Bauer Piano Studio

One week of virtual lessons done! Here's what I've learned:

*FaceTime, Skype, and Zoom all work fine. Skype and Zoom allow you to toggle between cameras and share your screens. That's helpful. Small differences in picture/sound quality and latency between the three platforms, but not enough from my perspective to really matter (more differences just from internet speed on either end).

*Speaking of toggling between cameras, about halfway through the week, I rubber-banded my phone to a boom mic stand to use as a second we**am (via a free app called EpocCam). This enables me to show specific techniques, hand placement, etc. to students through an overhead view of my keyboard. That's a HUGE benefit.

*I also placed a second computer monitor as a music stand. It both holds physical music and allows me to pull up digital copies of music (so the student and I are both looking at the same page at the same time).

*Kids (and humans in general) are resilient. Overall, my students have done a great job of adapting to the new format. It requires me to be very clear with my verbal instructions and students to listen carefully and follow directions (which are probably good skills anyway). This is not what any of us planned, but we're making it work and continuing to make music. That's important in these unsure times.

If you're looking for educational activities to keep your children engaged while at home, here is a list a good, music-related websites to explore:

http://www.dariamusic.com/
https://www.nyphilkids.org/
http://www.sfskids.org/
https://www.musictheory.net/
https://www.classicsforkids.com/
http://www.artsalive.ca/en/mus/index.asp

Daria - World Music for Children DARIA creates award-winning multi-cultural childrenʼs music and tours with her unique interactive concerts. DARIAʼs cdʼs are used widely in preschool, elementary and special education classrooms.

Now enrolling for fall piano lessons! Please contact Dr. Bauer for more information (PM, [email protected], or 956-298-0177).

Bauer Piano Studio is located on the southeast side of Madison, just north of McFarland. Rates are $110/month for 30-minute lessons (other options are also available).

The ideal age for starting piano lessons is 5-7, but I will take students as young as 4 (depending on the student). With my youngest students, I use a story-telling method (www.irinagorin.com) that encourages engagement and strong fundamental skills. I'm also happy to work with older beginners (including adults) and more experienced students.

Erin Bauer is a professor of music at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and has 20 years of experience teaching piano lessons, as well as teaching in the public schools and higher ed. You can learn more on her website (www.erinbauer.com) or studio page (www.facebook.com/bauerpianostudio).

ERIN E. BAUER Erin Bauer is Assistant Professor of Musicology at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. Dr. Bauer also runs a private piano studio in the Madison area. Dr. Bauer's research explores the...