Category Archives: Journal of a Piano Teacher from New York to California

An interview with Rada Bukhman, pianist, teacher, author, about the “Russian School of Piano Playing”

Rada Bukhman, a Vancouver-based piano teacher with native Russian roots, has produced a 212-page soft cover volume that entices with its interspersed selections of compositions at various learning levels. The text offers a variety of fascinating topics, “Developing Initial Musical … Continue reading

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What pianists can learn from opera singers

As pianists, we’re allied to opera singers and their creative process in more ways than we think. Continue reading

Posted in classissima, classissima.com, coloratura Joyce Di Donato, Journal of a Piano Teacher from New York to California, Joyce Di Donato, Joyce DiDonato, Metropolitan Opera, Murray Perahia, opera, opera singers, piano, Shirley Kirsten, Shirley Smith Kirsten, word press, word press.com, wordpress, wordpress.com, you tube, you tube video, you tube.com, yout tube, youtube.com | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Romantic era piano repertoire: A murmuring stream and the supple wrist (Burgmuller creates beauty from simplicity)

“The Clear Stream” from Friedrich Burgmuller’s Twenty-Five Progressive Pieces offers a student an opportunity to create limpidly beautiful phrases from unraveled broken chords spun out in triplets. In order to create the “mormorando” (murmuring effect) in the treble, it’s best … Continue reading

Posted in Harmony of the Angels by Burgmuller, Journal of a Piano Teacher from New York to California, piano instruction, piano lessons, Shirley Kirsten, Shirley Smith Kirsten, word press, word press.com, wordpress, wordpress.com, you tube.com, yout tube, youtube.com | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Berkeley Rose Garden draped in photos and music

Today was my maiden journey to the paradise of Roses in Berkeley. No words can amply describe the effect such beauty had upon me. (Taking pictures was irresistible) Burgmuller’s “Tender Flower” was the perfect musical framing. P.S. I made a … Continue reading

Posted in Berkeley California, Burgmuller, Friedrich Burgmuller, Journal of a Piano Teacher from New York to California, piano, piano music and photos, roses, Tender Flower by Burgmuller, The Berkeley Rose Garden, word press, word press.com, you tube, you tube.com | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

“Jerusalem of Gold” led me to a violin treasure

Yesterday, I decided to record Nemer’s “Jerusalem of Gold” to prepare for a luncheon appearance at an East Bay Jewish Community Center. Little did I know that after reviewing my you tube upload, that I’d spot a right column of … Continue reading

Posted in "I am the Violin", "I am the Violin" a documentary about Ida Haendel, classissima, classissima.com, director Paul Cohen, Ida Haendel, Ida Haendel violinist, Journal of a Piano Teacher from New York to California, Shirley Kirsten, Shirley Smith Kirsten, violinist | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

A Love story born of flowers and set to the music of Bela Bartok

It was my birthday a few days ago, and I was blessed with the gift of flowers and a plant from two close friends. These sit side-by-side atop my upright piano: Little did I know that “Roy” who delivered the … Continue reading

Posted in "Evening in the Country" by Bartok, Ana's Flowers in Berkeley CA, Bela Bartok, bela bartok, Journal of a Piano Teacher from New York to California, piano, Shirley Kirsten, Shirley Smith Kirsten, wordpress.com, you tube video, you tube.com, yout tube, youtube.com | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Colorful miniatures that grow piano technique and musicianship

Most piano students know first hand about Burgmuller and his Progressive character pieces in the Romantic genre. They are a bundle of delights with picturesque titles that match the music. But few might realize that Bela Bartok’s collection of miniatures … Continue reading

Posted in Bela Bartok, bela bartok, Hungarian folk songs, Journal of a Piano Teacher from New York to California, piano | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Learning J.S. Bach’s B minor Invention No. 15 (BWV 786) in baby steps

Both embedded videos track my step-by-step approach to learning this beautiful composition. In the part one Instruction, I play slowly through the right hand to explore the subject, its articulation, fingering, execution of ornaments, and follow-up strand of 16th notes. … Continue reading

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Piano performance: The moment of creation can be deceiving and how we can learn from video playbacks

I was telling a musical friend about the discrepancy between what we think we’re hearing during our own performances and what bears out in a review of our self-made recordings. This is why teaching and learning opportunities abound in comparing … Continue reading

Posted in classissima, classissima.com, J.S. Bach, J.S. Bach Invention in 13 minor, J.S. Bach Prelude in C minor, Journal of a Piano Teacher from New York to California, pianist, piano instruction, piano lessons, piano teaching, Shirley Kirsten, Shirley Smith Kirsten, videotaping piano lessons, word press, word press.com, wordpress, wordpress.com, you tube, you tube video, you tube.com, yout tube, youtube.com | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Piano lesson: Chopin B minor Waltz, Op. 69, no 2. (bouncing phrases back and forth)

Teaching affords the greatest opportunity to listen objectively to students serving up their menu of pieces. It allows ideas to spring forward and bounce back. Today, my Greek student resurrected his Chopin B Minor Waltz in preparation for a forthcoming … Continue reading

Posted in Chopin Waltz in B minor Op. 69 No. 2, Frederic Chopin, Journal of a Piano Teacher from New York to California, piano blog, piano instruction, piano lesson, piano lesson by Skype, Shirley Kirsten, whole body listening, whole body music listening, word press.com, wordpress, wordpress.com, you tube video, you tube.com, yout tube, youtube.com | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments