A YEAR OF PRACTICE AND PERFORMANCE: IMPROVING PIANO SKILLS TO BECOME A BETTER CHORAL DIRECTOR
Piano skills are extremely important to a choral teacher’s success, and I always considered my piano playing as a weak point in my teaching. The intent of my project was to dedicate a year of intensive practicing and performing as an accompanist in order to improve my piano technique, gain a wider repertoire of music to use in teaching private lessons and choir, and gain confidence in my abilities as an accompanist. Through one hundred and three hours of documented practice time, eight performance experiences in a variety of settings, and eighteen pieces prepared and performed, my playing has improved dramatically, as has my confidence in my playing. I have also learned important things about myself as a pianist, and have realized how a wide variety of Howard Gardener’s Multiple Intelligences are utilized when accompanying.
accompanist, accompanying, choir, choir director, conducting, multiple intelligences, music, piano
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