As I stepped out my front door to investigate what sounded like three lawn mower engines powered up at FULL BLAST, eviscerating an Online piano lesson to Arizona, I spotted a tree removal squad slashing a young Oak to smithereens just a few yards from the piano room. The tree, about 10 feet tall, not… Continue reading Salvaging the remains of a Ravaged piano lesson
Category: Chopin Waltzes
Pedaling Chopin Waltz No. 19 in A minor, Op. Posthumous
When considering ways to pedal Chopin's ethereal A minor Waltz, I think back to Stephen Hough and his teacher's comments about the learning process: “I don’t care how you’re playing the piece now, what I care about is how you’ll play it in 10 years.” (Gordon Green) Well as a segue way to this posting,… Continue reading Pedaling Chopin Waltz No. 19 in A minor, Op. Posthumous
Tempo Rubato and Chopin Waltz in A minor No. 19, Op. Posthumous
Tempo Rubato as defined in Wikipedia: "Tempo rubato (free in the presentation, Italian for: stolen time) is a musical term referring to expressive and rhythmic freedom by a slight speeding up and then slowing down of the tempo of a piece at the discretion of the soloist or the conductor." I think of it in… Continue reading Tempo Rubato and Chopin Waltz in A minor No. 19, Op. Posthumous
Dedicating my birthday to Chopin!
I'm often asked to name my favorite composer, and nearly always, it's the one whose music I'm currently studying and teaching. In this case, Chopin's posthumous Waltz in A minor, discovered by musicologists in the 1950s, is the CHOSEN. http://youtu.be/0fyaPEjVIl0 Not cluttered with reams of intricate runs and fancy ornaments, it's a good first Waltz… Continue reading Dedicating my birthday to Chopin!
Harmonic Rhythm, melodic twists, and emotional shifts in Chopin’s B Minor Waltz, Op. 69, No. 2 (Video)
The harmonic flow of a piece is one ingredient of phrase shaping, along with melodic contouring that springs from the human voice and its natural breath. All have emotional consequence as music pours out of the heart and soul of a performer. So getting below the surface of a piece of music, means delving into… Continue reading Harmonic Rhythm, melodic twists, and emotional shifts in Chopin’s B Minor Waltz, Op. 69, No. 2 (Video)
SKYPING Chopin: sculpting phrases with relaxed arms and supple wrists in the Waltz no. 19 in A minor, Op. Posthum. (Videos)
Aside from the prelude to this transmission having been launched by Aiden Cat, most of yesterday's lesson was noteworthy for its focus on phrasing the Chopin Waltz No. 19 in A minor, Op. Posthumous. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epBXjDqFVaA Between California and Australia A new Logitech camera provided an astonishing over the shoulder view of "Daniel" seated at his… Continue reading SKYPING Chopin: sculpting phrases with relaxed arms and supple wrists in the Waltz no. 19 in A minor, Op. Posthum. (Videos)
Claudia’s piano lesson in progress: Preparing the Chopin A minor Waltz no. 19, Op. posthumous and Beethoven’s “Fur Elise” for the MTAC Fall Festival
I returned to the iMac21 for this videotaping in the company of my nifty Yeti mic. (I'm waiting for Y to speak in Star Wars lingo, or double as a cleaning robot) Everything was definitely effortless this time because I opted NOT to edit. I just let the lesson segment run its course without fussing… Continue reading Claudia’s piano lesson in progress: Preparing the Chopin A minor Waltz no. 19, Op. posthumous and Beethoven’s “Fur Elise” for the MTAC Fall Festival
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
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)