<<  -- 3 --  Joanne Chang    WIDE RANGE AND EXPERIENCE

Another hurdle for the elementary piano student is playing to an audience. I organize three classes per semester who get together and play to each other. Often this method works well because it gives greater confidence than always playing to a teacher. A simple breathing exercise is taught to lessen the tension felt by some when playing before an audience.

Teaching at a community college requires an open mind, and flexibility in thinking and respect in relationships are vital. Some students recently graduated from high school are very likely anxious to play pop songs and the problem can be of finding simple arrangements. It is possible to find music software for this task. A program I find user friendly is Encore.

Everyone who takes a credited course with me keeps a progress journal, and attends concerts to express their feelings in relation to their progress and growing experience of music in performance. This stimulation of thoughts about music can rouse those inner feelings which make perception in performance a growing and creative element.