Friday, July 26, 2013

For All of the Future Planners! :)

Well, I actually have all my recitals scheduled in the CMC auditorium for the school year 2013-14. I am woman, hear me roar!!


Here they are!

Students of Zita Piano Recitals 2013-14 at CMC

Sunday, December 15, 2013

5:00 p.m.

6:30 p.m. (for intermediate and advanced students only)


Sunday, June 15, 2014


5:00 p.m.

6:30 p.m. (for intermediate and advanced students only)



Making Friends with a Cat

Hello Piano People!

I just had a teaching experience I want to share with you while it's fresh in my mind!

I have a student who has returned to me after an absence. He is a bit reluctant. I believe he was being coerced slightly by his mom. :) But he is nice and respectful. In middle school. I told him that in the summer, I like to be relaxed and ask my students if there is a special piece they would like to learn. He grinned and said, "Heart and Soul!". Arrggg! Well, at least he didn't say "Choptsticks!"

Heart and Soul is one of those pieces that anyone with fingers tries to plunk out on the piano at any family gathering, USA. It's easy to learn and more fun when one person plays the chord progression and the other the melody. And it is one of those songs that never ends! It can really get tiresome for the listener! And once a student learns this piece, they seem to want to play it over and over and over for hours and hours and hours....aaack! lol

 But I do like my students to be happy. Happy students practice! I teach a blues class in the summer.

One thing I discovered years ago is that you can jam on a blues scale over the chord progression of Heart and Soul! This comes in mighty handy for a teacher!! :)

So I told my middle school boy that I would love to teach him how to play Heart and Soul, IF he learned a blues scale in C. Then I demonstrated how you could play the melody one time through, straight. The next time break into a blues jam. I was pleased to see him smile and say, "Wow, cool!" Well the next week he not only knew his blues scale and both parts of Heart and Soul, he was also reviewing note reading in his lesson book!

 Happy teacher here! :)

His mom told me he is excited about piano class and he is practising! BUT, she said, "Can you teach him something other than Heart and Soul?!!!" lol! I told her I am so glad he is practising and enthusiastic. And I am especially glad he is reviewing note reading on his own! I told her I want him to feel he has a choice. If he is interested in a new piece, I will gladly get it for him. But I feel like I am making friends with a cat. I don't want to pounce on him with a new piece - he might run away! :) Good lesson here today. :)

 Have a great day! Teacher Zita

Thursday, July 25, 2013

End of Fall Term Recital - Save the Date! :)

I know, I know. It's still July! But I have been bitten by the planning bug! So for those of you that like to have a plan, put this on your calendar: End of Fall Term Piano Recital: Sunday, December 15, 2013. 5:00 pm or 6:30 pm (this section is for intermediate- advanced students). Stay tuned for End of Spring Term 2014 Recital date! TZ

Reviews :)

Are the kids saying "I'm Bored!" yet? :)

Piano Lessons

Piano Lessons

You are never too old or too young - music is for everyone! Take piano lessons, and never be bored again. You will have a friend for life! Free "meet and greet" session. :)

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Tuesday, July 16, 2013

Breathing Room



 




Greetings Piano People!

As some of you may know, I am attempting to simplify my life!  Beginning Fall 2013, I will be teaching more privates student at home and less group lessons.  I'm hoping this will give the breathing room to focus on my own piano practice and also to give more attention to each individual student.

The teacher-student connection has always been important to me. I care about all of my students. They mean more to me than perfection at the keyboard!  Although I enjoy the dynamics of group lessons, and I will continue to teach group a few hours a week, I feel the need to explore taking more time with each person, and guiding some of my students into more advanced piano repetoire.  (That's a big word, right? Repetoire simply refers to the list of music that you are able to play.  It is a French word that means the same in French that we Americans borrow.  It's called a "loan word." You find a lot of loan words in music.  Most of them are borrowed from the Italian language. For example piano means "soft" in Italian!  Ok. I am digressing!)

Anyway, in order to find a few more private students, I have been using thumbtack.com for advertisement.  I really enjoy using this site. It is user friendly and I have gotten several student inquiries already!

You can check out my ad at:  piano instructor

If you are in group classes and would like to take the next step with private lessons, or you have a friend or family members seeking piano lessons, do give me a holler!

"Holler!"


Happy Summer! :))

Teacher Zita

Sunday, July 14, 2013

Note Naming Practice

I discovered a wonderful music theory site that lets teachers create customized notenaming games for their students. Just click the link below and have fun!

Teacher Zita :)



http://www.musictheory.net/exercises/note/oybzyryyynyy

Thursday, July 11, 2013

Calling all Piano Students! :)



I have some extra openings in my private studio this summer.  It seems that many of my private students are off on vacation! :)

So now would be a good time to begin lessons!  Whether you are a brand new beginner, or continuing lessons, summer lessons are fun! When it's hot outside, take a break and come relax with music you enjoy.  When it's raining - that's my favorite time to express myself on the piano.

I accept all ages, beginners to late intermediate.  I love teaching note reading and theory, technique and scales.  But I also enjoy spending time improvising and playing by ear. And I find that if my students play music they love, they love to play! So it is important for me to help you discover what music moves you.

My studio is in a cute, funky house on Belmont St. here in Portland.

Come chat with me and see if we can have some fun learning piano! :)

Teacher Zita
pianoteacherpdx@yahoo.com