Linda Andersen

Keyboard Muscle Tone Linda Andersen

It is my goal, through direct instruction in keyboard techniques and strategies, to open a door for each child, adolescent, or adult, who seeks entrance into the world of performing music. Over my twenty-five plus years of teaching many piano students of all ages and with a wide range of musical capabilities, I have seen a paramount need for comprehensive and methodical physiological support, along with an "I do, we do, you do" pedagogy, in order for many of these students to play successfully and happily at the keyboard. Such support should include hand-finger muscle strengthening, eye-hand-finger-coordination development, and creating a road- map for each piece prior to playing it. I decided to lay down the strategies I've found to work with my students, with the hope that these strategies will help you and other aspiring keyboard players make connections as you learn to play, apply these connections as you study and play new pieces, and develop musical muscle tone, coordination, and muscle memory. These strategies are laid out by concept and do not always follow in order of the student's playing level. Use of any of these strategies is at the parents' and/or teacher's discretion, noting that a strategy that is beyond the student's ability at that time can be returned to at a later time, when the student is ready. Many of the exercises included in this manual require a piano or electronic keyboard. For the purpose of extended practice, or, if a piano or keyboard are not available, and you have a tablet, I recommend one of the following (or similar), free Apps be down- loaded: The Piano by Impala Studios; Virtuoso Piano; Piano for iPhone. I hope that the side benefits of this endeavor will be the confidence you gain as you tackle practicing exercises and pieces on your own, your eagerness to learn new and more challenging pieces, the gratification of playing for yourself and others, and your brain's improved ability to problem-solve on the spot and readily recall information. May you find the exercises presented easy and fun to do, and may you stay with practicing and performing, shored up with tools that support you as you approach each piece. So tone up, stay toned, and enjoy the tone you make with each and every note you play. And remember, muscle tone is the key!