Month: March 2012

Burgmuller pastorale, Burgmuller Pastorale Op. 100, Burgmuller's Op. 100 Twenty-Five Progressive Pieces, Journal of a Piano Teacher from New York to California, pianist, piano, piano instruction, piano lessons, playing piano, Romantic era music, Shirley Kirsten, Shirley Smith Kirsten, word press, word press.com, wordpress, wordpress.com, you tube, you tube video

Pastorale by Burgmuller in lilting two: Op. 100, 25 Progressive Pieces

arioso7: Shirley Kirsten

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ibsna1UDJVU A plaintively beautiful piece, Pastorale requires a lilting "feel" of two beats per measure. A flowing melody permeates the voicing, cushioned in sonorous chords. The challenge is not to upstage the treble line as it unfolds. The phrasing in the right hand responds well to the supple wrist and curves of motion while the… Continue reading Pastorale by Burgmuller in lilting two: Op. 100, 25 Progressive Pieces

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How to practice Burgmuller’s Harmony of the Angels (also known as “Angels’ Voices”)

arioso7: Shirley Kirsten

In the video below, I demonstrated a preliminary blocking chord motion, while shaping the line, and having interactive flowing hands. Knowing the harmonic outline is equally pivotal in the learning process. Understanding how harmonic rhythm/resolutions of chords, for example, affect phrasing helps the student to interpret the music. Un-blocking chords follows with forward rolling wrist… Continue reading How to practice Burgmuller’s Harmony of the Angels (also known as “Angels’ Voices”)

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The rolling wrist in Burgmuller’s “Harmony of the Angels”

arioso7: Shirley Kirsten

Each of Burgmuller's Op. 100, 25 Progressive Pieces is more enchanting then the next, and bundled into every charmer is a technical goal to be met. In "Harmony of the Angels" it's abundantly clear that the supple wrist must roll forward, and the continuum of triplets from left hand to right must be in an… Continue reading The rolling wrist in Burgmuller’s “Harmony of the Angels”

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arioso7: Shirley Kirsten

into the Burgmuller spirit once again.. What a great composer so attuned to growing a piano technique within a divine musical frame...

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The Suzuki Method for Piano, Pros and Cons

arioso7: Shirley Kirsten

The traditional Suzuki method, devised by its pioneer advocate, Shinichi Suzuki applied originally to violin instruction. Students as young as 2 or 3 learned to play their instruments in the way language was acquired, through imitation. (I recalled black and white film footage showing hundreds of Japanese children lined up in rows with baby-size violins,… Continue reading The Suzuki Method for Piano, Pros and Cons

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Burgmuller’s “The Return”–like a light opera, with interspersed drama (videos)

arioso7: Shirley Kirsten

"The Return" from the composer's Twenty-Five Progressive Pieces, Op. 100, is ear-catching. Like an Offenbach opera replete with an Overture, it delights in a set of lighthearted staccato chords that spill into a passionate MINOR sequenced interlude, setting the heart afire. Extinguished by the revisit of Eb Major punctuations, the music drifts off by authentic… Continue reading Burgmuller’s “The Return”–like a light opera, with interspersed drama (videos)

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Burgmuller’s “Tender Flower” for rolling wrist motion (from 25 Progressive Pieces, Op. 100)

arioso7: Shirley Kirsten

This charming Romantic character piece provides a perfect opportunity to practice the forward rolling wrist motion, especially with its motivic pairs of 8th notes. While the second one under the slur is notated as staccato, it should not be clipped. As an example, think about how a singer would phrase these notes. She certainly wouldn't… Continue reading Burgmuller’s “Tender Flower” for rolling wrist motion (from 25 Progressive Pieces, Op. 100)

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Piano Lesson: More intensive work on J.S. Bach Fugue in C minor, BWV 847 (phrase shaping, voice balancing and form/theory analysis)

arioso7: Shirley Kirsten

Claudia, 11, and I refined our work on measures 9 through 21, with special attention to Episodes. She practiced shaping voices, balancing them, and creating a gradual crescendo where needed. (form and theoretical analysis were woven into our Fugue exploration) We concluded by playing the Fugue from the opening to measure 18. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b5shZxgti0s

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Piano Technique: Two nifty warm-up routines, one loopy, the other for zig-zaggers

arioso7: Shirley Kirsten

Claudia, 11, and I do a 20-minute warm-up before she tackles repertoire at her weekly lesson. Today I snatched two routines that might help others with the time-honored, upper arm roll, supple wrist, and elbow swing. Just my bias showing about technique and what I favor in its development. I've presented this one before, but… Continue reading Piano Technique: Two nifty warm-up routines, one loopy, the other for zig-zaggers

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More and more “piano” students are going Digital. Is it a good idea?

arioso7: Shirley Kirsten

It's sad but true that a glut of former piano buyers who would have considered piano lessons for their children at age 7 or so, have made the choice to invest in a DIGITAL. (known as a DP) Of further testimony to the culture's relatively new fixation on electronic piano technology, are the 35,000 plus… Continue reading More and more “piano” students are going Digital. Is it a good idea?