Free Printable #1

Category: Practice Incentive

Song Completions Cards (pdf)

This pdf contains 9 cards on one page. Choose a small stamp to cover one of the 12 music notes every time a piano piece is completed. When it is filled up, the student gets to choose a prize! It's best to use card-stock on this, so you can hole punch it and keep all of the student's cards together.

Fall 2012 Recital

Our piano performers tonight:

There were 20 total performer, half being mine and the other half my mother's. Some of the pieces included: Schumann's "The Merry Farmer," Adele's "Someone Like You," "Victor's Solo" from Corpse Bride, "Bella's Lullaby" from Twilight, "A Funeral of a Marionette," and Macdowell's "Witches' Dance." Most of the other pieces were from various Halloween books.

There is a variety of ages, 5 to 30-something. Two of my students are very new and were welcomed warmly before playing their pieces at their first recital. They did great. I sat next to the youngest of the two, which seemed to make him more comfortable. He ended up needing my assistance a few times, but hey, he's only been taking lessons for almost 2 months!

I am very proud of their hard work. They only had about 6 weeks to learn these pieces. The funny (or not so funny) thing is that we are already starting to pick out our Winter/Christmas pieces. It's like Halloween, Thanksgiving & Christmas decorations being sold at stores during the same time. Their next recital will be held December 8th.

David Lanz

I've recently discovered New Age Music Artist David Lanz through his most famous piano piece, "Cristofori's Dream." After that, I started purchasing his Piano Solo books "used" through Amazon because I can't get enough of him. Lightly Used, because my eyes and fingers are bigger than my wallet and I've already been purchasing music for myself and my students like a mad dog lately. Contrary to a lot of opinions that New Age Music is just quiet and reflective, thus putting one to sleep...some are vibrant and dramatic. Like this piece, the "Dark Horse," that is quite addicting to play:



I've read that the "Dark Horse" is really supposed to be about how dark horses are the unexpected winners, and David Lanz' Dark Horse is his PIANO.

 The books I currently own are:


David Lanz- Solos for New Age Piano  that includes his infamous "Cristofori's Dream."
The David Lanz Collection that includes amazing piano solos such as: the "Dark Horse," "Dancing on the Berlin Wall," "Prelude to the Firedance," and the "Firedance."
David Lanz-Christmas Eve Piano Solos

On my wishlist is his Finding Paradise book that includes an a breathtaking "Finding Paradise" piece. I hope to collect his other Piano Solo books in the near future.




You can check out his website www.davidlanz.com and preview his songs:

I have to say, I love the New Age genre. There is something magical in it's quality where it soothes the soul and refreshes you. Don't get me wrong, I like Pop, Broadway, Classical, Romantic and even Baroque...but I think New Age is highly underrated. People have probably listened and enjoyed a song from a New Age artist and had no idea what category they belong to. Like Jim Brickman, or George Winston for example. When I first started working at our library as an AV shelver before working the circulation desk, all of these artists would be filed under "popular." Do you have a favorite artist New Age Artist?

How to capture a soul.

It was said once (by whom I have forgotten) that one can catch a glimmer of a long-passed composer's soul through playing their compositions. If played right, you can feel what they were feeling at the moment it was written. It's almost as if their very essence is forever trapped in the melodies.


No other acoustic instrument can match the piano's expressive range, and no electric instrument can match its mystery. -Kenneth Miller