The November '09 Klavar Piano course at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University finished
with 10 participants performing in the final concert. Klavar Music Foundation Director Peter
S Jackson was assisted by his granddaughter Amanda Lau and as usual by Sabrina, who
unfortunately was absent on the last day so missed being in the photo. All participants did
very well. Kit and Kappa received prizes for making exceptional progress and for their full
attendance.
In July 2009 , Klavar Trustee David Baines initiated a lively 6-day summer school for four
participants in Chendu in China , wherehis Birthday was celebrated in local style. This was
a joint English Language plus Piano course taught jointly by David and Peter, hosted by
local teacher Sunny, Fan Ming-hui. A memorable and most enjoyable occason.
There are no wrong notes - just keep going!
Prizes for high flyers! Nov'08
Practise makes perfect !
Playing a duet Nov '08
Happy ending of the 7 week course November 2008.
Peter Jackson accompanying two violinists at Summerkeys student concert July 2007 Maine USA.
Peter, using klavar music, also accompanied two mandolin players who played from traditional notation.
His own composition "For Clara" for violin or flute, and piano, was performed by two members of the
teaching faculty. (We now have software that can convert klavar music into traditional notation.)
For Clara was composed using the klavar notation.
Dr Johnny Siu Kam-wah PhD. demonstrates his transcription program KlavarwriterXP to university
students on the November 2006 course. The program enables players to transcribe music into the
Klavarskribo music notation using an electronic keyboard. It is available from the Foundation.
The Seven week course for Beginning Pianists at the Polytechnic University in Hong Kong, using
the Klavarskribo music notation, finished on Friday 17th March 2006 with 17 proficient students .
Nine have now joined the Hong Kong Klavar Music Club.
March 2006 Klavar Course participants
At the Hong Kong Polytechnic University the Winter Semester 7 week course ( 2.5 hrs per week) finished on Tuesday 15th March with 21 happy students returning for the final lesson. The course was conducted as part of the Complementary Studies Programme of the Student Affairs Unit. Many students had mastered the Klavar notation by the end of the course; however more practice is needed before they become fluent in playing with arm weight.
During the course students used mini keyboards for chord and interval recognition. The main texts were:-
Learning The Intervals Catalogue No. 50005,
Hal Leonard Lessons Book 1, the CD of which was useful for rhythm practice as a group John Thompson Grade 1 Studies Cat No.23683 and
Piano School 1A Cat No. 16621.
Specially prepared course notes enlarged on such concepts as use of the damper pedal, Tonic and Dominant chords, Scales and inversions of chords. Each student had a video CD illustrating the use of arm weight.
The Photographs show students using the chair seats as rhythm “drums” and Peter demonstrating the free fall of the relaxed arm onto a cushioned keyboard of an electronic piano. During the course the students used three separate piano practice rooms for practicing in groups. Sabrina Cheung, who learned Klavar in 1992, was Peter’s able assistant for some of the lessons.
Congratulations to all who finished this rewarding and enjoyable course. It was a pleasure to teach you!
Peter Jackson
Director Klavar Music Foundation of Great Britain.
Hong Kong 15th March 2005
Rhythm Practise:
Learning the free fall of the relaxed arm onto a cushioned keyboard:
University students in Hong Kong use mini keyboards to learn how to recognise intervals and chords:
