In this heartfelt wrap-up of Season 3, Cynthia from Cynthia Ali Studios reflects on a season rich with musical discovery and emotional expression. This spring, listeners explored:

• Intervals: Recognizing and differentiating musical intervals such as dissonant seconds and harmonious fifths, training both the ear and the eye.
• Meter: Understanding how time signatures like 3/4 or 6/8 shape music's feel and flow, including a personal family dance story illustrating meter's importance.
• Dynamics: The expressive power of music through dynamics—from soft whispers (piano) to powerful bursts (forte)—with emotional insights inspired by personal experiences, including Lauren Daigle’s song "Rescue."
• Articulation: Shaping notes intentionally with staccato, legato, tenuto, and portato, highlighted beautifully alongside Emily Dickinson's poetic imagery.
• Expression as Inflection: Making musical phrases communicate vividly, inspired by the breathwork of flute playing.
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Additional highlights included mastering tempo, appreciating the expressive power of rests, and cultivating personal and beautiful tone on the piano. The season concluded by emphasizing the importance of musicality—going beyond correct notes to truly bring performances to life, humorously comparing flat performances to a flat Dr. Pepper—no fizz, no magic!

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🎶 Summer Series Preview: Starting Monday, June 30th, the podcast’s Summer Series will explore music beyond the studio, from concerts and books to vibrant conversations, highlighting how music enriches everyday life.

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🎹 Upcoming Adult Piano Class:

🎶 Level 1.5: The Music Begins (6-week summer class) Dates: Tuesdays at 7pm CT — June 24 to July 29 Designed for those who completed Level 1 and want to keep progressing with confidence. 💲Just $75 — Use code KEY10 by June 17th to save 10%

Register here: ​https://square.link/u/Ml52R1lm​

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🎹 Mastery Pathway to Piano: Level One for Adults

A guided, flexible 8-week experience for adults ready to build or revisit their piano foundations—with structure, encouragement, and personal support.

With expert guidance, live Zoom check-ins, optional 1:1 support, and access to my Piano Studio membership space, you’ll gain confidence, clarity, and joy at the keyboard—without weekly live lessons.​ LEARN MORE​

Register here: ​https://square.link/u/4bSAetrp​

✨ Use code WELCOME10 at checkout to receive 10% off (just $168.30)

✅ Code valid through June 17 for early bird registrants

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🎉 Don’t Miss Other Upcoming Events!🎶

• Piano Studio Book Club: Join ​here​

If you enjoy today’s episode, please like, subscribe, and follow so you never miss a lesson or story. I can’t wait to continue this journey with you.

Plus, don’t miss out on these upcoming events visit CynthiaAliStudios.com/pianocommunity and be sure to download your free Piano Journal to track your practice and progress there too!

Download your PIANO PRACTICE JOURNAL here - ⁠​​⁠⁠https://cynthiaalistudios.kit.com/7c6571f7c4⁠⁠

Musicality = Technique + Emotion + Fizz 🥤

In this episode, I talk about why perfect notes alone aren’t enough—your music needs a story, a spark, a soul.

I even compare it to... a flat Dr. Pepper. 😄

Same ingredients. Same look. But without the fizz? It's lifeless.

Tune in now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favorite platform. 🎧

#LearnPiano #Musicality #PianoPodcast #AdultPiano #DrPepperMetaphor #FizzIsEverything

🎹 Upcoming Classes for Adults

✨ Level 1.4: Mastery Pathway Start Date: May 27th, 7pm CT (Replay available for 4 weeks) ✅ Join our next group! Designed for beginner adults ready to master foundational skills.New Group Class - Sign up here: https://square.link/u/E6NBtBdQ

Use Discount Code: KEYS10 (10% off)Early Bird Ends May 22 – Use code KEY10 for 10% off

🎶 Level 1.5: The Music Begins (6-week summer class) Dates: Tuesdays at 7pm CT — June 24 to July 29 Designed for those who completed Level 1 and want to keep progressing with confidence. 💲Just $75 — Use code KEY10 by June 17th to save 10%

🎉 Don’t Miss Our Upcoming Events!🎶

• Piano Studio Book Club: Join ⁠​here​⁠

If you enjoy today’s episode, please like, subscribe, and follow so you never miss a lesson or story. I can’t wait to continue this journey with you.

Plus, don’t miss out on these upcoming events visit CynthiaAliStudios.com/pianocommunity and be sure to download your free Piano Journal to track your practice and progress there too!

Download your PIANO PRACTICE JOURNAL here - ⁠​⁠​⁠⁠https://cynthiaalistudios.kit.com/7c6571f7c4⁠⁠​⁠

Listen to another incredible season as we dive deeper into the world of piano with fresh insights, expert tips, and inspiring content. 🎶✨

Copyright © 2025 Cynthia Ali Studios LLC. All rights reserved.

The music in this podcast is either public domain,original, or used under Fair Use for educational purposes. Any third-party content is used for commentary, criticism, or education and does not infringe upon original creators' rights. (contact@cynthiaalistudios.com)

The views expressed are those of the host(s) and guests and do not necessarily reflect those of Cynthia Ali Studios LLC.

This week’s episode explores something we haven’t touched on before: tone. 🎹 Tone isn’t just about loud or soft—it’s color, texture, and energy. It’s what gives your music soul.

You’ll learn:

• How your touch affects the sound.
• Simple tone exercises to try at your piano.
• Creative metaphors to help shape your musical voice (think: silk, fog, feathers, rain on glass…)
• A beautiful reminder: your tone is your fingerprint. 🎨

💡 Practice Prompt: Choose one piece this week and don’t worry about perfection. Instead, ask:How does my piano want to sound today? Listen closely. You just might hear it… breathe.

🎹 Upcoming Classes for Adults

✨ Level 1.4: Mastery Pathway Start Date: May 27th, 7pm CT (Replay available for 4 weeks) ✅ Join our next group! Designed for beginner adults ready to master foundational skills.New Group Class - Sign up here: https://square.link/u/E6NBtBdQ

Use Discount Code: KEYS10 (10% off)Early Bird Ends May 22 – Use code KEY10 for 10% off

🎶 Level 1.5: The Music Begins (6-week summer class) Dates: Tuesdays at 7pm CT — June 24 to July 29 Designed for those who completed Level 1 and want to keep progressing with confidence. 💲Just $75 — Use code KEY10 by June 17th to save 10%

🎉 Don’t Miss Our Upcoming Events!🎶

• Piano Studio Book Club: Join ​here​

If you enjoy today’s episode, please like, subscribe, and follow so you never miss a lesson or story. I can’t wait to continue this journey with you.

Plus, don’t miss out on these upcoming events visit CynthiaAliStudios.com/pianocommunity and be sure to download your free Piano Journal to track your practice and progress there too!

Download your PIANO PRACTICE JOURNAL here - ⁠​​⁠⁠https://cynthiaalistudios.kit.com/7c6571f7c4⁠⁠​

Listen to another incredible season as we dive deeper into the world of piano with fresh insights, expert tips, and inspiring content. 🎶✨

Copyright © 2025 Cynthia Ali Studios LLC. All rights reserved.

The music in this podcast is either public domain,original, or used under Fair Use for educational purposes. Any third-party content is used for commentary, criticism, or education and does not infringe upon original creators' rights. (contact@cynthiaalistudios.com)

The views expressed are those of the host(s) and guests and do not necessarily reflect those of Cynthia Ali Studios LLC.

In this week’s episode of Learn Piano: A Personal Practice, Cynthia explores one of the most subtle and powerful aspects of musical expression: breath.

🌿 From my own Qigong practice to the flowing lines of Debussy, I share how posture, energy, and mindful breath shape every phrase we play. 🎹 Discover how to sit like a tree (yes, really!) and let your music move like wind in the trees.

✨ Whether you're a beginner or an advanced pianist, this episode will help you reconnect with the living, breathing nature of music—so you can play with more freedom, flow, and feeling.

New Group Class - Sign up here:

https://square.link/u/o4nVcF69

Use Discount Code: KEYS10 (10% off)

Date: Tuesdays, May 27th, June 3rd, June 10th, June 17th, 2025

Time: 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM Central Time

🎶Download your PIANO PRACTICE JOURNAL here -⁠​⁠ ⁠https://cynthiaalistudios.kit.com/7c6571f7c4⁠⁠

🎶 Also, don’t forget about some exciting upcoming events at Cynthia Ali Studios! ⁠https://www.cynthiaalistudios.com/pianocommunity⁠

🎶Join us for the discussion at The Piano Studio Book Club:⁠ ⁠https://www.facebook.com/share/g/15v6Y17DsU/⁠⁠

Copyright © 2025 Cynthia Ali Studios LLC. All rights reserved.

The music in this podcast is either public domain,original, or used under Fair Use for educational purposes. Any third-party content is used for commentary, criticism, or education and does not infringe upon original creators' rights. (contact@cynthiaalistudios.com)

The views expressed are those of the host(s) and guests and do not necessarily reflect those of Cynthia Ali Studios LLC.

In this episode, you are invited into the quiet magic of musical breath, a concept inspired by flutist and reimagined for piano players.

Unlike the flute, the piano doesn’t require literal breath, but great music still breathes. Through subtle hand movements and intentional phrasing, pianists can mimic the rise and fall of breath, adding life and humanity to every note.

Imagine breath flowing in and out through the fingers. You will hear this demonstrated and how this transforms the tone and flow of the sound.

🎶Download your PIANO PRACTICE JOURNAL here -⁠​ ⁠https://cynthiaalistudios.kit.com/7c6571f7c4⁠

🎶 Also, don’t forget about some exciting upcoming events at Cynthia Ali Studios! https://www.cynthiaalistudios.com/pianocommunity

🎶Join us for the discussion at The Piano Studio Book Club: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/share/g/15v6Y17DsU/⁠

Copyright © 2025 Cynthia Ali Studios LLC. All rights reserved.

The music in this podcast is either public domain,original, or used under Fair Use for educational purposes. Any third-party content is used for commentary, criticism, or education and does not infringe upon original creators' rights. (contact@cynthiaalistudios.com)

The views expressed are those of the host(s) and guests and do not necessarily reflect those of Cynthia Ali Studios LLC.

🎹 S3:E13 In this week’s episode of Learn Piano: A Personal Practice, we’re exploring a different kind of rest—the kind that happens within the sound. Whether it's a tie, tenuto, or fermata, these markings invite us to linger, to breathe, and to just rest without rushing. From Debussy’s Rêverie to Chopin we’ll listen for the pauses that aren’t silent—but deeply still.

In this week’s episode of Learn Piano: A Personal Practice, Cynthia from Cynthia Ali Studios explores one of the most powerful and often overlooked elements of music: the rest. More than just a pause, a rest is where music breathes and emotion deepens. Inspired by Debussy’s idea that “music is the silence between the sounds,” this episode invites you to experience the unique personality of each type of rest—from whole to eighth.

Your challenge this week? Look at the rests in your music, not just to count them—but to feel them. What kind of silence is it? What changes when you honor it? How does it shape the story your music tells?

🎹 Our next Adult Piano Group Class starts Tuesday at 7 PM CT. Perfect for those who already read notes and want a joyful refresh.

📍 Learn more & sign up: Enrollment is now open for our next Mastery Pathway to Piano group class—starting April 29th! Visit⁠ here⁠ to join us!

📚 Book Club Update: We’re reading “Little Chronicle of Anna Magdelna Bach” this spring—FB usfor the discussion at The Piano Studio Book Club: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/share/g/15v6Y17DsU/⁠

🎶Download your PIANOPRACTICE JOURNAL here - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://cynthiaalistudios.ck.page/7c6571f7c4⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Listento another incredible season as we dive deeper into the world of piano withfresh insights, expert tips, and inspiring content.

🎧 Listen On: YouTube,Spotify, Apple Music, and more!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/learnpiano⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

🔔 Follow Us Today: Staytuned and make sure you’re subscribed so you don’t miss out on

Subscribe to Newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.cynthiaalistudios.com/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

#LearnPiano #Season3 #PianoPractice #NewPodcast#MusicEducation #SubscribeNow #PianoJourney

In this week’s episode of Learn Piano: A Personal Practice, we’re diving deeper into what truly brings music to life: expression. It’s not just about playing the right notes—it’s about shaping each phrase so it feels human, alive, and full of story. We’ll explore how articulations and dynamics combine to create musical “inflection,” just like the rise and fall in a beautiful speaking voice. You’ll hear examples of music played flat and lifeless—then reimagined with breath, meaning, and soul. 🎹✨ Whether you're brushing up your skills or starting fresh, this episode is a powerful reminder that your fingers can do more than play—they can speak. Listen now and try the artistic invitation at the end to rediscover your own expressive voice on the piano.

👉 Listen now: 🎉 Enrollment is now open for our next Mastery Pathway to Piano group class—starting April 29th! Visit here to join us!

#PianoStorytelling #ExpressivePlaying #LearnPianoOnline #MusicalInflection #PianoArtistry #CynthiaAliStudios

www.cynthiaalistudios.com/pianocommunity