About Karen Lien

Karen Lien, passionate and caring piano teacher, collaborative pianist, blogger and author of Piano Playground, fascinated with music theory and history, best known for her creative teaching approach, owner of You LOVE Piano studio in San Antonio, TX and active member of MTNA, NFMC, AES. In between teaching and dreaming up lesson ideas, she enjoys making up stories and silly songs on piano, singing with her not-so-perfect voice, baking sweets, doing Yoga, and spending time with her husband, daughter and son. Want to read more on Karen’s background? Click here

Posts by Karen Lien:

Squirrel1

Power Practice – Piano Playtime

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What are some fun and engaging ways you use to motivate your students or your child to practice?  A parent of one of my students generously agreed to share some of her strategies.  Let’s go visit her “piano playground” and have a wonderful “piano playtime” with squirrel, Zingo, school bus and more.

🐿 Sneaky Snacky Squirrel Piano Practice 🐿

We have enjoyed adapting this cute Sneaky Snacky children’s board game for piano practice. I give each song a coordinating color (5 colors/songs) and then each time my 5-year-old son practices the song (4x), he uses the Squirrel Squeeze to grab a matching acorn and stash it on the log. After filling up all 4 logs, the squirrel is full!

〽Zingo! Piano Practice〽

Piano practice is exciting when using Zingo!–a fast-paced Bingo type game. We use 4 Zingo! cards and take turns sliding the Zingo! Zinger to reveal picture tiles. For each tile matched,  my child plays a song from the white board. After each board is filled, he yells “Zingo!”

Magnet Magic Piano Practice

My 5-year-old child has enjoyed practicing using our magnetic white board.

After he finishes practicing each song 2-4 times. he places a magnet of his choice in each circle.

If the circle is colored green, it means he watches a Piano Safari tutorial before practicing.

We had these magnets from a Melissa and Doug Responsibility Board

 

🚌 School Bus Piano Practice 🚌

At Target I found a cute $3 chore chart we have been using to make piano practice fun. The white board comes with two magnetic school buses and 8 open spaces. I covered the remaining 3 spaces used for Get Ready for School, Eat Dinner and Do Homework with blank magnets that can be written on–making a total of 11 stops for the school bus. Sometimes both buses take a trip around the neighborhood one at a time. In the picture shown just one bus is making a trip.

Wow… so many creative ideas. Are you ready for your piano playtime?

I’d love to hear yours!!!!  Please share with us.  Look forward to your comment.

Want More Practice Strategies?

This month’s theme is “Power Practice” –  a series of blog posts designed to change and empower your child to experience Power Piano Time.

Click on the links below and check out more amazing ideas on how to become a super practicer.

Kickoff Power Practice Month

Bunny Bead Counter – No More Mindless Repetition

Power Practice – 3 ingredients in 5 Minute Video

 We’d love to know what is your biggest takeaway.  Please leave a comment and share with us!

Meaningful-Movement

The Music Training I Wish I Had When I Was a Child Part 3

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“Pure Joy” is what I experience in Dalcroze Eurhythmics lesson.

I feel like a kid again when I am in the Eurhythmics classroom.  Many students dread learning advanced music concepts such as mixed meter, syncopation, polyrhythms.  In Eurhythmics, learning complicated music concepts is no longer intimidating but fun!  Eurhythmics invite students to learn in a creative and joyous environment.

I had my first Dalcroze lesson in college.  After only one-hour session, I couldn’t help but asking myself: “Why didn’t I know about this earlier?  I wish I learned music this way when I was a child!”  The class, taught by Eurhythmics Master Teacher Dr. Frego, was MAGICAL.  Abstract music concepts became EASY and I can SEE the beat through the body movement.

I wish that every child could learn music this way.  I am so excited to share a series of videos by Dr. Marla Butke and Dr. David Frego.  Watch this video to see Dr. Frego’s class in action.

 

Video 3 Shifting Accents with Racquet Balls

Concepts: anacrusis, crusis, and metacrusis; time, space and energy, meters

This activity is great for

  • both group and private lesson settings
  • children and adults

Sample Lesson Plan:

We are very lucky to be granted access to 3 videos.  These videos get us a sneak peek into the exclusive video contents that accompanies Dr. Marla and Dr. Frego’s book Meaningful Movement.

Missed Video 1 and Video 2?

No problem. Simply Click the links below!

You’ll find all the Lesson plans in the book Meaningful Movement – the ultimate guidebook to Dalcroze Eurhtymics.

Your Ultimate Guidebook to Dalcroze Eurhythmics

What’s in Meaningful Movement?

  • 206 lessons from beginners to advanced
  • 31 videos of live sessions
  • 79 pieces of music literature categorized by genre
  • Complete lesson plans with easy to read bullet points
  • Outcome assessment plan
  • Tailored to both Young students and Adults
  • Great for both large classroom and individual lesson

Insider’s View – Dr. Frego talks about the book

  • Focus Activities
  • Purposeful Movement
  • Rhythmic Solfège
  • Improvisation

Where to find the book?

Learn More about Dalcroze Eurhythmics!

Many thanks to Dr. Marla Butke and Dr. David Frego for sharing the videos and lesson plans with You LOVE Piano readers!
Meaningful-Movement

The Music Training I Wish I Had When I Was a Child Part 2

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I have a dream – a dream to bring Dalcroze Eurhythmics to every student’s piano lesson!   In previous blog, I shared the story of how I was hooked the first time I experienced Dalcroze Eurhythmics and how I wished that every child could learn music this way.

Dalcroze Eurhythmics is the Music Training I wish I had when I was a child.

I am so excited to show a series of videos by Dr. Marla Butke and Dr. David Frego.

Video 2 Canon Overlapping and Continuous (Lesson plan #16, 25, 61, 94)

Instead of having a passive listening experience, the students build deeper listening skills by actively expressing the music in their movement.

This activity is great for
*  group and private lesson settings
* children and adults of all ages

If you would like to see the lesson plan and detailed instruction, make sure to check out Dr. Marla and Dr. Frego’s book Meaningful Movement.

Listed below is a sample lesson plan

There are 3 more lesson plans for “Canon” that goes from beginner to advanced level. (Lesson plan #16,25,61, and 94)

You’ll find all the Lesson plans in the book Meaningful Movement.

Meaningful Movement –  Your Ultimate Guidebook to Dalcroze Eurhythmics

What’s in Meaningful Movement?

  • 206 lessons from beginners to advanced
  • 31 videos of live sessions
  • 79 pieces of music literature categorized by genre
  • Complete lesson plans with easy to read bullet points
  • Outcome assessment plan
  • Tailored to both Young students and Adults
  • Great for both large classroom and individual lesson

Insider’s View – Dr. Frego talks about the book

  • Focus activities
  • Purposeful Movement
  • Rhythmic Solfège
  • Improvisation

We are very lucky to be granted access to 3 videos. These videos get us a sneak peek into the exclusive video contents that accompanies Dr. Marla and Dr. Frego’s book Meaningful Movement.

Where to get the book

Learn More about Dalcroze Eurhythmics!

 

Stay tuned for video #3

Video 3 will open next Monday (May 28)!
We are very lucky to be granted access to 3 videos.  These videos give us a sneak peek into the exclusive video contents that accompanies Dr. Marla and Dr. Frego’s book Meaningful Movement.  Many thanks to Dr. Marla Butke and Dr. David Frego for sharing the videos and lesson plans with You LOVE Piano readers!

While you wait for video 3, come check out how I apply Dalcroze Eurhythmics in the private lesson!

My students LOVE the Focus activities!  They are short, fun and spontaneous. Click to see my TOP Teaching Tools.

1 minute club

One Minute Club

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What is “One Minute Club”?

If you want to be a super note-reader, one minute club is for you!
In one minute club, student is challenged to identify note flash cards and “say and play” the notes on the grand staff in one minute or less.  Well-known teachers, Jane Bastien, Susan Paradis and Amy Chaplin, have inspired the piano world with great one-minute club ideas!

Why “One Minute Club”?

Super Speed note naming skills
10 levels of achievements

Prep Activites

Level 1 Activities

Level Chart

10 Levels

  • Level 1 – (5) 3 Landmarks (Middle C, Treble G, Bass F) + E above Middle C + A below Middle C
  • Level 2 – (7 ) 4 Landmarks (Middle C(LH/RH), Treble G, Bass F),  DEF above Middle C
  • Level 3-  (10)  4 Landmarks (Middle C(LH/RH), Treble G, Bass F), DEF above Middle C, BAG below Middle C
  • Level 4 – (8) All 8 Landmarks: Low C, Bass C, Bass F, Middle C (LH/RH), Treble G, Treble C, High C
  • Level 5-  (20) Level 3+4 + Bass D, E,  AB above Treble G, DE above Treble C
  • Level 6 – (12) Grand staff space notes
  • Level 7 – (12) Grand staff line notes
  • Level 8 – (24) All grand staff notes (levels 6 and 7 combined)
  • Level 9 – (12) Ledger line notes (Two ledgers: Low CDE, Middle GAB and DEF, High ABC) P.S. Choice of ledgers is those that are available in the flashcards set I use. Low C is the lowest and High C is the highest.
  • Level 10 – (36) Grand staff + All Level 9 ledger lines
Meaningful-Movement

The Music Training I Wish I Had When I was a Child

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I was hooked the first time I experienced Dalcroze Eurhythmics.

My very first Dalcroze class was in college.  At that time, I had no idea what Dalcroze Eurhythmics was.  I entered the classroom not knowing what to expect. However, after the one-hour session, I was hooked.

I couldn’t help but asking myself: “Why didn’t I know this earlier?  I wish I learned music this way when I was a child!” 

The class, taught by Eurhythmics Master Teacher Dr. Frego, was MAGICAL.   I remember the smiles on everyone’s faces.  Abstract music concepts became EASY as we stepped and moved to the music.  What amazes me is that I can not only feel the beat, but SEE the beat through the body movement.

I wish that every child could learn music this way.  It is just that good. 

If you are wondering what Dalcroze Eurhythmics is,  what better way to experience it than watching the master teachers in action?

I am so excited to share a series of videos by Dr. Marla Butke and Dr. David Frego.

Video 1 “Walking Bass/Clapping Treble”

Concepts: Steady beat, pitch range recognition, durations, quick reactions

Instead of filling out boring music theory worksheets, the kids internalize these music concepts in a musical and engaging way.

This activity is great for
*both group and private lesson settings
*children and adults

If you would like to see the lesson plan and detailed instruction, make sure to check out Dr. Marla and Dr. Frego’s book Meaningful Movement.

Here is a sample lesson plan

There are 3 more lesson plans for “Walking Bass/Clapping Treble” that goes from beginner to advanced level.  ( lesson plan #38, #42, 68, and #99 )

You’ll find all the Lesson plans in the book Meaningful Movement.

Your Ultimate Guidebook to Dalcroze Eurhythmics

What’s in Meaningful Movement?

  • 206 lessons from beginners to advanced
  • 31 videos of live sessions
  • 79 pieces of music literature categorized by genre
  • Complete lesson plans with easy to read bullet points
  • Outcome assessment plan
  • Tailored to both Young students and Adults
  • Great for both large classroom and individual lesson

Insider’s View – Dr. Frego talks about the book

  • Focus Activities
  • Purposeful Movement
  • Rhythmic Solfège
  • Improvisation

Where to find the book?

Learn More about Dalcroze Eurhythmics!

Stay tuned for video #2

Video 2 will open next Monday (May 21)!
We are very lucky to be granted access to 3 videos.  These videos give us a sneak peek into the exclusive video contents that accompanies Dr. Marla and Dr. Frego’s book Meaningful Movement.  Many thanks to Dr. Marla Butke and Dr. David Frego for sharing the videos and lesson plans with You LOVE Piano readers!

While you wait for video 2, come check out how I apply Dalcroze Eurhythmics in the private lesson!

My students LOVE the Focus activities!  They are short, fun and spontaneous. Click to see my TOP Teaching Tools.

 

EZ notes board

How I Number Music Staff and Why

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Every month, I share one of my favorite teaching tools and books.    This month we will focus on landmark notes and E-Z Notes Magnetic Music Staff.

In this 3-minute video, you’ll see how I use the Music Staff to explain the landmark notes and how I number the staff.

Are you interested in learning more about my favorite teaching tools?  Don’t forget to check out Paul Sheftel’s Modules and my Visual Rhythm Pocket Chart.

Make sure to leave a comment. I’d love to hear how you plan to use it at home or in your studio.

Visual Music Score Mary Had a Little Lamb Title

Visual Rhythm Pocket Chart for Mary Had a Little Lamb

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Every month, I share one of my favorite teaching tools and books. In January, it was Paul Sheftel’s Modules – an award-winning book with clever and fun pieces that bring music theory to life.

This month, I combined 3 of my favorites into 1 package for you. My students have so much fun learning rhythm visually and kinesthetically AND they love the opportunity to be a conductor. Are you ready for my 3-in-1?

  1. Visual Rhythm Pocket Chart
  2. Conductor Baton
  3. Air-tapping Rhythm


Click and watch this 1-minute video. In only 1-minute, you will see how I use these tools for students to learn the song “Mary Had a Little Lamb.” It’s perfect for group, too. Some students can play the song on piano, some singing, some chanting while some do air-tapping.

Here are the Rhythm Chart Visual Scores.
Mary Had a Little Lamb Visual Music Score Title
Mary Had a Little Lamb Visual Music Score Short and Long
Mary Had a Little Lamb Visual Music Score with Short, Long, Super Long
Mary Had a Little Lamb Visual Music Score with Lyrics
Mary Had a Little Lamb Visual Music Score with Lyrics
Mary Had a Little Lamb Visual Music Score
Mary Had a Little Lamb Visual Music Score
Mary Had a Little Lamb Visual Music Score with Note Values
Mary Had a Little Lamb Visual Music Score with Note Values
Make sure to leave a comment. I'd love to hear how you plan to use it at home or in your studio.
Modules by Paul Sheftel

Explore Modules – Creative and Musical Ways to learn music theory

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Does your student love learning music theory? So many students think of learning music theory as completing worksheets, memorizing facts, or playing scales, arpeggios… it’s just too dry and boring!

Far from being dry and boring though, music theory has always been fascinating to me. For me, it unlocked the key to truly understanding how music works. I remember vividly that as a child, I wanted so badly to know why certain notes or chords sounded good together and why the composers chose the combination of notes to create the different mood in the music. I wasn’t satisfied with just playing the notes on the page. I wanted to know why music was put together a certain way.

Because of my passion for music theory, I was always looking for ways to help other students learn music theory in more creative and musical ways. After a lot of searching, I finally found a book I would like to share that brings music theory to life.

And the book is…

Modules by Paul Sheftel

 

Modules features 36 compositions that aim to teach students scales, intervals and triads in a musical and logical way. Paul’s compositions in Modules were recognized nationwide and had won the Frances Clark Keyboard Pedagogy Award in 2017.

One of my favorite pieces in the book is “TANGO.” The whole piece is constructed from only two chords, Bb Major and B Major. It amazes and inspires me that Paul is able to achieve the feel of the lively dance by using just two chords in root-position! It’s easily accessible for beginner students who are learning 5-fnger patterns, and is also great for teachers to drill the chord by turning the piece into a duet – students play the left hand part and the teacher plays the right hand melody.

Another piece called “OLE” is the companion for “TANGO.” OLE was also written with two chords only, Bb and B Major. Unlike TANGO though, OLE features the chords in 1st inversion. Because the piece is highly patterned, it’s fun and easy for the students to learn. One of my students said: “When I first glanced at the music, I thought that the piece would be VERY HARD, but it was actually quite EASY to learn, sounded amazing and learning the beautiful piece gave me lots of confidence. I feel so proud!”

Other than chords, Paul introduced intervals in a fun and musical way. Consider this question before you read further:

“If your students were asked to identify and play ALL major 6th intervals on the piano, can they do it with ease?”

Well…after playing Paul Sheftel’s piece “The Sixth Sheik’s Sixth Sheep’s Sick,” it will be a piece of cake to find ALL major 6th interval.

In fact, after learning most pieces in Modules, the students will be able to

  • Find and play ALL major, minor and perfect intervals
  • Play and find ALL major triads in root, 1st and 2nd inversion
  • See and play ALL major scales in a new light

As you can see, Paul has an amazing ability to relate keyboard patterns to theory. He cleverly weaves those black and white key patterns into charming pieces of music.

The musical and logical ways Paul presented the scales, chords and intervals help students connect the EYES with the HANDS and the MIND. It’s very important to develop this EYE-HAND-MIND connection. Imagine that after playing “The Sixth Sheik’s Sixth Sheep’s Sick,” your student will be able to understand interval patterns in their mind (the black-white key configurations), feel the interval kinesthetically in their HANDs, and see the shape of the interval both on the score and on the keys with their EYES.

What to hear what these pieces sound like? Make sure you watch this 2-minute video. I recorded the video to show you my favorite pieces from Modules.

As I mentioned in the video, SuperScore is a great app that features music by lots of famous composers.  You can view, manage, and interact with library of musical scores. SuperScore provides virtually unlimited notation sizes with Liquid Music Display™ technology. You can explore Paul’s music and many other classics by various composers all inside this app.

Here is what the SuperScore looks like:

 

 

Discover more:

SuperScore  have a winter sale going on now until Jan 15, 2018.  It’s a great time to stock up on your favorite music!

Go check out this award-winning book.  Paul was recognized by MTNA for his significant contribution to the pedagogy world because of this book.  MTNA awarded only one person in the entire nation annually.  Clearly it shows how important and wonderful this book is!

**This is the first blog that features my favorite books or teaching tools.  I only write and share what I love using in my studio with my students and I am not getting paid for writing the post.

holiday gift ideas

Holiday Gift Ideas for Young Pianists

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Holiday is just around the corner.  Are you searching for the perfect gift to delight your young pianists?

Here is a guide based on my personal experience and other piano teachers’ recommendations – things that we use and love!

1. Metronome – Must Have for any musicians

Seiko Quartz Metronome

Intelli-IMT-301

Wittner Taktell Cat Metronome

Tempi Metronome

or Metronome App such as Pro Metronome

* Digital Metronome are customizable and offer lots of functions.

2. Practice Tools

Bead Counter – so beautiful, love the design

Timer and Clock  – My personal favorite

3. Magazine

Piano Explorer Magazine  – Highly recommended by many piano teachers

4. Keyboard Guide and Magnetic Board

Alfred Keyboard Chart 

Hal Leonard Keyboard Chart

E-Z Notes Magnetic Piano and Staff Board

5. Perfect Piano Companions

CPS Pedal Extender 

PE2 Pedal Extender – my student loves this!!!

Piano Style Pedal for digital piano

Hydraulic Piano Bench  

6. Listening

Beethoven’s Wig Sing Along Symphonies CD

7. Apps

8. Scale, Key Signatures, Circle of 5ths Learning Tool

Key Awareness Mini Wheel

Key Awareness Pizza Wheel – I call this my “Piano Pizza”

Musiclock

9. Personalized Music Tote Bag

Grand Piano Music Tote Bag

Personalized Music Tote Bag

and more

10. Board Game

Music Board Game Musopoly

11. Piano Pendant Necklace

Personalized Piano Pendant

12. Piano Print with Personalized Name

Personalized Piano Print

 

Please leave a comment and share with us your favorite things for young pianists!

Power Practice 3 ingredients in 5 minutes

Power Practice – 3 ingredients in 5 Minute Video

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Ever struggling with getting your child or student to practice at home? These tips will change and empower you and your child to experience Power Piano Time.

In this video, I talked about

  • The TRUE benefit of piano lessons

  • 3 ingredients to Power Practice at Home

  • My favorite practice tools

  • Why is “tomato” so important in a focused practice?

Want More Practice Strategies?

This month’s theme is “Power Practice” –  a series of blog posts designed to change and empower your child to experience Power Piano Time.

Click on the links below and check out more amazing ideas on how to become a super practicer.

Kickoff Power Practice Month

Bunny Bead Counter – No More Mindless Repetition

Piano Playtime – Amazing Tips from a Mom

We’d love to know what is your biggest takeaway.  Please leave a comment and share with us!

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