About the Piano Program- Rooted in the best traditions of Russian Piano School and inspired by the thoughts and educational principles of great Swiss music teacher – Emil Jaques Dalcroze, my music lessons have something to offer students of every age and almost every level of experience.
- Another major source of inspiration and influence is the work of American Performance Psychologist and renowned educator Dr. Marcie Zinn and her creation the Piano Cognitive Development Program. It is based on deep understanding of childhood developmental needs and abilities and it goes beyond simple music instruction helping students to build their metacognitive skills. Results include self-regulated, effective learning which can be applied not only to piano class or traditional schooling but to life in general.
- My piano program keeps a strong focus on training of essential skills for promoting a lifelong love of music and music making, suggested by MTNA (MTNA.org). Through this program, my goal is to evoke, refine and develop student's independent thinking. I want them to deal with the unknown with increasing ability to trust their inner resources, which builds confidence. (Click Here for More Background on Natalya Panchenko).
What to Expect
You or your child will not only learn how to play the piano, you can also expect to:
1. Be equipped with different strategies for optimal performance
2. Get experience in different areas of music making, including
improvisation and composition.
3. Develop active listening skills.
4. Enhance your or your childs Cognitive Competence.
5. Expand your vocabulary.
6. Get reasonable, affordable pricing for quality instruction.
Teaching Style
With more than 25 yearsof experience in the field of Art education, the following ideas are essential to my teaching style:
- Individualized instructions - aimed for best outcome and positive
self-perception.
- Interactive and stimulating work with preschool children based on
the newest ideas in developmental psychology and pedagogy
- Emphasis on sensory system - enrichment of performance
through sensing of space, weight and texture.
- Development of Kinesthetic awareness - effective body use and
coordination.
- Integration of music with other school subjects.
- Creating an environment of acceptance and trust that is reflected in
growing freedom and independence of students.
Instruction Options
Panchenko Piano class is centrally located in the Mission Valley areaand is offering:
- Introduction to the piano (8 week course).
- Preschool Piano.
- Piano (Beginners-late intermediate).
- Group Piano.
- Adult Piano.
- Theory (groups, including tutoring for the Certificate of Merit).
- “The Way of Music” (how to understand music) – adults.
- “Music through the ages” – children performance classes.
Please call for prices, availability and more information.
619-563-9668
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Making a Case for Music
From ARTS WITH THE BRAIN IN MIND by Eric Jensen
"It's a strong claim: Music-making is part of what makes us human." Frank Wilson (1999), assistant clinical professor-of neurology at the University of California School of Medicine, says that learning to play an instrument connects, develops, and refines the entire neurological and motor brain systems. To substantiate the case that music is a fundamental, essential human discipline, this chapter makes the following arguments:
- It has predictable developmental periods.
- Cognitive systems are enhanced including visual-spatial, analytical, mathematical and creative.
- Emotional systems are positively affected including endocrine, hormonal, social, personal skills, cultural and aesthetic appreciation.
- Perceptual-motor systems are enhanced including listening, "vestibular systems" sensory acuity, timing and state management.
- Stress response system is enhanced, which includes the immune response and autonomic nervous system, the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems.
- Memory systems are activated through improved listening, attention, concentration and recall.
The collective wisdom from real-world experience, clinical studies, and research supports the view that music has strong positive, neurological and systemwide effects.
Schools that have a once-weekly “token" music program for 30 minutes or less are missing the significant benefits, though some meager musical and cultural exposure is better than nothing. The practice sessions for playing music ought to be for a minimum of 30 minutes, up to a maximum of 90 minutes, with a focus on one skill at a time.
It's best to optimize music training with intervals of rest. Longer sessions can work for one to two hours if you're alternating short concentrated bursts of music training of 15 minutes at a time with an activity like dance, drawing, theater, recess, or walks. Students should get this training at least twice weekly. To get lasting benefits, students should continue music lessons and practice for at least one year.
Based on the evidence gathered so far, it's both reasonable and prudent that music should be a significant part of every child's education. It is the ethical, scientific and cultural imperative that all children get exposure to music on an equal basis with every other discipline. Also, children should begin their music education early in their lives, because the effects are greater in the early years. Positive impact increases with each additional year.
Music may be the foundation for later math and science excellence. In Japan, Hungary, and the Netherlands, music instruction is required. In Japan, students attend a minimum of two courses per week in music-making. In Hungary, students attend three music classes a week unless they enroll in the music magnet schools, where they receive music instruction every day. In the Netherlands, music and other arts became mandatory in 1968. Today, students are assigned comprehensive art projects to complete before graduation. The payoff? Math and science scores are near the top in the world.
“The message with music education is, start early, make it mandatory, provide instruction, add choices, and support it throughout a student’s education.”
