Monthly Archives: May 2012

Ena Bronstein, pianist, plays Debussy’s “Feux D’artifice” (recorded “live” in concert)

Posted on May 30, 2012 by

A further blend of music and seascapes, not to mention muted swans. Ena Bronstein was my former teacher in Fresno before she departed for the East Coast. Currently, she’s on the faculty of Westminster Choir College of Rider University, Princeton, … Continue reading →

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Using piano repertoire as a springboard for a theory lesson: Major, minor and Diminished Chords (Videos)

Posted on May 30, 2012 by

One of my adult students is working on the gorgeous J.C. Bach Prelude in A minor which has a second page full of “Major,” “Minor” and “Diminished” chords. The sonorities progress in sequences, but they also have a secondary dominant … Continue reading →

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Piano Technique: Focusing on Rotation in arpeggios, and building up a scale (Videos)

Posted on May 27, 2012 by

These are two supplementary videos that I created for adult students between lessons. As previously mentioned, they clarify and reinforce the content of our class, and map out ways to practice. I. ROTATION at the turnaround of a B minor … Continue reading →

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Supplementing piano lessons with videos

Posted on May 25, 2012 by

Just a few years ago, the furthest thing from my mind would be to send videos to piano students between lessons. In the past, I had routinely e-mailed assignments for the coming week along with practicing suggestions. (This created an … Continue reading →

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El Cerrito “Sushi” cat is a match for Aiden (Videos)

Posted on May 24, 2012 by

Aiden took the prize for his mini-choreography of Chopin’s C# minor Waltz, but “Sushi” outdistanced him with an impressive break dance routine on the kitchen floor. “Sushi,” the house cat in El Cerrito, is always on the move–resistant to stay … Continue reading →

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From El Cerrito with Love: a piano space with shimmering resonance blends the music of J.C. Bach with flowers and more (Video)

Posted on May 22, 2012 by

Johann Christian Bach’s Prelude in A minor swims around an exalted space in the East Bay. It can’t get any better, except for flowers and a musical feline that enhance the musical tapestry. Bach’s composition is a stream of broken … Continue reading →

Posted in Johann Christian Bach, Journal of a Piano Teac her from New York to California, Shirley Smith Kirsten, whole body listening, whole body music listening, word press, word press.com, wordpress, wordpress.com, you tube, you tube video, yout tube, youtube.com | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Kabalevsky’s “A Game” is a delightful way to practice staccato (Videos)

Posted on May 20, 2012 by

Dimitri Kabalevsky (1904-1987) composed a winner for late elementary and early intermediate level students. While playing “A GAME,” they learn a bouncy staccato with light interspersed accents on downbeats. How refreshing to weave technique into a musical romp that moves … Continue reading →

Posted in Dimitri Kabalevsky, El Cerrito piano studio, Gillock "Clowns", Journal of a Piano Teacher from New York to California, Kabalevsky "Clowns", Kabalevsky Op. 39 Children's pieces, piano, piano instruction, piano lessons, Piano Street, piano technique, piano technique and Kabalevsky, Piano World, Shirley Kirsten, Shirley Smith Kirsten, word press, word press.com, wordpress, wordpress.com, you tube, you tube video, yout tube, youtube.com | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment