A few colleagues asked for this recipe for the fruit bars I brought on August 25
1 bag Oatmeal Cookie Mix by Betty Crocker
1 stick of Land of Lakes Salted Butter (the best butter, I think)
1 salmonella free egg
A handful of
1. Coconut flakes
2. Raisins
3. Cranberries
4. Blackcurrants
5. Butterscotch chips
You may substitute or add other dried fruit to the list above using dried apples, apricots, or dates. Add nuts if desired, almonds or walnuts suggested for this recipe. Omit butterscotch chips if you wish.
Directions:
Empty cookie mix into mixing bowl.
Mix fruit (and nuts) into cookie mix. Make sure fruits are coated with the mix. How much fruit is too much fruit? The amount of fruit I use is about 1/3 the amount of the cookie mix.
Add softened butter and egg.
* I was too lazy to shape the cookie dough so I did the quick version and pressed the dough evenly into a greased 9 X 12 pan. I am not sure how long I baked it, probably 12 mins or so.
Bake according to the directions on the bag if you're making individual cookies. Enjoy!
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Back to the Books & Keys
I am hitting the books again after about a year's break. I am beginning my study and research to prepare for a world music class again. I wish there was a class on ethnomusicology theories that I could take. It's a little difficult to figure all of it out from a textbook.
I am also organizing all my media resources at home to prepare for the world music class. I have so many different videos of ethnic performances and many recordings lying around. I think I better start putting them in order and reviewing those which I haven't watched or listened to.
Other than that, I need to start a regular practicing schedule again :)
I am also organizing all my media resources at home to prepare for the world music class. I have so many different videos of ethnic performances and many recordings lying around. I think I better start putting them in order and reviewing those which I haven't watched or listened to.
Other than that, I need to start a regular practicing schedule again :)
Friday, September 3, 2010
If you are curious ...
I started another blog on my real full-time job. Check that out at Musica Ministry Journey.
A Broken Record
I think I'm beginning to sound like a broken record or CD or an mp3 file error in my piano lessons. I understand where the students are coming from and am able to recognize some habits in their playing. I wouldn't have thought of making my students play scales but in fact, YES, I am. I'm not being a tyrant about it but I have to be responsible to fix a basic technical problem: not releasing keys. I appreciate that my teachers took the time to fix this problem. There is no way to play with any clarity or speed without this.
I didn't realize how much I can't stand the sound of notes blurring together until I started teaching. I had not realized how sensitive my hearing is towards that. I think my more advanced students are surprised when I ask them to play a pentascale hands separately. One can tell so much about their playing just from that like what they consider to be good tone and good touch.
Besides not releasing keys, most do not play with a nice basic tone. They skim the keys like I used to do. I liken that type of playing to a singer with breathy tone. I don't think I can play like that anymore because it hurts my muscles! It's nostalgic to go down memory lane with my students. :)
I remember one of my teachers saying that taking lessons is narrowing the gap between what you perceive is true/correct to what your teacher hears. I'm noticing this to be true that my students evaluate and grade their playing very differently than I do. It is scary, I'm beginning to sound like my teachers!
I didn't realize how much I can't stand the sound of notes blurring together until I started teaching. I had not realized how sensitive my hearing is towards that. I think my more advanced students are surprised when I ask them to play a pentascale hands separately. One can tell so much about their playing just from that like what they consider to be good tone and good touch.
Besides not releasing keys, most do not play with a nice basic tone. They skim the keys like I used to do. I liken that type of playing to a singer with breathy tone. I don't think I can play like that anymore because it hurts my muscles! It's nostalgic to go down memory lane with my students. :)
I remember one of my teachers saying that taking lessons is narrowing the gap between what you perceive is true/correct to what your teacher hears. I'm noticing this to be true that my students evaluate and grade their playing very differently than I do. It is scary, I'm beginning to sound like my teachers!
New academic year - Piano Area
Some updates from the piano studio at my college for this new academic year:
- I have a budget! It is small but it would cover the piano library and minor equipment purchases.
- Class Piano I is full and had a waiting list. This year I put all my handouts into a book so hopefully the students will not lose it. The best news is that I will be getting a new communication system (Yamaha LC3) in the piano lab soon.
- Applied Piano, I have 8 students with only 2 beginners in this. I do have one piano major and some advanced students. It is exciting to be teaching a Beethoven sonata and some Bach this semester. I found out that I didn't have any sonatina collections in my piano library. It's good to move beyond beginner literature for a change.
- We will be getting a digital stage piano as well. This will prevent any Clavinova pianos from traveling everywhere.
- My friend, Jeremy Owens, will be performing here and conducting a masterclass for my students in November.
On a personal note, I have been invited to perform for the Ark City Music Club Chopin program in Octoaber and will have to muster up the courage to play the Barcarolle one more time before it is put away for awhile. I will be judging the concerto competition for the Wichita area piano teachers in November too. I am still having plans to perform a recital next April. I also have several students in my personal studio and intend to keep only a handful of students.
- I have a budget! It is small but it would cover the piano library and minor equipment purchases.
- Class Piano I is full and had a waiting list. This year I put all my handouts into a book so hopefully the students will not lose it. The best news is that I will be getting a new communication system (Yamaha LC3) in the piano lab soon.
- Applied Piano, I have 8 students with only 2 beginners in this. I do have one piano major and some advanced students. It is exciting to be teaching a Beethoven sonata and some Bach this semester. I found out that I didn't have any sonatina collections in my piano library. It's good to move beyond beginner literature for a change.
- We will be getting a digital stage piano as well. This will prevent any Clavinova pianos from traveling everywhere.
- My friend, Jeremy Owens, will be performing here and conducting a masterclass for my students in November.
On a personal note, I have been invited to perform for the Ark City Music Club Chopin program in Octoaber and will have to muster up the courage to play the Barcarolle one more time before it is put away for awhile. I will be judging the concerto competition for the Wichita area piano teachers in November too. I am still having plans to perform a recital next April. I also have several students in my personal studio and intend to keep only a handful of students.
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