Beginner
Broadway
Children
Christian
Classical
Country
Folk
Jazz
Movies
New Age
Pop
Wedding
Minus One

CDs

Blues
Children
Christian
Classical
Country
Jazz
New Age
Pop
Movies

Books

Books

Art

Posters

VHS and DVD

Piano Videos
DVD

Tell a Friend

Contact Editor

Arianna Kaczmarek
- piano teacher in Poland.

Shaping Delicate Minds

PM: What are your earliest memories connected with music?

AK: My first musical memories are connected with music activities in kindergarten. I always loved to sing at home, on the playground, and during recitals. A friend of mine who lived upstairs in my apartment building, took piano lessons ever since she was 4 years old. I liked to listen to her practice.

With bitter tears and a little bit of help from my mother, I persuaded my father to take me to the entrance exams at our local music school. I began my music studies parallel to entering the elementary school at the age of 7. In Poland, for the most part, music education is separate from public education. While the public school operates during the day, the music school is open in the evening allowing children to participate in both schools full time. Of course juggling homework and consistent practice times presented a challenge for me, but I could not imagine life without music school.

PM: What did your parents think about your aspirations?

AK: My father, a professional musician himself, tried to discourage me. He told me many times that since I am a girl, I would end up in the kitchen anyway.

PM: Who was your favorite piano teacher?

AK: My favorite teacher was Mr. Wlodzimierz Wiesztordt from the Music High School in Gdansk. He was one of the people I will always be grateful for having crossed my path. He influenced my life in a profound way. A man - treasure. We discussed many different things. He knew that being an artist is not just about being a fluent music player. It's about the whole dimension of humanity and sensitivity to your surroundings. Not only the sounds, but the world in general, understanding of ethics, and development of character.

PM: You mentioned a music high school. How was it different from a regular high school?

AK: I said earlier that musical education system in Poland is separate from the public school system. This is the case in most small and medium size cities where elementary, or middle school/high school level music centers are created as separate and independent entities and operate in the evening to complement the public school education which takes place during the day. There are, however, several schools in larger cities such as Gdansk or Warsaw where both are combined into one. They operate on a much larger scale, involving hundreds of students and necessitating the existance of dormitories. I studied at the Music School in Gdansk and lived in the dormitory from the 7th through the 12th grade.

PM: What would an average day be like in a school like that?

The classes start at 8:00 am and you could begin with math followed by biology, then history of music, then theory of music, physics, and then maybe geography. In the afternoon, twice a week you would have a private lesson with your piano teacher, or a teacher of cello, if cello was your major. We also had mandatory choir, symphony orchestra, and chamber groups. In the evening there was time for individual practice, and don't forget to study for the history test, or to write a paper for the literature class.

Those were very intense years. The school generated a unique atmosphere. We studied, ate, played, read, and dreamed music. In addition, the city itself offered many different cultural outlets, such as the symphony, opera, theaters, and art galleries.

PM: It sounds like the students were very serious about pursuing music professionally.

AK: Yes, most of them do. Many of my friends continued their undergraduate and graduate studies in the Academy of Music. I graduated from the Academy of Music in Gdansk with a M.A. in Music Education and Piano.

Frederic Chopin: Chopin - The First Book For Pianists - Book & Cd Includes piano solo book and examples CD. With introductory text and performance notes. See more info...

PM: Who is your favorite composer?

AK: It's hard to pinpoint just one. Of course I have to mention the Polish composer - Fryderyk Chopin, J.S. Bach, Mozart, Beethoven. I really like impressionism and Claude Debussy. I also like to listen to Brahms, Mendelssohn. It depends.

PM: What about a favorite piece?

AK: One of my favorite pieces is the II part of the Piano Concerto in E-minor by Chopin. It's like honey to my soul. It fills me up regardless of the time of day, mood, or circumstances. But I try to ration it so it doesn't not become commonplace. There are also pieces that grow on me with time, or maybe I grow up into them.

PM: What changes have you observed in the Polish system of music education since you have become a teacher?

AK: The music education system has not changed much since my school days, except that there seems to be perhaps more chaos. With every new change in government we have new "improvements" which are never carried through to completion. For example the 3 year course for teenagers at the elementary level. Also to this day the student cannot individually choose which subjects he or she wants to study. The course work has been predetermined by the Ministry of Education. I wish we could change it and learn from other countries in this matter. I also wish there was a way to develop a better music program in kindergartens and preschools.

PM: Tell us about the school you teach at.

AK: I teach in a small music school at the elementary level in Miastko which is located in northern Poland. The school has about 100 students and 13 teachers. Popularizing music education in small towns can be a challenge, but we are trying to reach out to our community by organizing about 30 concerts per year in nearest towns and villages.

I have 9 students in my class who major in piano, and 12 who take "required piano" and major in other instruments. I also serve as an accompanist to 7 students. Their ages range between 7 and 17.

PM: What is the standard repertoire for your piano students?

AK: We concentrate on poliphony, classicism, romanticism, 20th century/contemporary music, and piano duets (4 hands). The level of difficulty always depends on the ability and direction the student is taking. Of course I try to be sensitive to his or her personal taste. They are more likely to learn more when they play the music they enjoy.

PM: How do you treat exceptionally talented students? How do you direct that talent?

AK: Genius or super talented children are rare. And even when the talent is obvious, in and of itself it is not enough. It's like a diamond which needs polishing before you can admire its beauty. The polishing process is long and hard. You also need a dedicated parent, preferably with extra time on his/her hands and financial means to pay for travels associated with workshops, master classes, competitions, and so on. Don't forget physical health, strong emotional ability, the right climate at home, etc. If anything fails, it's not usually the talent, it's the lack of dedication and perseverance.

PM: It sounds like training an athlete.

AK: Music studies are very demending. During the elementary level the child attends two schools simultaneously. Public school in the morning, music school at night. Lack of time is always an issue. Younger children need adult supervision to manage this pace of work. Bright children are usually encouraged to achieve in their "day" schools. The parents have a hard time deciding which school is more important, but math and geography usually win over scales.

Often, after graduation from our school, parents discourage their children from pursuing music any further, i.e. exams to music high schools. Most steer their children toward other "real" professions, some simply cannot afford it. In this situation I comfort myself knowing that I was able to introduce the child to the broader philosophy of cultural experience, and such qualities as pursuit of excellence, precision, achieving goals through systematic means, concentration, memory, manual dexterity, educated cultural taste, aesthetics, and understanding of arts in general. Such skills will be invaluable to them regardless of their occupation.

PM: How do you communicate with your students?

AK: When we work on the interpretation of any given piece (even a study) I tell them about literature, fine arts, and customs of that particular period. We are trying to find what the composer may have "hidden" for us in the piece. It builds the child's imagination, broadens their horizons and awakens the passion for making music.

PM: What are your most frequent comments? What do they hear you say most often?

AK: This is not difficult, take a look.
You have to keep repeating it over and over.
Pause and think what you want to do right now.
What ways of solving this problem do you know already?
What can you do with it on your own?

Nurtured by Love: The Classical Approach to Talent Education

PM: How do you motivate them?

AK: I try to praise them for every small achievement. I remind them how much they have accomplished in the last month, why they chose to attend the school, why they like to play, why they love music. I remind them of their peers who wanted to attend the school but did not make it through the entrance exams. That gives them a sense of pride. Encouragement and praise are essential. Children practice the piano and attend music school at the expense of their time for play and relaxation. They certainly carry a heavy load.

PM: What role does music play in your personal life?

Music to me is like oxygen, like a ticket to a world full of wonders and escape from problems. It can suffer with me, and comfort me, it can sweep me off my feet and astonish me, teach me. When I play the piano I feel as if I can touch the soul of the composer, and fellowship with his spirit. I analyze the comments he left in the music notation, the cords, the melodies, I try to understand what he felt, what he wanted to communicate. It's like reading a painting or a sculpture. That's why you can play one piece for many years and keep on discovering its beauty, meaning, and depth without boredom.

PM: What are your musical goals for the next few years?

AK: Just not to lose my first love. My son has been playing violin for three years already, and my daughter will begin to study piano this year. Add this to my duties as a mother and wife and my work in the music school. You will see that there is not much time or strength left at the end of the day to play just for my own enjoyment. I don't want to neglect that part.

I would also like to work with a talented student toward a competition. Of course it would involve additional hours of teaching without compensation, but it would be worth it.

PM: You seem very passionate about your work.

AK: It is sobering to realize how much influence I have on every child I work with. We all remember our teachers, the good and the bad ones. Years pass by before we fully realize how profoundly they influenced us. In a music school that opportunity presents itself daily, especially during the individual lessons. I try to remember that it's not just about the fingers, and reading notes. It's about teaching the interaction with art, creativity, participating in shaping personality, character, and perhaps even setting a course for the rest of a young person's life. What an extraordinary responsibility we as adults have in shaping the delicate mind of a child.

©2003 www.PianoMix.com

Share your thoughts about this article

Gift Shop

I would rather play the piano Tote Bag