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Benefits of Piano Guild Auditions | Con Forza Summer Piano Goals.

Why June and July Are the Perfect Time for a Piano Guild Audition For many piano students, summer marks the end of the school year. But for dedicated musicians, June and July offer a valuable opportunity to participate in a Piano Guild Audition. A Piano Guild Audition is much more than a performance. It is a nationally recognized evaluation that encourages students to set meaningful goals, build confidence, and celebrate musical growth. Whether a student is just beginning les

Jun 293 min read

“The Secret to Confident Piano Memorization” 🎹

Memorization is one of the most important aspects of performance. Whether it is a student recital, a degree recital, a competition, or a professional concert, pianists are expected to perform from memory. For some students, memorization comes naturally—sometimes even more easily than reading the score. However, for many, memory slips can lead to performance anxiety, discouragement, and even avoidance of public performances. This can happen at any age and at any level. So how

Mar 302 min read

Beyond "Just Practice": How to Make Every Piano Session Count.

👉 Guidelines to help students practice with focus, discipline, and musical intention. Are the following pieces of advice a motivation for practicing? 🎹 Students may hear from a teacher: “practice, practice, it makes you perfect” or “perfect practice makes it perfect”, “go home (room) and practice”, “just practice more." Create a practice log or journal (write it by hand or on iPad or iPhone). Monitor daily how much time you spend practicing the piano. Practicing every day w

Jan 162 min read

🎻 A Royal Visit: The Palace of Gödöllő and the Spirit of Empress Sisi

During my recent trip to Hungary, I visited the Royal Palace of Gödöllő , the beloved summer residence of Empress Elisabeth of Austria—Sisi—Queen of Hungary . My visit was inspired by a PBS series about her life, which sparked my curiosity about this fascinating historical figure. The palace, beautifully preserved, stands surrounded by a lush botanical garden and a vast park , both inviting peaceful reflection. Inside, I admired portraits of Sisi from her 16th year through h

Nov 2, 20251 min read

"From Notes to Performance: How to Polish Your Piano Piece Like a Pro”

A clean, repeatable routine for taking a piece from "learned" to "performable." Mindset & Focus Start memorizing the piece the first time you play it correctly. Start the piece several times. You must learn the sensation of how it begins. Be thinking at all times- CONCENTRATE. Sound, Touch, and Balance Play SLOWLY. You have to think harder. Play the piece ALL LOUD and SLOW. It forces fingers to feel the correct keys. Structure, Harmony, and Memory Be aware of the harmonic str

Oct 17, 20252 min read

🎵 “Build a piano practice routine that works—4 rules, daily plan, and tips to improve focus, technique, and expression at the keyboard.”

“A great piano practice routine isn’t about the number of hours you spend at the keyboard—it’s about how you use your time. Whether...

Oct 10, 20252 min read

🎼NO MORE SHOULD-JUST SHARPS # AND FLATS b

Here is my 🎹Practice √ List: MIND -is it turned on? EYE -how slow must I play steadily to have "eye comfort"? EAR -did I get the sound I wanted? MUSCLE -how did it feel? Is there a way to make it feel easier? PENCIL or IPAD PEN -did I notate discoveries? Fingering Sensations of sound Loud and soft Legato and staccato High and low Long and short Up and down Slow and fast Thick and thin Slow-fast Thick-thin 🎶Overall goal before weekly lessons with my piano teacher: First w

Oct 6, 20251 min read