As I interviewed a series of parents, students, and teachers about whether or not parents should attend their children's lessons, some interesting patterns and responses began to occur. It seems that the answer to this issue's question depends on several different variables such as: The teacher's basic method and approach. The age of the student.&n...

Games, Games, and More Games! The  response to our first article about using m usical games and activities in teaching  (Autumn, 1993) created enough mail and r eader response that we thought it was time  for a sequel! Our authors for this issue are  some highly creative teachers who have cre ated their own musical games, some n...

Are you looking for some creative ideas for next summer's teaching? Ideas that will motivate your students, refresh your studio, and provide a change of pace from your regular teaching routine? Then read on!  Our writers for this issue include four independent piano teachers as well as parents and students who tell us how they feel about ...

​Dear Reader, It has been an education, a challenge, and a pleasure to be the Associate Editor of the Magic Triangle Department since the first issue of Keyboard Companion in the spring of 1990. I have enjoyed the opportunity to communicate with our readers and to investigate the many issues involving the Magic Triangle. Now, as the time has come f...

I want to express my deepest appreciation to the many readers who write in to share their ideas and teaching tips with us! Your ideas are always interesting and challenging. Generally, we share these ideas in the Post Box section of each department. However, due to the generosity of our readers, the Magic Triangle Post Box has fallen behind. S...

​from the series: The Magic Triangle: Teacher/Student/Parent For this issue, we went directly to the students to ask - What musical games do you enjoy the most? I think you will find their answers interesting, surprising, educational, delightful, and humorous. I only wish that you could see all of the actual slips of paper with the various sty...

I am sure that all of us are familiar with the old real-estate axiom that the three most important factors for a property are Location-Location-and Location! I would like to steal (or borrow) that idea and say that three of the most essential ingredients for a successful Magic Triangle relationship are Communication-Communication-and Communication!...

Why Do You Have an Ethics Policy for Your Studio? By Cathy Albergo Cathy Albergo, Associate Professor of Mu sic at William Rainey Harper Co ll ege, Chicago, Illinois , teache s piano p edagogy, class piano, piano performance, and ensemble . As D irec t or of the Harper Mu sic Academy , s he superv ises over 300 s tud en t s of all ages. Co-author o...

​In today's world of busy schedules, working parents, and children involved in a wide array of activities outside of school, piano teachers are more and more frequently confronted by the dilemmas of scheduling their students' lessons, of being flexible enough to meet the needs of parents and students, and of requiring adequate practice time for ste...

Cathy Albergo, Professor ofMusic at William Rainey Harper College , Chica go, Il linois , teaches piano peda gogy, class piano, piano performance,  and  ensemble. As Director  of  the Harper Music Academy , she  superv i ses  over  300 students  of all ages. Co-authorof ...

​Music makes a difference ​. This  simple statement sums up the answer to perhaps the single most important question for music teachers - Why is music study important? In this issue, The Magic Triangle will give you an overview of the importance of music study, provide some suggestions on how to educate parents and students about the importanc...

Cathy Albergo, Associate Professor of Music at William Rainey Harper College, Chicago, Illinois, teaches piano pedagogy, class piano, piano performance, and ensemble. As Director of the Harper Music Academy, she supervises over 300 students of all ages. Co-author of The Intermediate Repertoire Guide , she is active as a clinician, author, adjudicat...