sonjajoubert777

About Sonja Joubert

Sonja Joubert is a master pianist classically trained by the late master Mr Josias Van Der Merwe and the late Adolph Hallis. She is also an excellent piano teacher with over 40 years of teaching experience specialising in both jazz and classical piano.

How to adapt to a different piano for each performance

2021-03-01T10:44:41+00:00

Having to adapt to a different piano at each performance can sometimes be quite a tricky exercise. There are basically two standard acoustic pianos, namely the upright piano and the grand piano. There is quite a significant difference between them, let alone having to play on any given piano except for the one you are used to playing on. The upright piano has vertical strings and is more seen as the ‘household’ piano used for training children or plainly for a practice instrument. The action is that of hammers hitting against the vertically strung strings within an upright wooden body. The [...]

How to adapt to a different piano for each performance2021-03-01T10:44:41+00:00

Can you teach yourself piano?

2023-12-15T09:21:55+00:00

Yes, it is absolutely possible, especially today with Google and YouTube's accessibility where one can find everything you need in written format and on video which makes learning easy. This information is easily accessible and one can learn wherever you are, on the tube, in a coffee shop or in the privacy of your own room at any time available. No booked time slots needed, nor monies to pay for a teacher or travelling to go for piano lessons. One can quite easily find the “right” teacher on YouTube e.g. for learning e.g. Monk’s “Straight No Chaser” as quite a few [...]

Can you teach yourself piano?2023-12-15T09:21:55+00:00

How to structure your piano practice

2021-03-01T10:43:46+00:00

The first thing, before structuring your piano practice is to recognise the importance of practising your instrument. Why practise? Or even structure your practice time? Firstly: Reasons are quite logical but still important to recognise because, without consistent practice and diligence, you probably will stop before reaching that long-desired dream to play or perform a beautiful song or that classical piece that you love - be it Mozart’s Turkish Rhapsody or Ludwig Van Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata or Debussy's Clair de Lune or the jazz classic called Autumn Leaves. Secondly: There is the important need for finger technique and skills needed to [...]

How to structure your piano practice2021-03-01T10:43:46+00:00

The basics of jazz for the adult beginner – RECOMMENDATIONS

2021-03-01T10:43:55+00:00

I already discussed jazz in general and its origin in a former article. As I mentioned before, the term Jazz is used very loosely for nearly every style of music which is not classical or contemporary, like rock or rap. “Jazz is a broad and complex genre, and so it may seem difficult for those who are first getting into Jazz to know where to start. . . . But Jazz doesn’t need to be complex. You can actually get by with a minimum amount of theory and practice”Stefan Joubert In this article, I will try to capture some of [...]

The basics of jazz for the adult beginner – RECOMMENDATIONS2021-03-01T10:43:55+00:00

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