Monthly Archives: September 2011

When love for the piano dies…and why

Posted on September 30, 2011 by

After many years of watching students grow and develop, I’ve noticed that some experience a turnaround of feelings about playing the piano, and it can occur at any level of study from beginner to advanced. In some instances, the materials … Continue reading →

Posted in piano instruction, piano lesson, piano lesson dropouts, piano lessons, piano student, piano students who drop out, word press, wordpress.com | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Musical memories of New York City, and my impending trip back home

Posted on September 29, 2011 by

In about two weeks, I will fly back to New York City for a family birthday celebration, and in a tight 4-day span I’ll visit the edifice of my High School of Performing Arts, which is a designated landmark at … Continue reading →

Posted in Carnegie Hall, Lewisohn Stadium, New York City, Patelson's music shop, Sohmer upright piano, the Bronx, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Feeling Disconnected at the Jewish New Year!

Posted on September 28, 2011 by

Wake up call. At sundown this evening, the Jewish New Year is ushered in. It will have arrived just after my computer wisely shut itself down. The “card” for the fire wire cable IEEE1394 decided to expire at the right … Continue reading →

Posted in computer problems, fire wire cable, Rosh Hashanah | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Emotion and Meaning in Music with examples from Beethoven’s piano works (Videos)

Posted on September 25, 2011 by

As I thumbed through a soft cover copy of Leonard B. Meyer’s Emotion and Meaning in Music, a book required for an elective course I took at the City University of New York, I became thoroughly confused by the author’s … Continue reading →

Posted in "Fur Elise" by Beethoven, Beethoven, Beethoven "Tempest" sonata op. 31 no. 2, Beethoven Pathetique, Emotion and Meaning in Music by Leonard B. Meyer, emotion in music, emotional meaning of music, piano instruction, piano instructor, piano lessons, piano teaching, Piano World, pianoaddict.com, playing piano, Shirley Kirsten, Shirley Kirsten blog, Shirley Smith Kirsten, Teach Street, teaching Fur Elise, teaching piano, you tube, you tube video | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Piano lessons, long nails, and peer pressure

Posted on September 25, 2011 by

One of the loudest protests I’d ever heard, came from a 13-year old piano student who screamed at the top of her lungs on the doorstep of my house. Her mother was trying to clip her overgrown fingernails on the … Continue reading →

Posted in piano, piano addict, piano instruction, piano instructor, piano lesson, piano lessons, playing the piano with long nails, Shirley Kirsten, Shirley Kirsten blog, Shirley Smith Kirsten | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

A “Glee”-fully Skyping Piano Teacher Sitcom

Posted on September 24, 2011 by

I couldn’t resist writing a story board for a hypothetical Cable network sitcom about a webcam-enslaved piano teacher. Take One: 7:45 a.m. An adult student Skypes in from the Bay area. The camera angle is off. I can see teenage … Continue reading →

Posted in Dozen a Day by Edna-Mae Burnam, piano instruction, piano instructor, piano lessons, Skype, skyped piano lessons, TV sitcom, word press, wordpress.com | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Revisiting Beethoven’s “Moonlight” Sonata, movement 1, “quasi una fantasia,” and comparing You Tube performances

Posted on September 24, 2011 by

I continuously revisit compositions for a new perspective and in this endeavor, I usually check out You Tube performances of celebrated pianists. The “Moonlight Sonata,” first movement is a piece that many students set their sights to play. On the … Continue reading →

Posted in Beethoven, Beethoven Moonlight Sonata, musical phrasing, piano teaching repertoire, pianoaddict.com, pianoworld, pianoworld.com, Shirley Kirsten, Shirley Kirsten blog, Shirley Smith Kirsten, word press, wordpress.com, you tube, you tube video | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment