CPTP106: The Power of Keyboard Ensembles with Susan Ogilvy

For piano students, working in keyboard ensembles is fantastic for so many reasons. They teach kids about rhythm, phrasing, working as a team, and so much more. When you're playing with another musician – you have to actually listen. This is so valuable for young pianists and such a rare opportunity. All young pianists should be given this chance to round out their playing and musicality. Susan Ogilvy has worked for many years with keyboard labs and keyboard ensembles and she has some amazing ideas to share with us today. Learn how you can get started using ensembles in your studio more easily (and cheaply!) than you might think.

Transcript

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In this episode, you’ll learn

• How Susan got into group teaching and keyboard labs
• What a keyboard ensemble looks and sounds like
• How playing in a band helps pianists' rhythm
• How keyboard ensembles teach so many skills
• Why you don't always need to be a weighted key purist
• What students can learn about the other instruments through keyboard ensembles
• How imitating a wind instrument helps with phrasing

Links Mentioned

• SO Space
• Ogilvy Music
• Yamaha Clavinova
• Hal Leonard ensemble books

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Have you taught keyboard ensembles?

Are you looking to expand into more group work? Or put on a ensemble concert?