100 tips for working with ballet pianists
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100 tips for working with ballet pianists #32: Check your pianist is ready
Glance over to your pianist just before you say ‘and…’ to check that they are ready to play, especially if they are reading from ... -
100 tips for working with ballet pianists #31: Be accurate about the tempo you want
If you’re marking an exercise for dancers, it can be tempting to ‘mark’ the tempo to the pianist as well – but this is ... -
100 tips for working with ballet pianists #30 Use counts, not bars
When you’re marking an exercise for a pianist, speak in terms of counts rather than bars, particularly with introductions (e.g. say ‘x counts in’, ... -
100 tips for working with ballet pianists #29: Allow the music to speak
When you first start teaching (whatever your subject), it’s tempting to think that nobody’s learning unless you’re talking. The truth is, an awful lot ... -
100 tips for working with ballet pianists #28: Practise at home
Put on a tape or CD – of anything – and practise setting exercises aloud with the music. Marking an exercise in tempo is ... -
100 tips for working with ballet pianists #27: Be your own rhythm section
Sometimes it helps to give directions, count or talk gently in the rhythm and tempo that you want while the music’s playing. This gives ...