Brain Body Balance

What sets the Snowman's Dream Piano Method apart from most traditional ways of learning to read music and playing the piano, is that you memorize only five notes on the piano and on the grand staff. This reduces the need to think about and memorize all the note names on the staff, and simply play the piano. Yes, you will learn all the note names, yet when you play, you will be thinking by intervals of steps and skips rather than note names. Just like you don't spell each letter aloud when you read, we don't need to say the name of each note when we play the piano. Thus, many say: "Oh, note reading is easier than I thought!" during their first Snowman's Dream Piano lesson. In addition, the Snowman’s Dream Piano Method provides a combination of repetition and some new learning each day. Most students find that within a few months of piano lessons, they are able to start playing the simpler songs from their wish list. It’s pretty exciting! For those who've been playing the piano for years and wish for ease in music reading, the Snowman's Dream Piano Method, is your wish come true. Most who commit to learning this new method of reading music find that within a few weeks to a few months, they can read and play music that once felt too challenging to consider.

With joyful exploration, wise habits, and consistent play, your piano dreams will become a reality. Together we will look at your song wish list, along with your level of technique and note reading skills - these may be factors as to whether the original version of a song, or an edited version will be a "Goldilocks" just right fit - not too hard, or too easy. Dreams do come true....and your determination will make them happen!

We are learning all the time....The legendary cellist Pablo Casals was asked why he continued to practice at age 90. “Because I think I'm making progress.” Your goals and your starting place will make a difference as to your personal piano journey. For adults, consider your goals, your availability to play daily, and a commitment to a minimum of one to three years of lessons. Short term lessons for adults that are less than a year are an option, when scheduling is available. For children, their interest, goals, availability to play daily, along with family, school, and other commitments are all to be considered. Many families are looking at a long-term goal of three to ten years of piano lessons for their child. Shorter term lessons are available for teens wishing to increase their piano and/or sight-reading skills to prepare to play in an ensemble or meet the requirements of a music school.

Most new/returning students find five to seven days of daily playing optimal for learning, with the most important practice time happening within the first 24 hours following the lesson. Some prefer to play the piano off and on throughout the day five minutes here, ten minutes there. Others may play in the morning one day and the evening another day. Many find it easiest to remember to play the piano at the same time each day. You will be learning each time you focus on reviewing the lesson with positive practice habits. In addition, you will want to give yourself extra time some days to play "just for fun".

For some with past music reading challenges, the Snowman’s Dream is the perfect answer to their frustrations. When this isn't the case, there are usually factors involved that once named, can be remedied. Known or unknown anxiety, old beliefs, current/past illness, visual, and/or cognitive issues can make music reading challenging. Working with an appropriate specialist can make a huge difference. A special pair of glasses, vision therapy, literacy/dyslexia therapy, cognitive therapy, movement therapy, physical therapy, psychotherapy, and/or occupational therapy are to be considered. Honest communications with one's self, one's medical team, and your music teacher are super important to prevent further frustrations. For those who are dyslexic and/or music reading frustrations are not remedied with ease with the Snowman's Dream Piano Method, there are several fun methods and/or adaptions that eliminate the biggest piano music challenges to provide relief from note reading temporarily or permanently. Your unique music journey will allow your playing dreams to come true!

The more one uses both hands in daily life, the easier it is to learn to play the piano with two hands. If you tend to favor one hand with most actions, then the other hand will likely need extra playing time and/or exercises to catch up with the favored hand. Little by little the hands begin to play together with more ease. When finger dexterity is an issue... knowing the cause behind one's concerns is helpful. Seeing a medical specialist is recommended - PT/OT/DO/MD to gain understanding and a wider range of movement.

Piano lessons are currently scheduled during the following times: ~ Wednesdays, 10am to 9pm Eastern Time (USA)* ~ Thursdays, 10am to 3pm Eastern Time (USA) *Note: When I travel internationally, lesson times normally scheduled between 3pm to 9pm Eastern Time (USA) will be temporarily rescheduled to the week day hours - 10am to 3pm Eastern Time (USA) or to a weekend - 10am to 3pm Eastern Time (USA).

All Piano Lessons are currently taught via Zoom. I use two cameras - one to have face to face conversation with you and a second camera to demonstrate hand position, fingering, technique, and note reading. Ongoing communications allow for questions, concerns, or frustrations to be known, so they can quickly be resolved. Your laptop or tablet is placed to the side of your piano to allow both your face and the piano keys to be seen in the camera. Notifications are silenced, and if others are the home - they are usually in another room behind closed doors. The exception is the adult who may be supporting you/your child during the lesson. Learning in the comfort of the home eliminates travel time - thus allowing you/your child to warm up at the piano prior to a lesson, and/or a bit of time to play immediately afterwards to recall new learning. Lessons via Zoom allow both you and I to participate in lessons even when we have "the sniffles". Zoom lessons are helpful for those who travel for a significant amount of time to continue lessons from one location to another. A second piano, travel keyboard, or rental piano/keyboard can be used for lessons during travels.