Tag Archives: piano worldwide

Piano Technique: Looping Arpeggios in Contrary Motion and how to master them

Arpeggios are fun-filled, broken chord escapades across the keyboard. In legato form, they’re chock full of rolling motions–but even if rendered staccato, they never really lose their SHAPE. In the attached video I explore the very build-up I use when … Continue reading

Posted in piano, piano instruction, piano lessons, piano technique, shaping arpeggios at the piano, Shirley Kirsten, Shirley Smith Kirsten, word press, word press.com, wordpress, yout tube, youtube.com | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Piano Technique: No back and forth head bobbing for Contrary Motion scales

Many students have dizzying head movements when faced with the challenge of playing scales (or arpeggios) in contrary motion, (or from opposite directions starting at a keyboard mid-point) To address a growing problem among students young and old, I devised … Continue reading

Posted in classissima, contrary motion scales for the piano, f minor scale in contrary motion, Journal of a Piano Teacher from New York to California, piano technique, Shirley Kirsten, Shirley Smith Kirsten, word press, word press.com, wordpress, wordpress.com, you tube.com, yout tube, youtube.com | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Sister and brother piano lessons in the Hills

I enjoy my weekly journey to a home way up in the Hills of El Cerrito (neighbor to Berkeley) There, I teach Lucy and Fritz who play a lovely, resonant Baldwin Acrosonic that I advised mom to purchase (over at … Continue reading

Posted in Burgmuller, Burgmuller 25 Progressive Pieces, Burgmuller Inquietude, classissima, classissima.com, Journal of a Piano Teacher from New York to California, piano, piano instruction, piano instruction by Skype, piano instructor, piano learning, piano lesson, piano lessons, piano lessons and parental support, piano lessons by Skype, piano lessons in Berkeley California, piano lessons in El Cerrito California, Shirley Kirsten, Shirley Smith Kirsten, word press, word press.com, wordpress, you tube video, yout tube, youtube.com | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Alessandro Deljavan is a Cliburn winner for me!

Over at the Piano World forums, it’s the morning after selection of Cliburn Competition finalists, and many are aghast that a dynamic, soulful, and risk-taking pianist was overlooked. Here’s what one poster said: “Competition winners are typically the reliable pianists … Continue reading

Posted in Alessandro Deljavan, Bohzanov pianist, classissima, classissima.com, piano competitions, word press, word press.com, wordpress, wordpress.com, you tube, you tube video, you tube.com, yout tube, youtube.com | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Beethoven Pianos on W. 58th is a treasure of restored pianos, and new ones, too.

It’s a good sign when a piano establishment is open on Memorial Day! In the glow of its colorful banner, Beethoven’s was such a welcoming opportunity of which I availed myself. An important “player” on Manhattan’s “piano row,” it’s one … Continue reading

Posted in Bechstein, Beethoven Piano Store in Manhattan, Carl Demler, classissima, classissima.com, Journal of a Piano Teacher from New York to California, piano restoration, piano restorers, restored pianos, Steinway vintage pianos, word press, word press.com, wordpress, wordpress.com, you tube video, you tube.com, yout tube, youtube.com | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Seymour Bernstein’s riveting statement about the piano competition environment and what changes are needed

“Are all of you listening to one spectacular young pianist after another? (Cliburn Competition in progress) “Why should they have to be placed in the position of competing against one another, and facing the possibility of being rejected by a … Continue reading

Posted in Journal of a Piano Teacher from New York to California, piano competitions, Seymour Bernstein, shirley smith, Shirley Smith Kirsten, Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, Van Cliburn piano competition | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

The premier piano “haus” on W. 58th and its $750,000 Steinway!

The high point of my trip to NYC was inhabiting a paradise of pianos on “piano row.” That’s what they call “West 58th” between Broadway and 7th Avenue. In the imposing shadow of Carnegie Hall that envelops the neighborhood, Klavierhaus … Continue reading

Posted in 750000 dollar piano, Angela Hewitt, Bechstein, Fazioli, Gabor Reisinger, Klavierhaus, piano, Pleyel, Steinway, Steinway piano, word press, word press.com, wordpress, wordpress.com, you tube, you tube video, you tube.com, yout tube, youtube.com | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

A Russian composer’s colorful pieces with a strong teaching dimension

Native Russian, Samuel Maykapar (b.1867, d. 1938) composed a set of gorgeous, program-inspired pieces, that are carefully phrased, articulated, and fingered. The music is ear-catching in the spirit of Dimitri Kabalevsky and William Gillock as all three composers were highly … Continue reading

Posted in "In the Garden" by Samuel Maykapar, classissima, classissima.com, Journal of a Piano Teacher from New York to California, Maykapar Russian Composer, piano, piano addict, piano instruction, piano lessons, Piano Street, piano teaching, Piano World, Rada Bukhman, Samuel Maykapar, Shirley Kirsten, Shirley Smith Kirsten, The Russian School of Piano Playing, word press, word press.com, wordpress, yout tube, youtube.com | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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

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