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)
Category: blog
More ideas about Piano Technique and Mental Imagery (Playing into a Bowl of Molasses)
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)
The Junior Division E-Piano Competition in Minnesota: Fluid playing among the announced Finalists (Videos)
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)
My Anna Magdalena Bach Notebook favorites, and why it’s best to play the real deal (Video)
I was thinking about an adult student I currently teach in the Bay area who thumbed through her Faber Older Beginner Adult Accelerated Piano Adventures Method Book, and was instantly drawn to "Musette,"one of the many pieces contained in Anna Magdalena's Notebook. Transcribed to "G Position" by Randall Faber and reduced to a fraction of… Continue reading My Anna Magdalena Bach Notebook favorites, and why it’s best to play the real deal (Video)
Piano Instruction: Analysis J.S. Bach Fugue in C minor, BWV847 (Videos)
http://youtu.be/ii0KsFQjGNA This first video represents Part One of my Discussion and Analysis of the Fugue, BWV 847, inclusive of the Exposition. (I use the Palmer edition) In the course of a fugue, the SUBJECT should always be fleshed out in whatever voice it appears, but an awareness of counter-subject one, counter-subject 2 and motivic, imitative… Continue reading Piano Instruction: Analysis J.S. Bach Fugue in C minor, BWV847 (Videos)
Summer Piano Lessons and Musical Progress
I used to believe that summer was a time to let go of piano lessons, to allow students a break from the tight schedule of weekly meetings during the school year. That was my perception until I slowly but surely realized how many holidays and Teacher institute breaks made September to June feel like 7… Continue reading Summer Piano Lessons and Musical Progress
Piano Instruction: Attentive listening to the end of a note before playing the next (E minor arpeggio in TENTHS) Video
In the course of practicing an E minor Arpeggio, (E, G, B, E) in TENTHS (Right hand begins on G, finger no. 1) I reinforced the idea that listening attentively to the very end of a note before the next is played is an essential ingredient of beautiful phrasing and fluid playing. The video expands:… Continue reading Piano Instruction: Attentive listening to the end of a note before playing the next (E minor arpeggio in TENTHS) Video
Practicing “Flight of the Bumblebee” in slow tempo (Rachmaninoff Arrangement of Rimsky-Korsakov)-Video
"Flight of the Bumblebee" was originally composed for orchestra. It was the Interlude of the opera, Legend of the Tsar Sultan (1900) by Rimsky-Korsakov. According to the plot, a prince becomes a bee and stings his villainous relatives. The piece has been arranged many times over for various instruments including the piano. The edition that… Continue reading Practicing “Flight of the Bumblebee” in slow tempo (Rachmaninoff Arrangement of Rimsky-Korsakov)-Video
Digitals, Acoustics, the economy, and piano lessons
After I showered myself in digitals these past two days, I pleasantly dried out and came home to my dearly beloved acoustic pianos. (Two Steinways and a Haddorff) Now nothing is perfect in the world of electronics or acoustics. There are a repository of pitfalls associated with each, and it can be maddening to deal… Continue reading Digitals, Acoustics, the economy, and piano lessons
Digital Piano Review continued: On Location at Best Buy in Fresno CA (6 videos)
This was such a smooth experience. Matthew Wheeler was found playing drums and keyboard in Best Buy's atrium, for want of a better name, and he stopped what he was doing to film me sampling digitals. These were console models: Roland F110, Casio 830, and Yamaha Arius YDP 141. There are six videos, including a… Continue reading Digital Piano Review continued: On Location at Best Buy in Fresno CA (6 videos)
