So you want to learn how to play your favorite songs from your favorite Disney musicals on the piano? In this post we’ll look at some of the best sheet music of songs from Disney Broadway shows available right now. Having worked on five different Disney Broadway productions, I know many of these scores quite...Continue reading
Author: jeffmarder
What is the Best Age to Start Piano Lessons?
I’ve been asked many times about what the best age to start piano lessons is, and while there’s not a clear answer, there are some general guidelines one could follow that can help with ascertaining an appropriate answer. The same question can also be asked regarding piano lessons for adults as many older potential students...Continue reading
The History of the Piano
We live in interesting times with regard to music technology in that the technology available to us is evolving exponentially. It’s now possible to create new sounds and imitate acoustic sounds convincingly by using a piece of software such as Apple’s MainStage which is available to anyone as a $29 download from the Apple App...Continue reading
How to Buy a Piano
So you or your child has decided to begin piano lessons, but now you need to choose the instrument to learn on. The next question is usually What is the best type of piano for beginners? Let’s say that after looking at all of the relevant information and asking yourself why you should buy a...Continue reading
Best Free Music Notation Software
So often, we need to write scores for our students, or as students we need to write music to convey an idea to our teachers or fellow students. For those of us who aren’t composers or orchestrators, it may not be feasible to spend hundreds of dollars on high end music notation software such as...Continue reading
How Much Should Private Piano Lessons Cost?
I see many inquiries into the price of private piano lessons as well as many piano teachers discussing their rates within private groups on social media and this always seems to be a topic for confusion. Rates can vary widely due to a number of factors such as geography, length of the lesson, size of...Continue reading
Do I Need A Teacher for Jazz Guitar Lessons?
There are a number of ways to learn how to play jazz guitar, and not all methods will work for every person. In this post, we’ll explore some of the pros and cons of several different approaches to learning how to play jazz guitar. Private Jazz Guitar Lessons Taking private jazz guitar lessons with an...Continue reading
Composer Spotlight: Florence Price
Florence Beatrice Price (April 9, 1887 – June 3, 1953) was an African-American composer, pianist, organist, and music educator. She was born in Little Rock, AR and attended the New England Conservatory of Music. Price is the first African-American woman to have a composition played by a major orchestra. She composed over 300 works, including...
Benefits of Performing in Recitals
As one who has been performing in piano recitals from a very young age, I’m a firm believer in encouraging all students to have such an experience. In this post, we’ll look at some of the many benefits of students of all ages and levels participating in recitals. Performing in recitals encourages focusing on a...Continue reading