Mizue's Blog
The difference between Pentatonic Scales and Penta Scales
Mizue Murakami
Recently, I've run into someone who was confused about the difference between "Pentatonic Scale" and "Penta-Scale." So, I want to give you clarification.
The term, "Penta-scale" is actually not an official musical term. However, it's been going around and becoming popular in the piano education community last two decades or so. It's because it's quicker to say it than "5-finger scale." But the official term for "Penta-scale," "Pentascale," or "Penta scale" in the English speaking countries is "5-Finger Scale." The 5-finger scale contains the first 5 notes of a full octave...
How to use Hanon's piano exercises: The Virtuoso Pianist
Mizue Murakami
We (Galaxy Music Notes) have free piano exercises by Charles Hanon, "The Virtuoso Pianist" from No. 1 through No. 37. They are useful. However, many people probably don't know how to use them and benefit from those exercises. So, today, I would like to discuss that.
Most editions (publications) of The Virtuoso Pianist have the recommendation for how to use them. And many of the recommendations probably came from Charles Hanon himself. Some might have been edited a little. But most of them say that start practicing them...
Importance of space between your fingers and the keys
Mizue Murakami
Some piano beginners and intermediate learners have a tendency not to lift your fingers up from the keys. They like to be touching the keys all the time. Then, when it is time to strike a key, they strike it from where the finger is already touching, basically from the surface of the key. When I advise my students to lift there fingers, many say that they are worried that they lose the hand position.
Let me give you an example. When you strike a nail into...
How important musical phrases are for piano playing
Mizue Murakami
Piano learners tend to forget about phrasing. Or I should rather say that they don't know the importance of phrasing. And it's easy for piano players to ignore the phrasing more so than woodwind players, brass players, and singers. Why? Because singer, woodwind players, and brass players all need to use their breath to phrase the music. So, it's very natural for them to coordinate their breath and the music they are creating.
On the other hand, piano players (if they are especially beginners or...
When you fall short on the piano only slightly but repeatedly
Mizue Murakami
You probably have experienced failing to reach a specific key, or I should say, "falling short" of what you were trying to achieve on the piano many times. Today I'm going to discuss why it's happening and how to fix it. But let's create a very simple scenario here first. I'm going to name this piano student, Susan.
"Susan's right-hand finger-1 (thumb) is on the middle C. And, her pinky (finger-5) is supposed to reach treble C, which is an...