Category: classissima

"Tales of a Musical Journey", "Tales of a Musical Journey" by Irina Gorin, blog, blogger, blogging, Children's pieces, classissima, classissima.com, creative learning environment, ear training, piano lesson, piano lessons, Piano Street, piano student, piano teacher, piano teaching, piano teaching repertoire, pianoaddict.com, pianoworld, pianoworld.com, playing piano, Shirley Kirsten, Shirley Kirsten blog, Shirley Smith Kirsten, slow mindful practicing, slow piano practicing, talkclassical.com, Teach Street, teaching piano, teaching piano to children, word press, wordpress.com

Thoughts about teaching a 4-year old with an innovative approach (Tales of a Musical Journey)

arioso7: Shirley Kirsten

I would never have entertained the idea of teaching a 4-year old child. Over the years I had adhered to a rigid age boundary when accepting new piano students. Seven was the magic number. When an opportunity arose to sample a new book created by Irina Gorin that focused on instruction for children in the… Continue reading Thoughts about teaching a 4-year old with an innovative approach (Tales of a Musical Journey)

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Piano Instruction: singing a melody to help shape it and then translate into physical motion (VIDEO)

arioso7: Shirley Kirsten

In this videotaped example I explore the opening phrases of "Mazurka" by Maria Syzmanowska. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u13hfRsE_2U RELATED: https://arioso7.wordpress.com/2011/08/17/piano-study-and-the-value-of-singing-against-a-cultural-backdrop-of-vocal-inhibition/

Bay area, classissima, classissima.com, El Cerrito, El Cerrito California, El Cerrito piano studio, phrasing at the piano, pianist, piano, piano addict, piano instruction, piano instructor, piano lesson, piano lessons, piano lessons and parental support, piano pedagogy, playing piano, teaching piano, teaching piano to children, teaching piano to teenagers

My New Piano Studio in El Cerrito, California, and panoramic views taken from Amtrak 711 and 712 along the Bay route

arioso7: Shirley Kirsten

*** After my arrival in El Cerrito, I walked to my new location in a very old, established neighborhood with mature shade trees and lush foliage. It had to be the perfect paradise for teaching piano. *** Photos down below were taken at the Bart station looking down from the platform, and then along the… Continue reading My New Piano Studio in El Cerrito, California, and panoramic views taken from Amtrak 711 and 712 along the Bay route

"Just Being At the Piano", Aiden Cat, Aiden the Cat, Beethoven, blog, blogger, blogging, classissima, classissima.com, Fur Elise, mental imagery, mind body connection, muscular memory, music, music and heart, New York City High School of Performing Arts, New York University, Oberlin Conservatory, pianist, piano, piano addict, piano instruction, piano instructor, piano lesson, piano lessons, piano pedagogy, piano playing and relaxation, piano practicing, piano student, piano studio, Pianostreet.com, pianoworld, pianoworld.com, playing piano, word press, wordpress.com, you tube, you tube video

Relaxation in piano playing and setting a good example for students (Videos)

arioso7: Shirley Kirsten

By all accounts, the piano instructor should be the model of what she embraces as her teaching philosophy at lessons. For example, as I slip into my weeping willow tension-free state, I keep hammering away at my students to relax. But sometimes they're just too wired from pressures at work or at home to unwind… Continue reading Relaxation in piano playing and setting a good example for students (Videos)

Aiden Cat, Aiden the Cat, blog, blogger, blogging, Camille Saint-Saens, Cats Memories, classissima, classissima.com, Haddorff, Haddorff piano, Jules Massenet, music and photography, music and photos, playing piano, We are Siamese from Lady and the Tramp, William Gillock, word press, wordpress.com, you tube, you tube video

Aiden cat and music in a mixed media blend (Video)

arioso7: Shirley Kirsten

This morning I had an idea to synchronize Aiden's instrumental choice photos with pertinent musical excerpts, so I propped up sheet music selections on Haddy Haddorff's rack and imagined what kitty pics would best fit. Once I had captured all my music with attached video, (I wore a purple sequined jacket for the occasion) I… Continue reading Aiden cat and music in a mixed media blend (Video)

Beethoven Sonata no. 18 Op. 31 no.3 second movement, blog, blogger, blogging, Buenos Aires, Classical era, classical music, Classical period sonata, classissima, classissima.com, Gilmore artist award recipient Ingrid Fliter, Ingrid Fliter, phrasing at the piano, pianist, Shirley Kirsten blog, whole body music listening, word press, wordpress.com, you tube, you tube video

A favorite performance on You Tube: Ingrid Fliter, pianist plays Beethoven–Gilmore Artist Award winner

arioso7: Shirley Kirsten

Ingrid Fliter was born in Buenos Aires and received most of her musical training in Europe. A few years ago she serenaded Fresno audiences as a soloist on our esteemed Philip Lorenz Memorial Keyboard Concerts series. At the time, I was overwhelmed with her musical sensitivity and how she enlisted whole arm, supple wrist energies.… Continue reading A favorite performance on You Tube: Ingrid Fliter, pianist plays Beethoven–Gilmore Artist Award winner

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The view in my living room with an iMac, Tripod, Three Pianos, and Aiden cat

arioso7: Shirley Kirsten

This about sums it up. Now that the iMac arrived right after Haddy Haddorff replaced a digital keyboard, Aiden cat found space for himself dwindling, yet he still managed to plop himself right in the middle of the muddle. RELATED: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5MLPxKFl2c Aiden cat sits in on a concert...

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A Skyped Piano Lesson in Progress: Practicing Mazurka by Maria Szymanowska (Videos)

arioso7: Shirley Kirsten

My third SKYPED Piano Lesson is brought to you in living color. The adult student framed by an iMac, is one of my regulars up in El Cerrito (Bay area USA) and since I'm unable to travel to her home to teach more than once a week, extra Virtual-based practice is desirable. (We worked on… Continue reading A Skyped Piano Lesson in Progress: Practicing Mazurka by Maria Szymanowska (Videos)

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Piano Instruction: Common student problems related to playing Clementi Sonatina, Op. 36, No. 3, Spiritoso (Video)

arioso7: Shirley Kirsten

The student I'm currently teaching by Skype has received a number of supplemental videos from me that target problems universal to those learning Clementi Sonatina, Op. 36, No. 3. In this video, geared for teachers as well as students, I define areas in the first movement, Spiritoso, that need particular focus for improvement: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_q_vUSLIDI As… Continue reading Piano Instruction: Common student problems related to playing Clementi Sonatina, Op. 36, No. 3, Spiritoso (Video)

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Piano Instruction: Schumann Arabesque, Op. 18-Using a supple wrist follow through motion, and parceling out voices (Video)

arioso7: Shirley Kirsten

The Schumann Arabesque is a heartfelt character piece from the Romantic era. It requires the player to have a very supple wrist to realize the lilt of buoyant, legato dotted eighth/16th figures that permeate the music. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPqrQJccLQ4 Though the composition is in C Major, it has interludes in the minor, that are somber and impassioned.… Continue reading Piano Instruction: Schumann Arabesque, Op. 18-Using a supple wrist follow through motion, and parceling out voices (Video)