rikomethod

[rikomethod]

Why Etiquette Is Important to the RMSP

Those of you with children who have enjoyed my Little Tunes class know that I end every lesson with “Tea Time”. For most students, this is the most exciting part of our energetic music making experience. Children ages 3-5 sit politely in their chairs, with napkins neatly on their laps, while they sip tea out of nice china and nibble on delicious treats. They feel grown up and special, and they behave as such. Without realizing it, they are learning etiquette.

Etiquette is the most basic part of life. It helps young students get ready to pay attention. Etiquette is a set of rules. Children who understand these rules play the game better. And what kind of kids don’t like to play well? For this reason, they follow the rules.

Oh! Did I mention? Learning is just like playing games. It is not like a punishment where children have to memorize random factual matters. It’s fun and exciting and empowering.

I prefer that children remember their lessons as discovering, rather than receiving, information. They feel ownership of the music and the experience. It’s about them, and what they’ve uncovered. To me, that is a successful teaching experience.

Etiquette doesn’t need to be a burden. Some parents express concerns about depriving children of freedom. But there is a greater sense of security, control, and pride when rules are understood and applied. We let children know how to play the game. It’s a gift.

[rikomethod]

Practice Checklist

Compare our studio with Studio X... RMSP values each child’s input, creativity, personality, and connection to the music! Studio X = Boring!

First...

Studio X: Learn Notes Correctly 

RMSP: Using title, tempo, tonality, rhythm, expressions from the score, have the story ready without playing the piano

Second...

Studio X: Play notes in correct rhythm

RMSP:  Learn notes one phrase at a time

Third...

Studio X: Play notes in correct tempo

RMSP: Match your playing to the idea of the piece

Fourth...

Studio X: Include all the right expressions

RMSP: Make your music better

Finally...

Studio X: Memorize

RMSP: It’s already memorized! 

When you approach technical matters first, the musical essence becomes secondary. Our goal is to never let students forget why they are working on the piece of music... IT IS TO MAKE MUSIC! 

It's like they are going to make the cake, own it, then eat it, too!!

[rikomethod]

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by The Riko Method (@rikomethod)

Happy eclipse! #rmsp #pianolesson #musicschool #atwatervillage #silverlake #losfeliz #glendale #losangeles #debusy #clairedelune #nightmusic #earlyeducation (at Riko Method School of Piano)

[rikomethod]

Meet the Piano Brothers of the Riko Method School of Music!

Fletcher - You may have seen Fletcher scooting around town -- he’s quite the flashy entertainer! Also known as the Pink Piano,  we take Fletcher to outdoor events and the Atwater Farmer’s Market. Our students and followers love taking pictures of Fletcher for social media -- you check them out @rikomethod #pinkpiano

Franco - Franco is a Kawai Grand, and the resident piano in our main Scarletti room. On Saturday mornings, our youngest students gather around Franco for our Little Tunes class, and all of our students get to play Franco at the annual student concert.

Frederich - Frederich is the Steinway Boston Upright piano in Miss Cat’s room. He’s a bit more serious, but still loves to have a fun time with the students who visit him!

Friday - Mr. Jeremy’s room is home to Friday, a Steinway Essex Upright piano. Friday is a bright, fun instrument with a clean, upbeat sound.

Fuchsia - Fuchsia lives in our cowboy themed room. He’s an American upright piano, with a whole lot of playful funk!Friday - Mr. Jeremy’s room is home to Friday, a Steinway Essex Upright piano. Friday is a bright, fun instrument with a clean, upbeat sound.

 ... and COMING SOON... 

Forrest! I fell in love with this Viennese piano when I was vacationing in July, and now he’s coming on his way home to us at the school! Forrest is an Ehrbar, the brand of piano that Brahms loved to work with, and is nearly 100 years old. I couldn’t stop playing him, and I’m so excited to introduce you to him soon!

I visited our piano heritage, L v. Beethoven, in Vienna!

#piano #music #musicschool #musiceducation #vienna #pianobrothers #rikomethod #rikomethodschoolofmusic #beethoven #play #teach #pinkpiano #atwater #silverlake #california #socal #family 

[rikomethod]

Check out this piece in Voyage LA Magazine on Riko and the Riko Method!

[rikomethod]

The Art of Listening

This Sunday, October 9th, Riko Method School of Piano is hosting a special “Family Edition” of our concert series, Social Hour UNPLUGGED. While I will be the one performing at the piano, the most important skill on display during the concert will be active, thoughtful listening.

We all know that young children can sometimes get uncomfortable and fidgety during classical concerts. Some snooty audience members even get nervous when they see small children enter the concert hall, just the way some airline passengers groan when they see children board their flight. I don’t think that concerts have to be torturous for children (or adults for that matter)!

Here are some quick tips for making your child’s next concert experience a positive one for everyone involved:

1). Not all concert programs are created equally, and some are more kid-friendly than others. Even my husband can’t sit still through some long-winded concerts! For instance, a four-hour Wagner opera or lengthy Mahler symphony probably isn’t a great choice for a child (or an antsy adult). Instead, do your homework and look for programs that are relatively short and feature accessible, familiar repertoire. Our Sunday program, for instance, features 25 pieces, but each piece takes less than a minute to play, and several last only 30-40 seconds.

2). Help your child prepare for the experience of sitting through a concert emotionally and physically. As every parent knows, well-rested children are more attentive and less irritable!

3). Prepare your children to be attentive, active listeners every day. No matter what you are listening to –– every kind of music works –– ask your child to listen for stories in the sounds. Remind them that every movie has a soundtrack, and that any piece of music can have an imaginary movie running along with it. Try this in the car or at home while you cook. You can even ask your child to draw a picture or write a short story about what they hear in the music they are listening to.

Now that you’re ready to listen thoughtfully, don’t forget to RSVP here. We’re excited to see you Sunday at 4:00pm at Scarlatti Hall!

[rikomethod]

Summer School

A handsome, athletic college student comes home for summer vacation. After a busy year of studying, he wants to kick back and enjoy his break. Who does he call first? His piano teacher, of course!

This may not sound like the most obvious choice, but for both Daniel and Brent, it was exactly what they wanted this summer.

Daniel is a college freshman who is planning to study business. His schedule was filled with tough calculus courses during the school year. He did not have time to play the piano at school. But when he got home for the summer, he asked his mom to set up a lesson. “Can I see Riko?” he asked her. “I miss my piano lessons.”

Brent is a college sophomore. He is studying computer science and did not touch the piano while he was at school. He also missed his piano teacher and wanted to take lessons over the summer. He wanted to get some help learning a Nocturne by Chopin. He loves the beautiful, rich and mournful sounds of Chopin’s piano music.

When a teacher and a student meet together one-on-one every week for years and years, a relationship develops. Yes, the focus of the lesson is on learning how to play the piano, but a byproduct of that process is often a meaningful relationship between student and teacher. Piano teachers are mentors, but they can also feel like friends and even family.

When parents place their children in piano lessons, they usually hope that their child will love music for life, not just for a few short years as a child or adolescent. Daniel and Brent are examples of students who have retained their love for music beyond their high school years.

I am used to my students growing up and heading off to college. I wish them well and hope the things I taught them in lessons stick with them and that music is always a meaningful part of their lives. Just like they crave a home-cooked meal by their mothers when they come home from school, they also crave time with their piano teacher. The quiet pianos in their parents’ homes call to them, bringing back warm and happy memories of their childhood piano lessons. Yes, now they are trapped in this good habit of lifelong learning and music making!

[rikomethod]

The Girl with the Pearl Earrings

Ella is a very smart, curious, and mature first grader. We often chat during our piano lessons and the more I got to know this six going on twenty-seven-year-old, the more prepared I became for whatever she might have to say.  

The other day she was admiring my diamond and pearl earrings. I hesitated for a moment, but I decided to share the story anyway.

“I inherited these. Do you know what that means?”

“No, tell me.”

“It means someone close to you dies and they leave beautiful things they enjoyed for you to keep.”

She didn’t say, “Who died?” Instead, “She didn’t want them anymore?” was her question.

“Well, she thought it would be nice for me to enjoy them, this time.”

I was still a little nervous that perhaps she felt creepy about this conversation. Just then, her eyes got huge twinkles and said this.

“I know! I will have them when you die!”

I felt so loved by this child. I told her that I would be writing this brilliant idea down when I get home (it’s called the WILL!)

She doesn't need my earrings to remind her that we had a wonderful friendship. On the top of that, she will be playing the piano for the rest of her life!

[rikomethod]

Smell of Rain

Finally some rain in drought city LA. It started out pretty light.  Small rain drops.

Quite. Constant. More than drizzle, less than shower. There is a perfect word in Japanese. I feel fortunate when I realize the understanding of this language.

I posted this little mumble in Japanese. Then I heard back from my former student. Maho was my student in Paris when she was still in elementary school. She was a sweet hardworking girl. She said she liked “sol” – the dominant of the key the most. She expressed her wonder when she discovered Schumann.

She posted “I remember when it was raining in Paris, you told me that you like the smell of this kind of rain. Later, when I became a grown up, I started to see things in positive light. “

It is so precious to me that my little students have memories of piano lessons. It is more precious that they are filled with non-musical moments.  Thank you, Maho for keeping our time together in your history!

[rikomethod]

Debussy

In the late 90′s, I played “French Program” on Debussy’s piano at this birth house, the Debussy museum in the suburbs of Paris. It was the last piece La Valse by Ravel. The ending includes furious glissandos and percussive passages expressing violence and decadence. Towards the end, I realized that I broke the skin near my fingernails and was staining the keyboard with blood. When I finished playing, I frantically wiped the blood off the keys as my audience clapped. It was a strange moment. I didn’t know if I should be apologetic or proud

[rikomethod]

Back in the 90's, I lived in Paris. I was married to a composer who worked at the Institut de Recherche et Coordination Acoustique/Musique at the time and I used to sneak into the studio to practice. I remember seeing Mr. Boulez walking in this prestigious institution like a real boss. He was a very short and intimidating man. Intense. He was a walking brain. He was the epitome of true understanding of classical music as demonstrated by his enormous repertoire, his energetic approach to different musical genre, and his political appetite. What a giant! He will be missed.

[rikomethod]

Happy Holidays!

Once, I saw this Christmas cake, a chocolate log cake with plastic dreidels and Jewish stars on it. It looked totally confused. But I bought it. I mean, it was ok for my Jewish family. Jewish-light, maybe. We have as many contradictions as that Christmas cake.  For instance, our dog is raised kosher. Yet, he is running around with a red and green jingle collar (It’s a real head turner when I walk him down the street). Do the holidays themselves make that much sense, though? The decorated Christmas tree must look horribly exotic for Jesus, who comes from a desert land with no evergreens. But, hey, that’s what we do traditionally! In Tokyo, I once saw a shopping center where they had a life size Santa on a cross.  No. It wasn’t leftover from Halloween. They were trying to be joyous.

Anyhoo, it’s the holiday sprit that counts! Let’s not be too concerned about technicalities.  Instead, let’s just enjoy the holiday.

[rikomethod]

Paula’s Thanksgiving

July 1985. I traveled to Alabama with my violinist boyfriend to perform a recital.

I had arrived in this country only 10 months earlier, leaving Okinawa, Japan to attend Peabody Conservatory of Music in Baltimore. I grew up having to practice piano all the time and never knew any other life style. School was relaxing compared to my regimented schedule at home, but the other students treated me like a freak. I wasn’t special enough for my parents but was too individualistic for the average school children and society of Japan in general. I lived my life as apologetically as possible. I thought this was the way I had to exist.

So, my freshman year in America was spent discovering everything.  Immediately, I realized that I was supposed to have been born on this soil. I was an American in the wrong country. I laughed. I drank. I partied. I discovered “happy”. The only thing I really missed was good food. I later found out that cafeteria food in college campuses is not representative of the national cuisine. Fatty. Greasy. Salty. Vegetables cooked to death. Imitation cheese was on everything. I ate it anyway. I had to forgive them. After all, everything else was perfect!

When we arrived at the home of my boyfriend in Huntsville, the whole family welcomed me with hugs and kisses. James’ four big sisters were very affectionate.  Paula, the best cook, offered to make dinner and told me to just name anything. I wasn’t trying to be impolite. Perhaps it was a language barrier. I said, “I don’t like American food.” Yes, it came out wrong. I am sure Paula was insulted, but she insisted that I find something that I like. Again, I wasn’t trying to be snooty. I was only happy to remember one thing I really liked. “Thanksgiving dinner!” She was shocked. But she wasn’t going let down this little Japanese brat.

The next day, the family gathered with all the sisters, the husbands, and grand kids. The dad said, “Wow, what is it? Thanksgiving?” I mean, turkey, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, string beans, and, of course, pumpkin pie. I told Paula that this was the best meal I had had in U.S. She singlehandedly restored the pride of American culture.

I think about that hot July day every time I prepare my Thanksgiving dinner. Hard work. Generosity. But I think the real spirit was about the effort to understand the unknown. She showed me that it doesn’t have to wait until November to practice.

[rikomethod]

Salle Scarlatti

[rikomethod]

発表会まであと三日。

平行して色々なイベントやプロジェクトがあって、良い意味でも悪い意味でも、あ��り悶々としなくなりました。 先日スタッフに「コンサートの件」と言われ 「どのコンサート？私、弾くの？どっか顔出すの？」とまじめに問うと、 皆「え？あの、生徒の発表会...」と凍った表情。 週一の麻雀で雑念を払いながらも集中しているつもりが、 「おやつにチーズ食べたいな」と思った瞬間、タイルを丸かじりしそうになったり（色、形、似てるんだ、これが）、単純な話、ハードウエアがついていけてないのです。 まいっか精神、熟成中。

[rikomethod]

New Year letter from Riko

My mentor, Walter Hautzig called me the other day. My son had sent him a Hanukah card and he was delighted. I said “I know I have a big boy now. I mean I am turning fifty in 2015! I can’t believe this is happening! I don’t even know how it’s possible!!” He replied “It’s happening because I am ninety-three!”   I first heard his playing at a recital when I was eleven.

Then I was fortunate enough to play for him at his master class when I was fifteen.

I started my study with him at age nineteen. After he retired from teaching to focus more on his international career, I took lessons at his New York apartment during my senior year. I was his last baby to graduate with a diploma of piano performance.

He visited me in Paris when I was just separated from my first husband. Terribly worried and concerned, he was looking at me with a kind of guilt. “If I didn’t invite you to study with me and you never left Japan, perhaps your life could been an easier one”. I was twenty-nine.

When I had a baby boy, at the age of thirty-five, he wrote, “You never seemed this happy!”

I don’t know how his heartbreak must have been when I lost the father of my son to cancer. I don’t remember lots of thing from that period. I was forty-one.

I re-remarried at age forty-two. He said, “Ah! Finally! Jewish doctor!!”   Today, I am feeling very lucky. I have a history with my idol. Turns out it is a life long relationship. This is the person I worship. This is the person who still gives me the same chill as I listen to his performance, reminding me my innocence from the day when I was first moved and how my core didn’t get damaged by aging.  And yes, he is still performing!   At Riko Method School of Piano, we are committed to be part of your cultural lifestyle for years to come. Here is to another year of continuing our friendship. We welcome new friends. But it does get harder every year to make old friends. You are precious!   Thank you for allowing us to witness and occupy small but unique part of your lives. Thank you for letting us experience personal history making with you.

Riko CEO, Riko Method School of Piano

[rikomethod]

Sunday the 18th!! Atwater Village Farmers Market

Our one-and-only pink piano will be back at Atwater Village Farmers Market next Sunday the 18th. Come play with us!! :-)