In the old days, I commuted by Amtrak from Central CA to the East Bay, chugging along the scenic route with my digital camera pressed against the train window. A few awesome seascapes managed to squeak through the bumpy ride, and these were memorialized by photographic import to my soundtracks, then posted to YOU TUBE.… Continue reading The El Cerrito Hills are alive with the sound of music
Category: Chopin Waltz in c# minor Op. 64 no.2
Spot practicing Chopin’s Waltz in C# minor with an adult student
This pupil demonstrates patient, behind tempo practicing: http://youtu.be/xQzGrSCfBLU My play through (with flexible forward wrist motions to help sculpt phrases) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bbzKAmz2r_A LINK: https://arioso7.wordpress.com/2013/06/20/piano-warm-up-routines-with-an-adult-student/
Hand-switching and Chopin (making a piano duet out of a solo)
I did a double take watching footage of yesterday's lesson in the El Cerrito Hills. Seeing two arms, one half-sleeved, and the other firmly wrapped in olive green, made me wonder if an alien from Mars had landed squarely at the piano. Upon closer inspection, the camera had played tricks on me, creating an optical… Continue reading Hand-switching and Chopin (making a piano duet out of a solo)
Aiden Cat choreographs the Chopin C# minor Waltz.. seeing is believing
Watch this amazing cat at the beginning and close of this "foot"-age. If any ballet companies are looking for new talent, this floating feline is up for an audition. In any case, he earned himself a well-deserved catnap after a virtuoso "paw"-formance. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v38sPHrPSP0 Notice his graceful balletic form as he sleeps. purrrrr......
Hitting new lows with SKYPE/Comcast: How one Chopin Waltz was eternally hexed! (Videos)
Last night was a first. This time it wasn't Aiden cat who short-circuited my re-recording of the Chopin C# minor Waltz. It was a Communications giant that was somehow to blame. Aiden was off the hook: Two belches into measure 66, (one 6 short of the Devil's doing) and my performance was corrupted. A few… Continue reading Hitting new lows with SKYPE/Comcast: How one Chopin Waltz was eternally hexed! (Videos)
Aiden Cat crashes the piano bench and messes up a video in progress (Chopin’s C# minor Waltz, Op. 64)
It's one thing to invite Aiden onto the piano bench for a front row seat, but it's quite another when he appears out of nowhere, lands beside me, and ruins a recording in progress. Last night Aiden did just that. After he broke into the Chopin C# minor Waltz, he knew he was the lion… Continue reading Aiden Cat crashes the piano bench and messes up a video in progress (Chopin’s C# minor Waltz, Op. 64)
The woes of technology: No, I wasn’t finger synching someone else’s Chopin Waltz in C# minor (Videos)
I watched in disbelief as my 55th take of the C# minor Chopin Waltz Op. 64 went up in smoke. That is, it had been the most satisfying re-do, until I discovered that for 50% of the iMac iMovie, (commencing on p. 2) my hand motions and the music were out of synch. Add to… Continue reading The woes of technology: No, I wasn’t finger synching someone else’s Chopin Waltz in C# minor (Videos)
Rolling arm movements and videotaped slow motion replay of Chopin’s Waltz in C# minor, piu mosso section
I demonstrate a swing or roll of the arms to realize the circular flow of the piu mosso section of Chopin's Waltz in C# minor, Op. 64, no 2. At the end, I add slow motion frames. Needless to say a state of relaxation is desirable to achieve Oneness with the piano. Mindful practicing and… Continue reading Rolling arm movements and videotaped slow motion replay of Chopin’s Waltz in C# minor, piu mosso section
At the piano: Exploring the Chopin Waltz in C# minor, Op. 64 No. 2 (Video)
I finally sat down at "Haddy" (my Haddorff piano that sings like a nightingale) and spun out a few ideas about the Waltz in C# minor. A slow motion journey through the composition underscored the suspensions and harmonic rhythm on the first page, then moved on to the piu mosso, 8ths with their rounded contour,… Continue reading At the piano: Exploring the Chopin Waltz in C# minor, Op. 64 No. 2 (Video)
Comparing performances of Chopin’s Waltz in C# minor, Op. 64, No. 2 (VIDEOS)
Last night I sat down at my Steinway M grand and quickly shuffled over to my Haddorff (known as "Haddy") fully intending to record some comments on the lovely C# minor Waltz. As I looked at the dotted-eighth/sixteenth figure that permeated the composition making it stand out as unique among Chopin's Waltzes, I suddenly experienced… Continue reading Comparing performances of Chopin’s Waltz in C# minor, Op. 64, No. 2 (VIDEOS)