Spring Break Days

During Spring Break, I will be teaching on Monday and Thursday. There are five weeks in the month for Tues, Wed, and Friday, but not Monday. And Thursday is a make-up day for that day I was so sick back in February, I think it was.

Thank you, everyone! Have a great break!

Mr. Slaughter

Performance Thoughts

I thought I would talk about performing for a moment.

Performance is different from sitting in your home and playing. At home, you are free to  enjoy, make mistakes, experiment, think about other things while you play; because no one is listening. But not in a performance. No freedom to let your mind wander while you play or make mistakes, or to dramatically experiment with ideas because you know you can go back and do it again. The result is great stress in a performance.

Here is what performers do in their practice time: Decide what the piece should sound like and then practice that right performance over and over again.

Here is another thing that I heard John Cleese say that I thought was very true. Fear and performance anxiety happen because you are, “Being more concerned with being bad than with being great.”

Easy to say, hard to overcome. But perfect practice will give a performer strength and very much security, so practice a lot!

Have a wonderful day! 

Mr. Slaughter

Our YouTube Channel

I need to tell you where our YouTube Channel is!

On YouTube, type in “Allegro Piano Studio.”  Ours is about three items down on the search results, and it is just a blue square called Allegro Piano Studio. Click that and you will see all the videos that are there. I may upload a piece you are playing so you can listen to it when you want.

Thank you! Talk to you later!

They can do something the rest of us can't.

Pretty interesting stuff. I know that, as a pianist, there is a coordination of so many factors going on, then the fine motor movement that must be controlled at such a fine degree. It is developed over a lot of years of concentrated attention. Of course, the rarefied, beautiful musical expression is the final end - produced as though it were so natural and so easy. And it must BE musical and musically meaningful. That is the personality, the ability to make the music be what it is supposed to be. To say what it is supposed to say, which is you as the pianist, speaking musically.

Also, I know that students can practice hands separately, and each hand can do a good job by themselves, but when they are put together, it is like starting over. It is very slow and very hard (when the piece is hard). That must be where all these factors this article talks about come together to be managed by the brain, and it is this skill that I know is being developed in my students. I sometimes have them slow down so, so, so far so that the brain can have plenty of time to think about all the things that have to happen and can stay ahead of the fingers. Notes, fingering, articulation, dynamics, rhythms, melody line that must stand out, accompaniment that must remain subservient to the melody (listening to make sure that is happening plus making the fingers play lighter here, stronger there), and phrase shapes (the real expression of musical thoughts). It is a lot! But, once they have been practiced, a pianist can play so fast because the mind is so fast and knows what it is doing. It sees it all at once.

Some people are very fast and natural at this stuff, others have to practice long and hard to get there. I am of the latter.

Here is the article:

They can do something the rest of us can't.

http://mic.com/articles/91329/science-shows-how-piano-players-brains-are-actually-different-from-everybody-elses

"…some people never recover from childhood piano lessons. This is, in part, because true pianists' brains are actually different from those of everyone else. In this series, we've already written about what makes guitarists' and drummers' brains unique, but playing keys is an entirely different beast. Drums are functionally pitchless and achordal, so pitch selection and chord voicings aren't part of the equation. Guitar only allows for six notes at once and heavily favors left-hand dexterity.

But piano is the ultimate instrument in terms of skill and demand: Two hands have to play together simultaneously while navigating 88 keys. They can play up to 10 notes at a time. To manage all those options, pianists have to develop a totally unique brain capacity — one that has been revealed by science."

Piano Lessons

Hello Neighbors,

Steve Slaughter

921-5143

steves160@juno.com

AllegroPianoStudio.blogspot.com
5260 N. Steamboat Way, Boise, 83713

I teach piano, which I have done since moving here in 2003. I have two Master's in Piano Performance, and my Bachelor's is from Boise State, 1984. We live in The Legends subdivision.

I mainly teach groups; usually in groups of two or three for beginners. I started one class last year, but want to start a couple of others. I have 18 students, some are advanced after five to ten years of learning, and now I am starting to teach beginners again.  I am very social and fun, and I find that the students move very fast in this group environment; I get a lot more out of them in groups! I have around 18 students right now.

I charge $75 per month, plus books, for four lessons a month (the fifth week is free).

I love music and aim toward University in the long run, though I know that most will not major in music. Keeping that in mind, I help each person develop in musical ability and understanding to the furthest degree possible so that they have a gift to take into the future for themselves, and to share with others.

Music and the discipline of musical development through practice and mastery on an instrument brings about a new dimension in an individuals emotional growth, mental development and ability to express themselves. In some cases, I have seen young people gain new confidence in themselves that nothing else could do because the ability to play the piano gave them something that was theirs, something they could own and be proud of among their peers. Indeed, all gain this to some degree.

A good technique is important, as is understanding the theory of how music works, as well as ability to express the wonderful beauty in the music!

If you have a child that you would like to have take piano, or know of a friend that might, please call or write and we can start this wonderful journey!

Thank you for taking the time to read this explanation of my work and goals!

Steve Slaughter

921-5143

steves160@juno.com

AllegroPianoStudio.blogspot.com
5260 N. Steamboat Way, Boise, 83713

References from parents of students over the years:

Our children have been taking piano lessons with Mr. Slaughter for the past 5 years. He is an amazing music teacher who passes on his love for playing the piano to his students. Our kids enjoy their lessons and have grown tenfold under Mr. Slaughter's teaching.

I would recommend Mr. Slaughter to anyone interested in giving their children the gift of music. You would be hard pressed to find a better piano teacher.

Lori N.

Steve is very professional and has high expectations for ALL of his students. He is constantly urging them to a level at or near their potential and level of talent, but he is also flexible and understanding when the week doesn't go as expected, and practice time falls short.

Nancy F.

My daughter has been taking piano lessons from Steve for the past 10 years. She began when she was 7. From the very beginning Steve has taught her proper technique and form that has served her well in her later years. Steve has taught her theory from the very beginning and now my daughter has impressed her private saxophone teacher and school band teacher with her in depth theory knowledge. Steve is a kind, sweet man who is truly interested in helping my child succeed, but he also pushes her when she needs it but always in a positive way. Steve is very knowledgeable and holds degrees in music. His prices are very reasonable for the amount of experience he has. Steve allows the students opportunities to compete in music festivals throughout the year. My daughter took 2nd place at the Sonatina Festival in 2011 for her playing level. The whole Slaughter family are wonderful and support Steve by always having a family member in the home while he is teaching students. I highly recommend Steve Slaughter as a piano teacher for beginning through advanced students!

Angela S.

Mr. Slaughter is an very knowledgeable and patient teacher. He is kind and encourages his students.

Linda M.

Wonderful Piece by Brahms

This is Evgeny Kissin playing Johannes Brahms' Variations on a Theme by Paganini Book I


http://youtu.be/v1CJjFdDjfQ



This Paganini Theme is used a lot among the Masters to write variations. (Paganini was the great violinist who had amazing talent and huge shows in Paris). Brahms has a piano and orchestra version of it as well, which is, also, a wonderful piece! YouTube it!

Mr. Slaughter

Music is sculpture in time.