Category: Fresno California

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Piano Lesson: The challenge of playing a slow movement

arioso7: Shirley Kirsten

I chose Muzio Clementi's popular Sonatina in C, Op. 36, No. 1 to flesh out the contrasting middle movement designated ANDANTE by the composer. It's definitely a challenge to play just 6 lines of music with beauty and finesse. As a start, the player is exposed to realizing rolling triplet 8th-notes in the left hand… Continue reading Piano Lesson: The challenge of playing a slow movement

Claudia Arrau, Ena Bronstein, Ena Bronstein Barton, Fresno California, Journal of a Piano Teacher from New York to California, Rafael de Silva, Rider University, Schumann Carnaval op. 9, Shirley Kirsten, Shirley Smith Kirsten, Westminster Conservatory of Music in Princeton New Jersey, word press, word press.com, wordpress, wordpress.com, you tube, you tube video

My neighborhood piano teacher will return to Fresno to give a benefit concert! (Video)

arioso7: Shirley Kirsten

It's been well over 20 years since I sauntered just a few blocks over to West San Madele, a quaint street with manicured lawns and California ranch-style homes. But one particular residence, with an adobe brick exterior, stood out because of its warm musical welcome mat. It promised entry into a magical space with a… Continue reading My neighborhood piano teacher will return to Fresno to give a benefit concert! (Video)

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A Music Packed Saturday and Sunday! (Video) and NEW PHOTOS!

arioso7: Shirley Kirsten

The MTAC Baroque Festival and Daniil Trifonov's recital at Fresno State cap this weekend's events, giving our city a warm cultural embrace amidst its Bulldog-driven sports fever! First on the line-up, Claudia, 11, will play the Yamaha concert grand piano at the University's recital hall today.(The Steinway is sequestered) She'll offer two Bach selections: Invention… Continue reading A Music Packed Saturday and Sunday! (Video) and NEW PHOTOS!

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Teaching Gillock’s delightfully appealing, Later Elementary Level music: “The Glass Slipper” (Video)

arioso7: Shirley Kirsten

I have no reservation about the immense teaching value of William Gillock's music from elementary through advanced levels. And while the titles in the first few volumes appeal to children, the pieces can be universally enjoyed by piano students of all ages. In this spirit, I picked out "The Glass Slipper" from Accents on Gillock,… Continue reading Teaching Gillock’s delightfully appealing, Later Elementary Level music: “The Glass Slipper” (Video)

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A Piano Room Photo Portrait, like a Painting

arioso7: Shirley Kirsten

As I prowled around my home at 3 a.m. looking down from my staircase, I beheld my Steinway grand piano draped in special lighting that spilled into a portion of my living room. Aiden, my cat, slept peacefully amidst the dim glow, and overall I experienced what I saw as a painting worth capturing on… Continue reading A Piano Room Photo Portrait, like a Painting

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When is Superbowl Sunday? I better find out before it’s too late.

arioso7: Shirley Kirsten

Shades of 1988, when I committed the biggest crime of my life. I dared to schedule a student recital on the most SACRED day of the year, Superbowl Sunday! What did I know having been raised on baseball, the Brooklyn Bums and heart-breaker pennants? In Fresno, Bulldog fever was RAGING when I relocated from the… Continue reading When is Superbowl Sunday? I better find out before it’s too late.

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The neighborhood piano teacher lives on….

arioso7: Shirley Kirsten

Well into the Millennium, the "neighborhood" piano teacher owns a special "place" in our hearts! Amidst countless telephone and web driven lesson inquiries, her location will always be a top priority. "So where do you live?" (Not how do you teach?) In the Bay area, one can be sure that Richmond and Oakland are off… Continue reading The neighborhood piano teacher lives on….

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A former piano student carves out a unique life as a dance accompanist or is it “Freeway Gypsy?”

arioso7: Shirley Kirsten

For Becca Wong, her career path seemed predestined. Having had a firmly rooted music and dance background in her native Hong Kong prior to her arrival in California, she was at least predisposed to a future vocation celebrating the arts. Her enrollment in the Royal Academy of Dance, allied to the British school system, added… Continue reading A former piano student carves out a unique life as a dance accompanist or is it “Freeway Gypsy?”

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Debussy Arabesque No. 1 and the back story (Video)

arioso7: Shirley Kirsten

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xv1WpPXSQx8 Speaking of pianos, and decisions about which to use, I decided to give Haddy Haddorff another opportunity to sing like a nightingale. This was a late-into-the-night sound exploration following an earlier trip to the Mac Store at Fresno's Fashion Fair Mall. The Yeti mic was not registering--no sound--no explanation, though it was properly connected.… Continue reading Debussy Arabesque No. 1 and the back story (Video)

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The most popular blog explores piano teacher/student relationships

arioso7: Shirley Kirsten

I've been aware that this particular writing seems to touch a nerve, or strikes a chord of recognition among piano teachers, parents and students: https://arioso7.wordpress.com/2011/03/09/pulls-and-tugs-two-sides-to-the-studentteacher-piano-lesson-relationship/ It's only rival in popularity on my roster has been "Funeral for a Cracked Plate," a real life soap opera about a piano buyer who slipped up by ordering a… Continue reading The most popular blog explores piano teacher/student relationships