Bridging Japan and New York through Words and Culture
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How to Easily Pass the ABRSM Grade 5 Theory Exam Hello everyone! This is Maegami from the blog Megami no Maegami. I also teach piano in New York, and today I’m sharing information about the ABRSM, the Royal Schools of Music exams from the UK. What happens when you reach the highest ABRSM level in…
Best Piano Method Books: A Teacher’s Top Recommendations Hello! I’m Maegami, author of the blog “Goddess Bangs”.As a piano teacher in the U.S. for over 15 years, I’ve tested many method books with students of all ages. Today, I’ll share my top recommended piano books, carefully selected from my teaching experience. Choosing the right piano…
John Thompson Piano Method: The Best Choice for Fast Piano Progress Hello everyone, this is Maegami from the blog Megami no Maegami. Today I’m sharing from my piano series, where I introduce effective piano learning materials based on my 10+ years of experience teaching piano in the U.S. This time, let’s take a closer look…
Top Piano Competitions in New York for Kids: Perform at Carnegie Hall If you’re looking for a piano competition in New York that your child can participate in—from young beginners to teenagers—there are wonderful opportunities available. I have personally entered three students in New York competitions, and they received First Prize, Third Prize, and Honorable…
My Rental Experience with Steinway & Sons I chose a studio-type upright from the Boston brand, which is owned by Steinway & Sons. I selected it because the sound quality is close to that of a grand piano. At the time, I had no U.S. credit history, so I paid a cash deposit of about…
Steinway Hall in New York: From Historic Salon to Modern Piano Showcase In the heart of Manhattan’s Midtown lies Steinway Hall, home to the world’s most coveted pianos. For over a century, Steinway has symbolized both musical excellence and New York’s cultural elite. Once a Rococo-style salon near Carnegie Hall, Steinway Hall has transformed into…
Is Piano Adventures Too Slow? A Look at This Popular American Piano Method The American piano method “Piano Adventures” is sometimes criticized for being “too slow.” Some piano teachers even feel that progress takes longer compared to other books. But is that really true? And why are we in such a hurry? In this article,…
Ivy League Admission Tips｜Boost Your Resume with the ABRSM Piano Exam Why Consider Piano Exams for College Applications? Many students dream of studying at the Ivy League. Some aim for graduate programs, while others want the full four-year experience—even if it means taking on debt. For business or IT majors, the investment often pays off…
Misunderstandings About Reading Sheet Music and the True Meaning of Piano Lessons Many parents and students think that learning piano is simply about reading sheet music. But here’s the truth: only about one in twenty people can truly sight-read fluently. The same goes for expressive playing—among my students, only two or three have shown real…
Best Piano Books in the U.S.: Piano Adventures & John Thompson Learning piano is a wonderful journey, but choosing the right teaching method can make all the difference. In the United States, two of the most popular and highly recommended piano method books are Piano Adventures and John Thompson’s Teaching Books. Both are beginner-friendly, widely…