Month: July 2011

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A Piano Lesson with defining moments that included THREE BLIND MICE and Mozart– (Videos)

arioso7: Shirley Kirsten

What makes our lives as piano teachers so joyous, are special, uplifting moments that intersperse our lessons. And perhaps because of the latest technology, we can feast on a banquet of inspiring musical encounters, re-played at our pleasure. More and more private music teachers are videotaping lessons, or portions of them to help students along… Continue reading A Piano Lesson with defining moments that included THREE BLIND MICE and Mozart– (Videos)

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Piano Instruction: Common student problems related to playing Clementi Sonatina, Op. 36, No. 3, Spiritoso (Video)

arioso7: Shirley Kirsten

The student I'm currently teaching by Skype has received a number of supplemental videos from me that target problems universal to those learning Clementi Sonatina, Op. 36, No. 3. In this video, geared for teachers as well as students, I define areas in the first movement, Spiritoso, that need particular focus for improvement: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_q_vUSLIDI As… Continue reading Piano Instruction: Common student problems related to playing Clementi Sonatina, Op. 36, No. 3, Spiritoso (Video)

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Piano Instruction: Schumann Arabesque, Op. 18-Using a supple wrist follow through motion, and parceling out voices (Video)

arioso7: Shirley Kirsten

The Schumann Arabesque is a heartfelt character piece from the Romantic era. It requires the player to have a very supple wrist to realize the lilt of buoyant, legato dotted eighth/16th figures that permeate the music. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPqrQJccLQ4 Though the composition is in C Major, it has interludes in the minor, that are somber and impassioned.… Continue reading Piano Instruction: Schumann Arabesque, Op. 18-Using a supple wrist follow through motion, and parceling out voices (Video)

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My First Skyped Piano lesson from California to Oregon

arioso7: Shirley Kirsten

I must say I was skeptical going into this until I watched the Skype screen enlarge an 8-year old to nearly life-size proportion as she sat comfortably at her piano. Her dad, a tech savvy parent with an ability to guide me through the basics of Skyping, was co-director with his web cam weaving around… Continue reading My First Skyped Piano lesson from California to Oregon

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Inspiration and the Piano Student

arioso7: Shirley Kirsten

“Genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration.” Thomas Edison Blood, sweat and tears and all that invested energy are supposed to produce extraordinary results. We marvel at geniuses in musical, literary, artistic and scientific fields wondering about the ingredients of their individual journeys. How much was hard work, the rest divinely inspired? What about "mood?"… Continue reading Inspiration and the Piano Student

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Long Distance Internet-based Piano Teaching: a novel experience

arioso7: Shirley Kirsten

I haven't yet jumped onto the big Mac Screen in real-time, seated amidst two tripods and three pianos with a pair of earphones. Instead I took an assignment sharing videos back and forth with a piano student in another state. (We have a privately arranged You Tube Channel for our exchange) It appears to be… Continue reading Long Distance Internet-based Piano Teaching: a novel experience

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Piano Instruction: Avoiding Injuries, using “Butterfly” by Edvard Grieg as a slow practicing example (Videos)

arioso7: Shirley Kirsten

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0SfJSgp71U About twenty years ago, before I was enlightened about the risk of injuries when I practiced and how to avoid them, I sustained a ligament tear of my ring finger, right hand. It was while playing the Schumann Carnaval, and just before it happened, I had held my hand in a rigid arched position… Continue reading Piano Instruction: Avoiding Injuries, using “Butterfly” by Edvard Grieg as a slow practicing example (Videos)

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More ideas about Piano Technique and Mental Imagery (Playing into a Bowl of Molasses)

arioso7: Shirley Kirsten

Continuing my practice of videotaping my Thursday evening lesson, I reviewed the footage and discovered some catch words that helped me clarify ideas about technique and fluency. While it may sound a bit outlandish to think of the piano as a "bowl of molasses," the image alone helped my adult student approach the keys with… Continue reading More ideas about Piano Technique and Mental Imagery (Playing into a Bowl of Molasses)

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Clementi and the Crickets (Videos)

arioso7: Shirley Kirsten

I thought my well of ideas for blogs had dried up until the crickets invaded my musical sanctuary at roughly 10 p.m., Thursday, July 7th jumping in as a full choir during the slow movement two of Clementi Sonatina Op. 36 no. 3. (Here's my first investigation of the noise which appeared to be coming… Continue reading Clementi and the Crickets (Videos)

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The Junior Division E-Piano Competition in Minnesota: Fluid playing among the announced Finalists (Videos)

arioso7: Shirley Kirsten

Update: First place winner: Aristo Sham (Hong Kong) For a list of 2nd, 3rd and 4th place winners go to http://www.piano-e-competition.com No 5th place was awarded. This sample of Aristo Sham performing Ginastera's Three Danzas Argentinas is a testimony to the youngster's exceptional musical sensitivity and artistry. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-E_NVVnVPA0 Embeds are not permitted, so click the… Continue reading The Junior Division E-Piano Competition in Minnesota: Fluid playing among the announced Finalists (Videos)