Top 10 Posts of 2019

Top 10 Posts of 2019

It’s that time of the year! Here’s a look at 2019, by the numbers:

Five Things to Read, Watch, or Listen To This Week

Five Things to Read, Watch, or Listen To This Week

It’s that time of the year when we all start to feel a little weary.

There’s music to rehearse and gifts to wrap, appetizers to make and cookies to bake, traditions to carry on and a few last-minute gifts to purchase (does Amazon deliver on Christmas Eve?!).

It’s easy to forget the reason for the season and become overwhelmed by our calendars, commitments, and the chaos of the season.

But that’s not what Advent and Christmas are about. It’s a time of waiting, of patient expectation, of stillness and quiet and peace.

The Six Best Books I Read in 2019

The Six Best Books I Read in 2019

One of my favorite things to do in December is to look back at all the books I read during the year.

I set out with a book list, like I do every year, and then changed my mind as I came across books in the library and in church basement sales, books that came recommended by friends.

I used to set a goal to read 10 books in a year, then I worked my way up to 12. Last year, I read 16 books and this year, I read 31! Now, for those of you who read 50+ books a year, this may not be very impressive, but I hope it’s encouraging for those of you who want to read more that you can teach yourself how to be a better reader, little by little.

Today, I want to share the six best books I read in 2019, along with a brief description of what I liked about each one:

Editorial: Happy December

Editorial: Happy December

Mix-and-match wrapping paper.
Bubble wrap for packaging.
Winter Berries stamps.
Cantata rehearsals.
Appetizer recipes on Pinterest.
(Endless) to-do lists.
Amazon packages.
Christmas cards to stamp and address.
Cookie swaps.
Shipping deadlines.
Various versions of Jingle Bells in lessons every week.

These are the things our December days are made of.

Real-life December means we're behind on our Advent calendar. Because part of me feels like if I don't turn the cards over, the days won't go by so quickly.

It means a stack of holiday sheet music (sorted by level) to bring into lessons and holiday-themed activities for studio class.

10 Ways to Help Your Child Practice

10 Ways to Help Your Child Practice

This is a letter to all the parents and guardians and babysitters and older siblings and neighbors and friends who support young musicians: those who encourage the pursuit of music, tote children and books and accessories back and forth to lessons each week, and help with practicing at home.

Dear parents + guardians:

Thank you for supporting your child’s musical pursuits. You play a crucial role in your child’s success in learning to play an instrument. Even if you don't play the piano yourself, your support and guidance at home during the week is extremely important to their music-learning process. 

9 Pieces for the Intermediate Handbell Choir

9 Pieces for the Intermediate Handbell Choir

Over the years, I’ve written several posts geared toward smaller, beginning handbell choirs:

“But what about those of us with more established groups?” you might be saying. “What about intermediate-level repertoire?”

That’s where today’s post comes in.

How to Create a Repertoire Plan Using the RCM Piano Syllabus

How to Create a Repertoire Plan Using the RCM Piano Syllabus

A few summers ago, I attended the National Conference on Keyboard Pedagogy (NCKP) for the first time (read my recaps here, here, and here). 

In addition to a wealth of new teaching ideas, I learned about new methods and curriculum materials, some of which I’ve been using in my teaching ever since. 

Perhaps the most influential and valuable resource I discovered at NCKP was the Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM—Canadian division) and Music Development Program (MDP - US division).

Founded with a commitment to developing strong musicianship skills from the very beginning, the program includes level-by-level guides to repertoire, technique, and musicianship skills (plus supplemental materials for music history and theory) for a variety of different instruments.

Editorial: What If We Did This Every Day?

Editorial: What If We Did This Every Day?

"What's the best thing that happened to you today?" I asked over coffee last week. He thinks for a moment before answering.

The reply is usually as simple as the question itself:

A moment of creative inspiration
A feeling of accomplishment
A kind word

It's a simple question and a meaningful daily practice. One that tilts our perspective toward the positive. It's an invitation to recognize those small moments that may be too easily forgotten, dismissed as too small or insignificant, lost in the shadow of something bigger and more dramatic.

(Because we all have those moments in our days.)

But what's really important? What do you want to remember?

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How to Accompany Hymns with Piano 4-Hand

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How to Accompany Hymns with Piano 4-Hand

A few months ago, I received an email from a friend:

“Hi Ashley! I am looking for hymn accompaniments for four hands at the piano. Not arrangements, but the actual hymn. We will be without our organ for some months and I want to beef up the piano sound by adding hands. Do you know of any books with this? Or websites? I guess we could just play in octaves, but maybe there is something interesting out there."

Can anyone relate?

Whether the organ is undergoing repairs, that F# is in need of a good tuning, or you show up one morning and the power is out…

Sometimes, you need to use the piano to accompany the hymns.

But if you’re in a large space, the piano may not be enough on its own to really support and lead the congregation in song. What’s a church musician to do?

Follow along with my creative work and daily adventures: @ashleydanyew

Let’s be honest, this month (year?!) has been hard. But if there’s one thing I’ve learned it’s this: As an independent, self-employed musician and small business owner, you’re resilient. You don’t give up when s
Halloween 2024… …The Lion King 🦁 Swipe to see the outtakes, including lion-wrangling and the 20th photo we took before we realized Rafiki had his mask on upside-down. 😂
The October Musician & Co. Book Club pick is… 📘 Hidden Genius: The Secret Ways of Thinking That Power the World’s Most Successful People This book is a collection of stories, insights, and lessons learned from top performers, entr