All students in IBMS follow a specialized curriculum that Irene prepared according to the student’s capabilities. However, all important areas of music are covered in the lessons, no matter the student’s age, level, and learning pace.
Here are the aspects of music we study during the lesson:
Technique
All lessons begin with warmups and a review of particular techniques that will be done throughout the lesson. These come in the form of Twinkles, scales, and many other exercises to make the fingers strong, supple, flexible and adaptable to the certain demands of each musical piece.
Reading
Unlike what many people think about the Suzuki method, we actually do reading exercises during lessons. Every good teacher teaches their students to read. The only difference with properly trained Suzuki teachers is that they delay reading in order to form a solid foundation on listening skills.
Once the child shows readiness, reading is taught in a natural way — through patterns and audiation. This gives the child a better eye-ear-hand coordination that immediately surpasses the reading abilities of their peers who were taught in the traditional method.
Repertoire
Majority of the lesson is spent on learning their “main” pieces. This includes learning to play the pieces from their Suzuki books. Supplementary pieces are also given when the child can handle it.
We usually go through ways of practicing their pieces, how to apply certain techniques in specific spots of the piece, how to master their pieces, and many more.
Hymn-Playing
It is part of IBMS’ goals to train its students to become adequate musicians in the service of God. Part of achieving this goal is to learn how to play hymns, to be familiar with unfamiliar hymns, to play different accompaniment styles that suit the lyrics, and to see the important role of music when it comes to worship.
Musicianship
Towards the end of the lessons, I spend a few minutes honing these skills. I usually choose 1 or 2 skills to work on, and then alternate as the weeks go by.
ARRANGING
A skill that allows the student to apply different playing styles to an existing piece of music.
IMPROVISING
A skill that develops the student’s creativity by doing certain musical tasks spontaneously
COMPOSITION
The child learns to create their own music using the musical tools they have been taught in the lessons
sight reading
The child is taught to be able to read music and play it accurately without seeing or learning it beforehand.
SOLFEGGE
To strengthen the child musicianship as a whole, and not just as a pianist, solfegge is taught as a precursor to learn all the skills listed above.
Ensemble Playing
This is when we do duets or practice accompanying other musicians.
Music Theory
We do a lot of music theory activities, most of them weaved in during the other aspects of the lesson. We also do specialized music theory activities in the group lessons that we have each month.
As the child advances, they are taught to play chords, analyze chord progressions and voice leading.
Music History
We also briefly discuss the lives of composers, the musical eras and certain performance practices, as well as forms of music and listening to other pieces of music outside of the piano. Most of these activities are done during our monthly group lessons.
What I Don’t Teach
Playing jazz, pop, and other related hybrids.
If this is something that you are interested in learning, and in the convenience of your own home. Don’t hesitate to contact me.