Category Archives: Baroque music

A third year piano student shines playing J.S. Bach’s C Major Prelude (Well-Tempered Clavier)

Posted on February 9, 2012 by

Sakura, 12, is preparing the Bach C Major Prelude from the Well-Tempered Clavier Book I, for the upcoming MTAC Celebration Festival (Music Teachers Association of California) And she’s right on course heading for a satisfying performance in March. Being Left-Handed, … Continue reading →

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Down to the wire: An 11-year old piano student prepares for a competitive Baroque event (VIDEO) with a tender flashback

Posted on January 27, 2012 by

Claudia has made significant gains this year. She’s shaping her phrases more, and becoming ear-attentive and physically responsive to the music she plays. Today, she made additional headway with J.S. Bach’s Prelude in C minor, BWV 847. Coming into her … Continue reading →

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Tutorial: Shared ideas about practicing J.S. Bach Invention 13 in A minor (BWV 784) Videos

Posted on December 18, 2011 by

As I observed an 11-year old student work on this Invention at lessons, I came up with some ideas to improve the performance landscape. These included an awareness of the dualism of rolling arpeggiated 16ths and detached 8th notes in … Continue reading →

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Piano Lesson in progress: Fugue in C Minor, BWV 847 (Video)

Posted on December 16, 2011 by

Claudia S., age 11, identified and practiced the Subject, Tonal Answer, and Counter-subject 1 and 2 of the Fugue BWV 847. She learned how to make a difference between portato and staccato as she examined form, structure, and phrasing.

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Bach to basics, Bach to nature, and Bach forever! (Videos)

Posted on December 3, 2011 by

When it comes right down to it, I’m always drawn back to Bach for solace, counsel, wisdom, insight, and more. He was the Father of our Western music in all its infinite forms. In the composer’s ingenious 2 volume, Well-Tempered … Continue reading →

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Parts one and two, Piano Lesson in progress: Parceling voices in J. S. Bach’s C minor Fugue, BWV 847

Posted on November 25, 2011 by

Claudia, 11, practiced piecing out the Fugue form today in BWV 847 (three voices). We played through the subject, tonal answer, and counter-subject 1, continuing with a transition that led to statements of the subject and counter-subject. I had her … Continue reading →

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Piano Lesson Excerpts: Practicing the Bach Invention 13 in A minor (Videos)

Posted on November 18, 2011 by

This morning, Claudia, 11, practiced the J.S. Bach A minor Invention behind tempo, (in slow motion) to improve her musical/technical understanding of the composition. She worked on “weaving”/shaping the main idea or subject, which is a broken chord figure. The … Continue reading →

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When piano playing soars to spiritual heights: The artistry of Cyprien Katsaris

Posted on November 13, 2011 by

Words fail me when trying to describe this performance of Cyprien Katsaris over You Tube. Stage setting: A majestic church with big resonance, and while the soundtrack is scratchy, what emanates from the piano makes the listener forget any mechanical … Continue reading →

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Piano Technique: Teaching a 9-year old Staccato and weight application–Think bouncing a basketball vs. ping pong ball tapping (Videos)

Posted on October 25, 2011 by

Ilyana has been studying piano for two years. Currently, she’s working on various weight applications for staccato. I found that imaging a basketball being bounced vs. a ping pong ball being tapped, helped the student with her overall physical approach. … Continue reading →

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Revisiting J.S. Bach’s Invention 1 in C, BWV 772 (Video)

Posted on September 10, 2011 by

Yesterday I had the novel experience of working on Bach’s Invention 1 in C Major, via long distance transmission. Beamed to Sydney, Australia, by way of SKYPE, I found myself having gained new insights about a piece I had temporarily … Continue reading →

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