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This week: Daniel, Winnie and Jacob perform in my first video enhanced podcast which looks at Eddie Harvey’s Blue Autumn from the Grade 1 ABRSM Jazz Piano Syllabus.
In conversation we look at the challenges the piece poses along with sources of inspiration for the solo section and possible embellishments for the recapitulation of the head section.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Podcast (videocast): Play in new window | Download
Half way through the first term of running piano points,
Total points leaders on February 19th are as follows:
Average points leaders (all on 4 points) are Mollie from St. Oswald’s, Sophia and Bella from St. Werburgh’s and Alice from Tattenhall Park.
42% of the 62 students are on 14 or more points which is half of the target number of points for the term.
I have decided to update the piano points awards system slightly to take into account that students at some schools may have had fewer lessons through no fault of their own. (pantomimes permitting – thanks to Mollie for pointing this out!)
In respect of this point I will publish a league for average points per lesson as well as total points and there will be prizes for both the highest average points and the highest total points.
All students who achieve the termly points target (28 points – based on an average of 2.3 points per lesson over 12 lessons) will get a certificate.
With 2009 now well under way, it is time to look at other local competitions and festivals taking place for pianists. Chester Competitive Festival of Performing Arts has a number of open choice classes that may be of interest to my students.
The festival will take place at the King’s School, Chester on Saturday 25th April, 2009.
There is an own choice piano class for each year group up to under 16 with a time limit of 3 minutes for under 10s, 4 minutes for under 13s and 5 minutes for under 16s. The entry fee is £4.90 per class and the closing date is Satuday 28th February, 2009.
Download the syllabus, or the entry form
After the first month of operating my piano points system for all school age students I have decided to publish the top 9 points scorers on a leader board.
Remember that points are awarded for practising, attending your lessons and putting lots of effort into achieving your targets rather than on skill level!
Points leaders as of 30/01/09:
There are currently 62 students on the league table. 55% have 9 points or more which is comfortably on target at this stage in the term.
