Marcia Vahl Piano Studio

Do you know of The 5 Browns? The five brothers and sisters studied at The Juilliard School in New York and are now setting records for attendance at classical music concerts. At their concerts, about a third of the audiences are students from grade school to college age, and another third may have never before attended a classical concert. It is not unusual for three generations of a family to sit together in the audience. "So many children take piano or violin lessons or play in a school ensemble but still do not relate to classical music," says Desirae. "We are trying to change that."

Performances by The 5 Browns include virtuosic five-piano arrangements, and over the last two years a great deal of media attention has given them the chance to perform and talk about their love of music. This is what three of them say about the value of classical music for young people:

DESIRAE: Music is about sharing emotions. It gives depth to the human experience in a way that is absent in television, movies, or pop music.

DEONDRA: Music study teaches you to work hard and set deadlines. Lessons on an instrument help children learn to achieve their goals and point them to what is good in life.

GREGORY: I think music study can be a great catalyst to help people develop their minds and better understand their emotions. There is something spiritual and human in great music. It is so beautiful and so inspirational that I can't imagine living without it.¹

FIVE PIANOS AT ONCE! Take advantage of any opportunity that may come your way to see and hear them play. They are exceedingly impressive! In the meantime, catch them on youtube:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=KQAJTL5ztBY
http://youtube.com/watch?v=6Yo6Zma-fgM
http://youtube.com/watch?v=52AwgDRtOEA
http://youtube.com/watch?v=tqF7KNSLZ4U. 


¹ Svalbe, Peter. "The Five Browns." Clavier Oct. 2006: 11-14

Lots of good reasons. Here are a few:

• It teaches students to build skills in appropriate bits at comprehensible levels that will build their understanding of advanced works.
• Classical music is a springboard into everything else. For example, rock and jazz emerged from classical music. Children's songs have classical themes through some of them. Mozart wrote the  melody to what became Twinkle, Twinkle little Star! 
• Technique is better because of classical study since it must be practiced more precisely for classical music. In other forms of music, specific techniques may not be used often, if at all.
• Dynamics develop during classical training because it teaches students to watch for expressive elements that are nearly absent in most other forms of music.
• Non-classical musicians were classically trained to their benefit. Classical music teaches the skills, then each musician can apply their skills to their desired musical area.

Your son or daughter is taking piano lessons? Then so are you!

Following are some activities for YOUR "piano lessons:"

~ Make sure friends and family respect the student's practice time.
~ Make sure your student follows up on their assignments.
~ Read your student's practice records.
~ Keep music and materials in a special place.
~ Let your student know you are proud of their achievements.
~ Encourage your student by listening to them play and commenting on their performance.
~ Ask questions about what they are doing.
~ Record their practice so they can hear themselves objectively.
~ Attend all recitals and programs open to parents.
~ Go to other concerts and programs as a family.
~ There will be times your student resists practicing. This is normal. Stress regularity.
~ Make sure your student never misses a lesson except for illness or emergency.
~ Don't allow your student to skip a lesson because s/he hasn't practiced. The one who hasn't practiced is most in need of a lesson!
~ Let your student "doodle" at the piano. Just make a clear distinction between doodling and practicing.
~ Emphasize how much is accomplished during practice.
~ Always contact me if you have questions or concerns.