Category Archives: Chopin Waltzes

Pedaling Chopin Waltz No. 19 in A minor, Op. Posthumous

Posted on May 22, 2015 by

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 … Continue reading →

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Tempo Rubato and Chopin Waltz in A minor No. 19, Op. Posthumous

Posted on January 30, 2015 by

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 … Continue reading →

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Dedicating my birthday to Chopin!

Posted on April 7, 2014 by

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. Not … Continue reading →

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Harmonic Rhythm, melodic twists, and emotional shifts in Chopin’s B Minor Waltz, Op. 69, No. 2 (Video)

Posted on July 15, 2012 by

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 … Continue reading →

Posted in Chopin B minor Waltz, Chopin B minor Waltz op. 69 No. 2, Chopin Waltzes, Frederic Chopin, Interpreting Chopin's music, pianist, piano, piano instruction, piano lessons, playing piano, Shirley Kirsten, Shirley Smith Kirsten, Skype, video exchanges with skype piano students, word press, word press.com, wordpress, wordpress.com, you tube, you tube.com, yout tube, youtube.com | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

SKYPING Chopin: sculpting phrases with relaxed arms and supple wrists in the Waltz no. 19 in A minor, Op. Posthum. (Videos)

Posted on November 5, 2011 by

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. Between California and Australia A new … Continue reading →

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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

Posted on October 12, 2011 by

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 … Continue reading →

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Rolling arm movements and videotaped slow motion replay of Chopin’s Waltz in C# minor, piu mosso section

Posted on August 31, 2011 by

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 … Continue reading →

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