Saturday, March 16, 2013

MOTIVATION to PRACTICE

MOTIVATION TO PRACTICE 

“If it is important to you, you will find a way. If not you’ll find an excuse.” 



“I am too busy; my schedule doesn't allow time for me to practice.” 

I know that some of my students do have pretty crazy schedules, but I wonder if our fast-paced culture has conditioned kids to think that they’re too busy to do things that they really could fit into their day if it was important enough… In going above and beyond the call as a teacher to keep piano lessons fun and engaging, I wonder if we sometimes forget to tell students the reality: 
  • Sometimes daily practice will be hard. 
  • Sometimes you will fall short of what you want to achieve. 
  • Sometimes practicing will not be fun. 
  • Sometimes you will feel like quitting. 
  • Sometimes you will wonder why you are learning to play the piano. 
This is normal. It’s okay to feel these things. But you must press on. 
You must be diligent to practice every day. 
You must put your whole heart into doing the best you can. 
Because it will be worth it. It is worth it!

Is your student practicing enough? 
See this Table of Practice Times
1 x 60-minute Practice per Week = 2 Months Progress in 12 Months 
1 x 30-minute Practice per Day = 6 Months Progress in 12 Months 
1 x 45-minute Practice per Day = 12 Months Progress in 12 Months 
1 x 60-minute Practice per Day = 15 Months Progress in 12 Months 
1 x 90-minute Practice per Day = 24 Months Progress in 12 Months 
2 Hours Practice per Day = 36 Months Progress in 12 Months

Tuesday, March 5, 2013

"10 IDE KREATIF KELAS MUSIK" - Artikel Staccato Maret 2013

10 IDE KREATIF KELAS MUSIK
Artikel Majalah STACCATO (Maret 2013)
Oleh: Jelia Megawati Heru


Pelajaran musik terasa membosankan dan monoton bagi anak dan guru?
Kesulitan mengajarkan murid tentang interval, chords, key signatures, membaca notasi balok, dan terminologi dalam bahasa asing? Not anymore!
Spice up your music lesson with these fresh creative ideas!


1. FLASH CARDS

Flash card merupakan satu seri kartu yang berisi informasi, formula, tema tertentu, berupa kata-kata, angka, simbol, dan merupakan media/alat bantu yang sangat berguna dalam mengasah kemampuan belajar, baik di dalam kelas maupun di rumah. Umumnya subjek/tema yang dipelajari bentuknya berupa tanya-jawab dan diperuntukkan untuk mengaktifkan memori jangka panjang melalui pengulangan (repetition), sehingga proses belajar menjadi lebih efektif dan relatif cepat, dibandingkan metode belajar tradisional pada umumnya. Kartu flash biasanya memiliki dua sisi (two-sided), seperti kamus bahasa Indonesia-Inggris.

Kartu flash sangat berguna dalam mengajarkan musik teori dan menguji sejauh apa murid Anda memahami konsep musikal yang diajarkan. Anda bisa berlatih membaca notasi balok pada treble clef, bass clef, bahkan alto clef, dan tenor clef pada satu sisi kartu, dan jawabannya terdapat pada sisi kartu yang lain. Beberapa alternatif ide kartu flash lain: key signatures, interval, tanda istirahat, terminologi musik, tanda dinamika. Gunakan bentuk gambar yang menarik pada kertas berwarna. Apabila Anda mempunyai dua set kartu, Anda bisa membuat permainan memori dengan mencari pasangan yang sama pada kartu (hanya berlaku pada kartu flash satu sisi).

Saturday, March 2, 2013

Profile Performer "Disney Pianolicious"

PROFILE PERFORMERS
"DISNEY PIANOLICIOUS"


JELIA MEGAWATI HERU
music educator, lecturer, pianist, and writer
to see profile, please click HERE


MICHAEL GUNADI WIDJAJA
composer, writer, and music worker

Begin to recognize the piano at age 5 through the guidance of his mother, Marta Suryani Tanjung. At the age 9 started to learn the classical guitar. His passion of music makes him learn music theory, compositorical study, contrapuntal and orchestration under guidance of Slamet Abdul Sjukur. Studied Jazz, Jazz orchestration and improvisation technique under guidance of Jack Lesmana. He gets scholarship in Perth Conservatory, Australia (1989 – 1991) to study New Music and contemporary music landscape with Prof. Dr. Heinz Holliger and attends masterclass of John Williams.

Michael Gunadi Widjaja represents Indonesia at The Asian Composer League in New Zealand for his composition “Processual Procession” for chamber orchestra and gamelan orchestra (1999) and in Manila, Philippines “Reb” for guitar and chamber orchestra (2002). He makes a collaboration CD of mixed culture dialogue between Music and poem featuring Sosiawan Leak, Indonesian poem writer. The CD is collected by deutsche indonesische Gesellschaft Berlin, Germany (2011).

He composes the choreographical music for Dance Department of ISI (Institut Seni Indonesia) Yogyakarta for 5 years (1997-2002), composes music documentaries especially for local government projects. Establish The Shining Star Enrichment Center - the one and only music learning centre in Tegal, Central Java.

In 2004 – 2012 he was the head of music department in City Art Council of Tegal. 
In 2008 – 2012 he was also a member of Performance Department in Province Art Council of Central Java. 

Currently he is the chairman of creativity, music, traditional art and art development in City Art Council of Tegal. Since 1998 until now, he still becomes one of the contributor and writer in AUDIOPRO magazine. Since this year becomes one of the writer of STACCATO music magazine for Jazz rubric and share his musical ideas through his blog: www.imajiner07.blogspot.com

Friday, March 1, 2013

Music Concert "DISNEY PIANOLICIOUS"

A Music Concert
"DISNEY PIANOLICIOUS"
tribute to Walt Disney

"There's a terrific power to music.
You can run any of these pictures and they'd be dragging and boring.
But the minute you put music behind them, they have life and vitality."
- Walt Disney -

 
  
Directed by: 
JELIA MEGAWATI HERU

VENUE 
@america
American Cultural Center
Pacific Place, 3rd Floor
Sunday, 19th May 2013
3 pm - 5 pm

PERFORMING:
the most beautiful Disney movie soundtracks and shorts film
such as: Beauty and Beast, the Little Mermaid, Lion King, Mulan, Aladdin, Up, Tangled,
Mary Poppins, Paperman, Pixar's movie, the Pirates of the Caribbean, 
 and many more...

in all form of Solo & Piano Ensembles, Guitar, Vocals, and Male Acapella
with the world's first high tech American Cultural Center in Jakarta

FEATURING:
 Students from Jelia's Music Playground
Michael Gunadi Widjaja (guitar)
Mery Kasiman (piano)
Nathanael Ahimsa (bass)
Male Acapella "Nathan & friends" 
  
FREE ENTRANCE!
NO REGISTRATION!



Further Information
 Michael 0818 288 006, pin: 288A49F3
email: elisabeth.jmh@gmail.com

Read more about Walt Disney and his legacy:
Google Maps click HERE
 

WALT DISNEY: Revolutionizing the World of Animation (part 2) "The Magical Music"

WALT DISNEY:
REVOLUTIONIZING THE WORLD OF ANIMATION (part 2)
"THE MAGICAL MUSIC"


"There's a terrific power to music. 
You can run any of these pictures and they'd be dragging and boring,
but the minute you put music behind them, they have life and vitality.
they don't get any other way"
- Walt Disney -

Walt Disney didn't read or write music. In fact, he never even played an instrument. And yet. his influence upon music was, and continues to be, so profound that the great American composer Jerome Kern was moved to say, "Disney has made use of music as language. In the synchronization of humorous episodes with humorous music, he has unquestionably given us the outstanding contribution of our time."

Still, the question remains:
"If Walt didn't write any songs or compose any scores, 
how could he have had such a deep and lasting impact on music?"

The answer, simple enough, is the same way in which he had such a profound effect upon animation without so much as drawing even one mouse or dwarf.

Walt was the mover and shaker, the man of vision who gathered around him some of the most talented writers, artists, composers, and musicians, who bought into his dreams and schemes and made them happen, all under his watchful eye. 

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

"Paperman" - Silent Story About Fate & Love Beyond Words

"PAPERMAN"
SILENT STORY ABOUT FATE & LOVE BEYOND WORDS

 Short animated film titled “Paperman,” a silent story about fate and love.
Paperman shows how a silent short film could say so much, without a single words.
"an urban fairy tale in a beautiful world of light and shadow" 

Listen to "PAPERMAN" for 2 pianos HERE 


In a world full of both live action and animated shorts, PAPERMAN is sweet and a breath of fresh love. The visuals stun and the cutting edge CGI with animation overlayed on the top with the music make it...well, simply gorgeous. It utilizes both 3D and 2D animation in a bold and beautiful way to tell the story of a guy trying to get the attention of the woman of his dreams. The result is a magical little tale that proves that even in the cold, crushing world of modern New York magic can flourish. 

Paperman on Youtube:


Disney Math Cinderella Infographic

DISNEY MATCH CINDERELLA INFOGRAPHIC


an independent toy store with a mission to inspire tomorrow’s youth to think

Brain Candy Toys 
– located in Bedford, Nova Scotia – 
brings this belief to life every day with an inventory that includes 3D puzzles, science and math kits, hand-crafted cars and trains, as well as a wide selection of teaching aids. 

The campaign is a demonstration of Brain Candy Toys’ mission to keep our kids thinking. 
It takes the classic fairy tales and nursery rhymes we all grew up with, and imagines what they would be like if they were told using math equations instead of words.

source: 

SILLY SYMPHONIES - Revolutionizing the World of Animation

SILLY SYMPHONIES
Revolutionizing the World of Animation



In 1929 composer Carl Stalling suggested an idea for a new cartoon series to Walt Disney, not based on a central character but on music. Walt seeing the potential of the idea jumped on it, and the Silly Symphonies were born. That were, according to the Walt Disney Family Museum, “more daring, quirkier and more diverse” than anything in the Mickey Mouse series. 

Silly Symphonies was a series of animated short films produced by Walt Disney Productions from 1929 to 1939. The original basis of the cartoons was musical novelty.

The series is mostly remembered as being a platform that Disney used to experiment with different processes, techniques, characters, stories and technologies for which the then-fledgling company could use to refine and perfect its animation style in order to further the art of animation; making the series a key part in aiding Walt Disney's efforts to expand into feature-length animated films.

Among the innovations developed and/or improved upon in the series are Technicolor (full-color) film making, true and believable character animation, special effects animation, and dramatic storytelling in animation. A total of 75 shorts were made between 1929 and 1939 while the studio was located at Hyperion Avenue in the Silver Lake district of Los Angeles.

Walt Disney once said,
“If I can help provide a place to develop the talent of the future,
I think I will have accomplished something.”


WHY IS SILLY SYMPHONIES WERE UNIQUE?

Thursday, February 7, 2013

Pianolicious Moment on Jakarta Java Kini (JJK) Magazine

"PIANOLICIOUS MOMENT" 
ON JAKARTA JAVA KINI (JJK) Magazine 
- October 2012 -



Read the JJK Magazine - October 2012 in pdf HERE
and click October 2012


PIANOLICIOUS MOMENT
October, 7th, 2012
Italian Institute of Culture Jakarta, Menteng 

Directed by 
Jelia Megawati Heru

This piano concert promises to be unlike any you've ever witnessed before.
Piano tunes from classical to modern will feature and promise to ooze pure quality.
And to add even more sparkle, they'll be collaboration 
with Tegal's Shining Stars Enrichment Center.


"Pentingnya Merawat Instrumen" - Artikel Staccato Februari 2013

PENTINGNYA MERAWAT INSTRUMEN MUSIK
Artikel Staccato, Februari 2013
Oleh: Jelia Megawati Heru


Bagi musisi, instrumen musik yang mereka mainkan 
merupakan bagian dari identitas mereka, seperti layaknya pakaian yang Anda kenakan. 
Oleh karena itu menjaga kebersihan instrumen musik adalah mutlak perlu. 

Luangkanlah waktu beberapa menit untuk membaca artikel 
tentang pentingnya merawat instrumen musik berikut ini!


KENAPA HARUS MERAWAT INSTRUMEN?

• Bagian dari proses pembelajaran instrumen
mengetahui bagian-bagian instrumen, cara merakit/instalasi, tuning, mengetahui problem mekanik instrumen, dan bahkan belajar bagaimana cara memperbaikinya. 

• Cegah kerusakan serius
Menjaga agar instrumen tetap dalam kondisi prima dan tahan lama. Dengan perawatan yang rutin, instrumen Anda akan terhidar dari risiko kerusakan serius (save the money & good investment). 

• Instrumen yang terawat menghasilkan bunyi dan tone yang lebih baik dan bertahan “in tune” lebih lama, serta lebih mudah dibersihkan

• Belajar menghargai properti milik pribadi dan mencintai musik
Pepatah mengatkan “tak kenal maka tak sayang…”

• Berlatih secara lebih optimal


MUSUH ALAMI INSTRUMEN

1. Debu, serbuk bunga (pollen), asap rokok, sinar matahari/cahaya lampu langsung

Sinar matahari tidak langsung dapat membantu mencegah jamur dan menguning kunci dalam piano akustik. Jangan bersihkan debu dengan kemoceng, gunakan kain flannel khusus dan produk pembersih khusus instrumen!

2. Perubahan suhu, kelembaban udara, dan kegelapan

Ruangan yang hangat, lembab, serta gelap memungkinkan pertumbuhan bakteri pada instrument (terutama jamur), yang dapat melemahkan kayu internal dan mempengaruhi kesehatan manusia. Suhu kamar yang ideal adalah 21-22 ° C. Tingkat kelembaban yang tinggi dapat menyebabkan kayu melengkung, dan kelembaban rendah dapat menyebabkan keretakan pada sound board, sehingga instrumen akan menjadi fals (out of tune) dan sulit untuk disetem (tuning).

3. Keringat, minyak, air, dan jamur

4. Hama pengganggu (rayap dan kecoa)


THE DANGER OF SHARING INSTRUMENTS

Berbagi instrumen merupakan hal rutin yang terjadi di beberapa sekolah/institusi, di mana pada saat berlatih siswa menggunakan instrumen milik institusi ybs. Namun ada beberapa hal yang harus diperhatikan, terutama dalam hal kebersihan/higienis untuk menghidari risiko terjangkitnya penyakit menular lewat air liur, seperti influenza, TBC, hepatitis B, bahkan HIV (apabila mengalami luka, seperti: sariawan, bibir pecah-pecah, herpes). 

Hal ini tidaklah dapat dipandang sebelah mata, oleh karena itu jelas harus ada protokol dalam bermain musik bersama.

STANDARD PROSEDUR OPERASIONAL (SOP) 
untuk kelas musik (khususnya bagi alat musik tiup)

1. Semua musisi atau siswa harus memiliki instrumen sendiri 
(hindari berbagi instrumen/sharing the same instrument), misalnya: pianika dan rekorder 

2. Semua musisi atau siswa harus memiliki mouth piece dan reeds mereka sendiri 

3. Cleaning up
Apabila instrumen terpaksa harus di-share (terutama untuk instrumen yang langka), maka instrumen harus dibongkar (per bagian) dan dibersihkan dengan baik sebelum dan setelah penggunaan. 
  • Membersihkan dengan sabun, air, alkohol/desinfektan, atau larutan klorin (bahan yang terdapat pada pembersih kaca) bisa menjadi alternatif untuk mencegah penularan penyakit flu, tipus, maupun penularan bakteri lewat air liur.
  • Tissue, alkohol, sabun, cairan pembersih khusus instrumen harus tersedia untuk digunakan antara orang yang berbeda.
  • Gunakan kain khusus yang lembut untuk memoles (polishing) bagian eksterior instrumen untuk menghilangkan debu dan sidik jari
  • Instrumen yang tidak mendapatkan perawatan yang layak dan tidak dibersihkan dengan baik mempunyai bau yang tidak enak dan tidak higienis. Kondisi seperti ini cepat atau lambat akan berdampak negatif pada sistem kerja mekanik instrumen dan menghasilkan bunyi yang tidak artistik
4. Guru musik di kelas harus mengajarkan musisi dan siswanya
  • merakit, menyetel, menginstalasi bagian-bagian instrumen mereka (assembling the instrument) 
  • membersihkan instrumen setelah penggunaan
  • bagaimana cara merawat instrumen sehari-hari
  • bagaimana cara mengosongkan, serta menggosok katup yang tersumbat
  • bagaimana cara menyimpan dan membawa instrumen (Do’s & Don’ts)
  • menginformasikan kerusakan instrumen
5. Perjanjian tertulis pihak sekolah dan peminjam 
(apabila instrumen dibawa pulang untuk berlatih), bahwa pihak peminjam akan merawat, membersihkan instrumen tsb., mengembalikannya dalam keadaan steril dan seperti semula, serta bersedia membayar denda/kerugian (biaya reparasi oleh teknisi khusus) apabila terjadi kerusakan.


TIPS MERAWAT INSTRUMEN

1. Jagalah kebersihan instrumen secara rutin, terutama segera setelah pemakaian instrumen. 

Kegiatan membersihkan janganlah ditunda-tunda dalam jangka waktu yang lama, karena selain akan meninggalkan noda yang sulit dibersihkan pada instrumen, kotoran (debu, minyak, keringat, air liur) juga akan mengganggu fungsi mekanik instrumen.

2. Jangan letakkan objek apapun di atas instrumen Anda!

Penempatan objek pada instrumen dalam jangka waktu tertentu akan meninggalkan bekas pada instrumen yang sulit, atau bahkan tidak bisa dihilangkan.

3. Selalu kembalikan instrumen ke tempatnya setelah penggunaan dan dibersihkan untuk mencegah risiko terduduk/terinjak.

4. Bersihkan instrumen dengan telaten, hati-hati, dan perhatikan instruksi cara membersihkannya!
  • Jangan gunakan tissue dan pembersih furniture biasa (Pledge), karena dapat merusak permukaan instrumen (scratch) dan mengubah tampilan warnanya. Gunakan produk pembersih khusus instrumen!
  • Jangan semprotkan produk pembersih secara langsung ke instrumen! Semprotkan cairan pembersih ke kain flannel.
  • Gunakan kain lembut flannel, cairan pembersih khusus untuk instrumen, dan segera keringkan dengan kain flannel lain yang bersih. 
  • Seka sesuai dengan arah serat kayu untuk mencegah terjadinya goresan pada kayu. 
  • Jangan gunakan alkohol pada instrumen dengan bahan kayu, karena akan merusak kilau kayu.
  • Perhatikan tempat penyimpanan instrumen! 
5. Letakkan instrumen pada ruangan dengan temperatur yang stabil, jauh dari sinar matahari/cahaya lampu yang panas secara langsung, kamar mandi, dapur, pintu, jendela, dinding, kipas angin, pemanas ruangan, AC, dan computer (2-4 meter dari instrumen). Pastikan sirkulasi udara yang baik dalam ruangan.
  • Gunakan cover untuk melindungi instrumen Anda dari debu! 
  • Mencuci tangan sebelum bermain instrumen
  • Tidak makan dan minum di dekat instrumen 
  • Check up tahunan dengan ahlinya/professional untuk mendapatkan perbaikan menyeluruh (service, repair, and regulation – double tuning, spare-parts changes)
Take care and love your instrument!
Treated musical instruments sound better and stay in tune longer!