!
To order, just click on the image above.
This poster, like several of the other posters I've shared with you on this blog,
is available in a variety of sizes. 

Group Piano Lessons Now Available in Wyandotte!

Yes,
you read that right!
Group piano lessons are now available
at The  Little Piano House.

I still need to update this blog
and update The Little Piano Facebook Page
to show the cost and time slots,
but you can feel free to send me a message
if you are interested.

The class will run
when we have 4 registered students.
Book fee of $5.
After that initial starter book,
all other books will be provided for
free of charge
as a part of the lesson.

Lesson cost $8 per class session,
4 sessions per month
(once a week).
The class will run for 45 minutes.

Wednesday - 5:30p.m. - 6:15p.m. - ages 8-14
Wednesday - 7:00p.m. - 7:45p.m. - adults

More dates and times
as need demands.

And yes,
there are enough instruments
in The Little Piano House
for everyone to work with
when they attend this group class.

 So,
are you ready for your first lesson??

Gift - Pink Butterfly and Piano Poster

Pink Butterfly & Piano Print by GodsPath
See more Butterfly Posters
A great gift for a young lady,
or anyone who likes butterflies and pianos!
Just click on the image above to order.  

Gift - Woman At The Piano by Pierre Auguste Renoir Poster

Woman At The Piano By Pierre-Auguste Renoir Posters by Artcollection
See other Upright Posters
Another art classic by Renoir,
Woman at The Piano.
To order this poster as a gift for your piano playing friend
or even for yourself
just click on the image above.
As always, these poster are available in a variety of sizes. 

The Scarlet Cape - More of Four Hands at the Piano

This video features 2 young people at 1 piano,
or one piano / four hands!!!
The song "The Scarlet Cape"
by  Ralph Federer.
Enjoy!

Chico Marx at the Piano

What can I say?
I just love Chico Marx at the piano!
More vintage video.
From " A Night At The Opera."
Enjoy!

One Piano, Four Hands

I love this video!
Vintage, yes, but awesome nonetheless.
Harpo and Chico Marx play a duet, but not just any duet.
It's one piano, four hands.
I have two students right now that I'd like to work with on a piece of music
such as this, one piano / four hands.
One of them will be out for summer,
but when she returns in the fall
we will definitely work on this project!
It's loads of fun!
 Enjoy!

Gift - Young Girls at the Piano by Pierre Auguste Renoire Poster.

Young Girls at the Piano by Pierre Auguste Renoir Poster by MasterpieceCafe
Search for another framed art work
A classic work of art available in a poster.
Renoir's young girls at the piano.
To order this just click on the image above. 

Gift - Baby Grand Piano Poster

Piano Posters by TerryBain
See another museum poster on zazzle.com
A very simple poster of a baby grand piano.
To order it just click on the image above.
This piano poster is available in a variety of sizes.

Gift - Piano Keyboard with purple roses

Piano Keyboard and Roses Poster by dreamlyn
Make custom prints online at zazzle.com
Another poster of that piano keyboard with roses,
This time the roses are purple.
I think I like this one the best.
To order it, just click on the image above.

Gift - Piano keybaord with Orange Roses Poster

Piano Keyboard and Roses Poster by dreamlyn
Browse other Key Posters
To order this lovely poster
of a piano keyboard with orange roses
just click on the image above.
It would make a truly great gift for that piano playing friend. 

Prelude in C# Minor - Sergei Rachmanioff

Here is my summer project. . .
 .. .to learn this piece by Sergei Rachmaninoff.
Prelude in C# Minor.

I found the music while cleaning out old books.
I've donated a lot books to St. Vincent de Paul lately.
The book that this piece is in is old and a bit tattered. . .
.  .. .I'm keeping this one!!!!

Check in with me in a few weeks
and ask me how I'm doing on this classic!

Gift - Piano Keyboard with Blue Roses Poster

Piano Keyboard and Roses Posters by dreamlyn
Print posters online at zazzle.com
To order this poster of piano keyboard with blue roses
just click on the image above.

Piano Lessons for Summer Vacation

The school year is almost over.
What plans do you have
for your children for summer vacation?

Will they be involved sports?
Swimming?
Vacation Bible School?
Summer camp?

Why not consider enrolling them
in piano lessons?
The benefits are far reaching.
You see, it’s not only about music study.

Piano study helps increase math scores,
test scores and I.Q.
In fact,
kids who continue their playing piano
through their teenage years
average about 100 points higher on the SAT.

What’s more,
undergraduates who major in music
have the highest acceptance rate
into medical school, at 66%.

Piano study helps to raise self-esteem.

Piano study helps children focus,
helps them develop concentration skills.
                               
Playing piano is good for your health.
Research reveals
that those who are involved
in creating music
on a regular basis
experience less anxiety,
loneliness and depression.

Do contact me.
Low cost piano lessons
are available  in the beautiful city
of Wyandotte, MI
 
Let’s get your child involved
in the study of piano.
The benefits are a lot more
than music study.
Your child will reap
a lifetime of benefits.

Gift - Black and White Piano Keyboard Poster

Classy Black & White Piano Photography Poster by VoxPhotography
See other Piano Posters
A classic looking poster,
the piano keyboard.
Just click on the image above to order one
for that piano player in your life. 

Gift - Piano Keyboard Poster

Piano keyboard poster by igorsin
Browse more Piano keyboard Posters at Zazzle
A wonderful gift for the piano playing friend of yours !
This Piano Keyboard Poster is available in a variety of sizes.
To order it, just click on the image above. 

Gift - I Play Piano Poster

I Play Piano T-shirts and Gifts Poster by stick_figures
Browse Piano Posters online at Zazzle.com
This "I Play Piano" poster is available in a variety of sizes.
To order one for your piano playing friend
just click on the image above. 

Gift - Blue buterfly and piano poster

Blue Butterfly & Piano Poster by GodsPath
Browse more Blue Posters at Zazzle
To order this blue butterfly and piano poster just click on the image above.
As always, this poster is available in a variety of sizes.
Makes a great gift! 

Girt - Piano Music Abstract Poster

Piano Music Abstract Poster by RottnPittie
See additional Posters & Art online at Zazzle
This piano poster is available in a variety of sizes.
Just click on the image above to order this piano poster
for that piano playing friend of yours!

Gift - Musical Stars Golden Notes Poster

Musical Star golden notes Posters by giftsbonanza
Browse Piano Posters
A great gift for that piano player in your life!
Just click on the image above to place an order for this poster.
Please note that this piano star and keyboard poster is available in a variety of sizes. 

Gift - Teddy Bear at The Piano Poster

Piano Posters by kairi_the_hedgehog
Browse for more wall art on Zazzle
I love this poster!
A little teddy bear at the piano, how cute!
This poster is available in a variety of sizes.
To order it just click on the image above.
It would make a great gift for your piano playing friend.

The 12th Street Rag on Player Piano

I love player pianos.
I mean, you can't listen to or watch this instrument in action without a smile on your face.
I've always wanted one.
And while many folks are giving away their old player pianos,
most of them require extensive work on the pneumatic
that can run into thousands of dollars.

I guess for now I'll just have to enjoy videos such as this one.
The 12th Street Rag (oft heard on Spongebob Squarepants).
 Enjoy!

Eddie Sings "Were You There"

I originally posted this video
to my "piano house" facebook page.

I've also posted this video on one of my other blogs.

Anyhow,
this is Eddie, our little terrier.
He is named after the dog on the tv show, Frasier,
because my sons all thought he looked like him.

Eddie has been with us for about 8 years now.
First living with my eldest sons,
and then with us.
Until last October,
Eddie never sang like this.
In recent weeks
I can't even walk toward the piano
to pick up a piece of music
without him getting comfortable
on his tiger pillows,
getting ready to sing.

He really doesn't like the video camera,
so I don't know if we'll be able to post more of his songs.
But if he allows it,
we'll have more of Eddie, The Liturgical Terrier!

I present, Eddie!
(yours truly at the baby grand!)

G Major Scale - Right Hand (Video)

In this video, you will learn how to play a G major scale
using the right hand.
With the thumb being finger 1 and the pinky as finger 5,
the fingering for the scale in this video is as follows:

G- 1
A- 2
B - 3
C - 1
D - 2
E - 3
F# - 4
G - 5

C Major Scale - Left Hand (Video)

In this video, you will learn how to play a C major scale using the left hand.
With the thumb being finger 1 and the pinky as finger 5,
the fingering for the scale in this video is as follows:
C - 5
D - 4
E - 3
F - 2
G - 1
A - 3
B - 2
C -1

C Major Scale - Right Hand (video)

In this video, you will learn how to play a C major scale using the right hand.
With the thumb being finger 1 and the pinky as finger 5,
the fingering for the scale in this video is as follows:
C - 1
D - 2
E - 3
F - 1
G - 2
A - 3
B - 4
C - 5

One Student not returning to piano lessons. . .

One of my young piano students
will not be returning to lessons,
at least, not now.

It makes me feel sad.

:( 

Her grades in school started to drop,
so her parents decided
to limit her outside activities.
And one of the “outside activities” that was dropped
is music study.

Heavy sigh.

I wish parents would get it.
I mean,
I really wish they would get it.
Limit her tv time.
Limit her computer time.
Take away phone time.
But take away piano?
Seriously, folks,
I just don’t get it.

OK.
I respect that parents have to decide
what is best for their children.
I really do.
But I think some folks need a little help
and seeing what that really is.

Studies have shown
that preschoolers who received piano lessons
scored 34% higher than their nonmusical counterparts
in tests measuring spatial-temporal reasoning,
which is the brain function
used to understand math, science and engineering.
Piano students have improved reading scores
and enhanced memory.
Piano study helps
with complex thought process.
In simpler terms,
 piano lessons make you smarter.. .

Studies also show
that piano lessons
help to raise a child’s self-esteem
and helps them with concentration
which, in turn, can help with homework and study habits.

There’s a disconnect here
and I’m not too sure what to do about it.

I think, maybe,
if the piano student 
was a child of musician parents,
they would get it.
But, it's sort of like,
the parents don't know
what they don't know.
Does this make sense???

Anyhow,
I'm sorry that this happened.
I wish I could help.
I wish I could do something
that would bring her back into music study. ..

. . .maybe I need to design a parent session,
to be taken before the child starts lessons.
In this session I would detail
some of the above information
and a lot more. . .
. . .something that really details
the Benefits of Music Study. ..

Piano Lessons for Beginners - Lesson 5 - How Do I Play Chords In The Key of C?

In this video, the piano teacher goes over Chords in the Key of C.
The chords come from the C Scale.
A chord is built on each degree of the scale,
with the bottom note becoming the name of the chord:
I    C major chord: C - E - G 
ii    D minor chord: D - F - A
iii   E minor chord: E-G - B
IV F major chord: F - A - C
V  G major chord: G - B - D
vi  A minor chord: A - C -E
vii B diminished chord: B - D - F

As always, I post these videos for those of you who want to learn how to play the piano, but for some reason or another, can't take lessons right now. Hopefully, these videos will help you learn from home.

For those of you who live in the Detroit/Downriver area that are ready for lessons,
do contact me and let's get you started at Wyandotte's Little Piano House.

Piano Lessons For Beginners - Lesson 4 - How Do I Play A Scale?

OK, piano newbies! Let's learn the C Major Scale!

Also, here is a link to a picture scale. The first scale in this link is the C Major scale,
the one demonstrated in this video.
The numbers refer to which finger you use.
Thumb is finger 1,  pointer finger is 2 . . . pinky is 5 (this numbering is for both hands).

When you are ready to learn more about scales,
to learn how to create a scale starting on any note of the piano,
just contact me for information on private and semi-private piano lessons
in the Beautiful City of Wyandotte, MI.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Piano Lessons for Beginers - Lesson 3 - What Are Intervals?

The third video in this series,
Piano Lessons for Beginners Lesson 3 discusses intervals.
An interval is the distance between two notes.

I offer these videos for those of you who aren't quite ready
to sign up for piano lessons just yet,
but want a little something to get you started at home.
When you are ready lessons,
don't forget to contact me
for Piano Lessons in the Beautiful City of Wyandotte, MI.