Steinbach Piano and Theory Teacher: Candace Hamm

I don't know about your studio, but in mine, January and April are the months that I need to focus on keeping my students motivated! Prior to Christmas everything is fresh and new, February and March are dominated by festivals, May is the time when we create student projects, and June is exploration and recital month! So, I like to try to be intentional about January and April, and plan practice challenges and fun activities for these months. I'd love to see my studio parents get in on the fun and help make these months even more motivating and special!

It’s spring break! Started it off today with an AWESOME pedagogy session with my former voice teacher in college. Who better to discuss facial expressions, emotions, breathing, and moods with than an opera singer? We as instrumentalists don’t always think about these things but they make a giant positive impact on our performance levels. Have a wonderful restful week all, and Happy Easter!

To student ‘T’ on completing a full solo recital (just wait until you see the video!), student ‘C’ on completing her sightreading cards, student ‘C’ on beginning level 1 RCM, student ‘C’ on successfully creating time to practice TWO HOURS a day, and student ‘N’ on beginning RCM level 8 pieces!

What do Easter eggs and art have in common? They’re both part of our big Easter piano hunt this week at the studio!

Look at this six year old go! He created some stunning improv on his very first attempt at pentatonic scales. This young man is a transfer student and is doing so much great work- he’s gone from a primer book to sightreading music from Fearless Fortissimo and RCM prep confidently first try in less than a year!

If music is a language, our exposure to and acclimation comes far earlier than formal lessons should! Check out the clip of our little guy in the comments, who turned one in February, beginning to imitate pitches. He’s not totally accurate yet but what’s important is that he’s learning and understanding, and responding. So music instruction can start far earlier! It’s the instrument that we need to choose the right time to begin! And for this, it’s important to understand our hand structure. See how unformed those bones are? It’s one of the reasons I don’t use five fingers methods as is... ever. Here’s the takeaway- music instruction should start from birth. Instrument instruction should wait until the hands can handle it, and prior to age 7-8 we really have to be careful about making sure we teach according to what the hand can do.

How does a piano instructor introduce her own kid to music? Here's five things I'm doing with my baby! I also allow him to 'play' on the piano regularly, and he watches Daddy play guitar while we sing. Next year we'll put him in a toddler music class run by an awesome colleague and studio parent of mine. But that's it! There's no real secret to early childhood music, and you don't need to spend a thing unless you want to! (PS- If you look back through my past posts, look for this background to find more music parent tips!)

Wow wow wow! What an awesome lineup of incoming students this fall is shaping up to have! Every year I end up more and more excited by the young talent that walks through my door with so many diverse goals for piano, and feel so incredibly privileged to get to work with the Southeast's up and coming young pianists! I am now accepting student inquiries for fall 2021 and booking free consultations....and I'm getting very close to full for this fall. I'd love to meet with you and see whether my studio is the right fit for your student! For more information email [email protected] or visit https://candacehammpiano.weebly.com/

Students! Check out the FREE concert tomorrow night!

My students will remember the art case pianos we looked at last spring- I wish this one was in my house!

I can count on this early advanced student for an enjoyable lesson every week! One of my most consistent practicers and a brilliant performer.

I know I have students who love Lego!

For the next two weeks, all but first year students will be sightreading a piece every single day!

This is the piece that is stumping all my students in our Christmas carol guessing game this week- so they have an assignment to watch it! Enjoy this wonderful video! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2IBGlDJ3lg

‘Santa Baby’ is hanging out at online lessons this week to watch everyone practice their recital pieces. A student got him his costume when he was born and picked just the right size to fit him now- he is a VERY appreciative audience!