Month: May 2012

Claude Debussy, Debussy, Debussy Preludes, Ena Bronstein, Ena Bronstein Barton, word press, word press.com, wordpress, wordpress.com, you tube video, yout tube, youtube.com

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

arioso7: Shirley Kirsten

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, N.J. http://youtu.be/SB6PyiyShtc LINK: https://arioso7.wordpress.com/2012/04/30/virtuosity-and-poetry-in-motion-hallmark-ena-bronsteins-musical-return-to-fresno/

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

arioso7: Shirley Kirsten

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 relationship to resolving chords. The "harmonic rhythm" moves quickly. While this particular pupil may not… Continue reading Using piano repertoire as a springboard for a theory lesson: Major, minor and Diminished Chords (Videos)

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

arioso7: Shirley Kirsten

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 Arpeggio Exploring the curve at the very top of the figure with an energy boost… Continue reading Piano Technique: Focusing on Rotation in arpeggios, and building up a scale (Videos)

Beethoven "Tempest" Sonata, Beethoven Sonata Op. 31 no 2, Beethoven Tempest sonata, No. 2, piano, piano instrruction, piano learning, piano lessons, piano teacher, repertoire for piano students, word press, word press.com, wordpress, you tube, you tube video, yout tube

Supplementing piano lessons with videos

arioso7: Shirley Kirsten

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 organized set of notes to track learning and progress) Those were the old days, before… Continue reading Supplementing piano lessons with videos

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

arioso7: Shirley Kirsten

Aiden took the prize for his mini-choreography of Chopin's C# minor Waltz, http://youtu.be/v38sPHrPSP0 but "Sushi" outdistanced him with an impressive break dance routine on the kitchen floor. http://youtu.be/Z76zHeM2Qwk "Sushi," the house cat in El Cerrito, is always on the move--resistant to stay on the grand piano, or to teeter by the bathroom sink. Aiden, however,… Continue reading El Cerrito “Sushi” cat is a match for Aiden (Videos)

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

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

arioso7: Shirley Kirsten

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 chords shared between the hands. Practicing the sonorities as a prelude to playing the composition… Continue reading From El Cerrito with Love: a piano space with shimmering resonance blends the music of J.C. Bach with flowers and more (Video)

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

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

arioso7: Shirley Kirsten

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 along with a "feeling of one main impulse per bar." According to notes found in… Continue reading Kabalevsky’s “A Game” is a delightful way to practice staccato (Videos)

"Tales of a Musical Journey", Daniel Mori, Frances Clark A Time to Begin, Frances Clark Music Tree, Irina Morozova, Journal of a Piano Teacher from New York to California, pianist, piano, piano instruction, piano lessons, piano teaching, playing piano, word press, word press.com, wordpress, wordpress.com, you tube video, yout tube, youtube.com

Piano lessons should be tailor-made for each student (Videos)

arioso7: Shirley Kirsten

I've come to the conclusion that no full-proof piano method, or method book can be applied across the board to beginning students or those at any level of study. Each pupil is so unique that an individualized growth and development plan is needed. By example, I faced a dilemma when a new adult student who… Continue reading Piano lessons should be tailor-made for each student (Videos)

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Burgmuller’s beautiful “Tendre Fleur” flows in and out of flower portraits (VIDEO)

arioso7: Shirley Kirsten

On my walk from the El Cerrito Hills to BART Del Norte I snapped these pictures and interspersed them in my reading. Composed in the Romantic era, "Tender Flower" (English Tr.) is a gorgeous miniature that says so much in such a short space of time. A repository of nuance and expressive lines, it rivets… Continue reading Burgmuller’s beautiful “Tendre Fleur” flows in and out of flower portraits (VIDEO)

"Fur Elise" by Beethoven, classissima, classissima.com, Journal of a Piano Teacher from New York to California, Ludwig Van Beethoven, pianist, piano, piano instruction, piano lessons, playing piano, Shirley Kirsten, Shirley Smith Kirsten, word press, word press.com, wordpress, you tube video, yout tube, youtube.com

My childhood “Fur Elise,” past teachers, yearbook entries, and present mentoring (Video)

arioso7: Shirley Kirsten

I named one of my daughters, "Elise," in honor of Beethoven's famous composition. That's how much I adored the music. A companion piece since childhood, I managed to squeak through the notes at age 8 when enrolled at a quaint music school off Kingsbridge Road in the Bronx. Private lessons followed my two years of… Continue reading My childhood “Fur Elise,” past teachers, yearbook entries, and present mentoring (Video)