"Portrait of Lívia Rév pianist / teaching / 90th Birthda, Bela Bartok, Bela Bartok and Livia Rev, Edna Golandsky, Hungary, Livia Rev, mind body connection, Mozart, music and heart, music and the breath, musical inspiration, musical phrasing, musical phrasing and breathing, phrasing at the piano, pianist, piano, piano instruction, piano instructor, piano lessons, piano playing and breathing, piano playing and phrasing, piano playing and relaxation, piano practicing, piano student, piano technique, pianoaddict.com, Pianostreet.com, pianoworld, pianoworld.com, Shirley Kirsten, Shirley Kirsten blog, Shirley Smith Kirsten, Taubman piano method, teaching piano, technique, The art of phrasing at the piano, the art of piano playing, Uncategorized, W.A. Mozart, whole body listening, whole body music listening, word press, wordpress.com, you tube, you tube video

The Old World playing, like fine wine, of Livia Rev, Hungarian pianist and teacher (see her teaching segments on the pliant wrist)

So now I am into documentaries about piano teachers/performers who leave an eternal imprint on their students and upon the world. Livia Rev is one such special person who belongs in the good company of Irena Orlov, Irina Gorin, and Rosina Lhevinne. Note the frames on Bela Bartok, and Ms. Lev's connection to-- a letter… Continue reading The Old World playing, like fine wine, of Livia Rev, Hungarian pianist and teacher (see her teaching segments on the pliant wrist)

Chopin, Chopin Barcarolle, Chopin Mazurka, Chopin Mazurka in G minor Op. 63 no. 3, classissima, classissima.com, Frederic Chopin, International Piano Institute at Mannes College, Irena Orlov, Irina Gorin, Irina Gorin piano studio, Irina Morozova, Levine School of Music, Levine School of Music in Washington, Levine School of Music in Washington D.C., Mannes College of Music, mind body connection, music, music and heart, music and the breath, phrasing at the piano, piano playing and phrasing, piano playing and relaxation, pianoaddict.com, Pianostreet.com, pianoworld, pianoworld.com, playing piano, producing a singing tone legato at the piano, publishersmarketplace, publishersmarketplace.com, Romantic era music, Romantic music, self-analysis, Shirley Kirsten, Shirley Kirsten blog, Shirley Smith Kirsten, singing tone legato, studying piano, talkclassical.com, tempo rubato, The art of phrasing at the piano, the art of piano playing, video performances, whole body listening, whole body music listening, word press, wordpress.com, you tube, you tube video

Ethereal piano playing: Another Irina, with an i in the middle, brings heaven to earth

This is the special month of Irina, Irena, and still another Irina. The latest messenger of beauty via You Tube is Irina Morozova. And as fate would have it, one of my readers, owner of a Knight piano treasure, e-mailed me a sample of her Bach-Siloti, which sent me feverishly finger-tapping the search window for… Continue reading Ethereal piano playing: Another Irina, with an i in the middle, brings heaven to earth

"Butterfly" by Grieg, classissima, classissima.com, Edvard Grieg, emotion in music, emotional meaning of music, Grieg Lyric Pieces, muscular memory, music, music and heart, music and the breath, musical inspiration, musical phrasing, musical phrasing and breathing, nature and music, phrasing at the piano, pianist, piano, piano addict, piano instruction, piano lessons, piano playing and breathing, piano playing and phrasing, piano playing and relaxation, piano practicing, piano repertoire, piano technique, pianoaddict.com, Pianostreet.com, pianoworld, pianoworld.com, playing piano, publishers marketplace, publishersmarketplace, publishersmarketplace.com, Romantic era music, Romantic music, self-analysis, Shirley Kirsten, Shirley Kirsten blog, Shirley Smith Kirsten, slow mindful practicing, slow piano practicing, Steinway M grand piano, Teach Street, teaching piano, technique, tempo rubato, The art of phrasing at the piano, whole body listening, whole body music listening, word press, wordpress.com, you tube, you tube video

Piano Technique: “Butterfly” by Grieg, a revisit (playing and exploring the rolling, rotational motion) videos

I can see the butterfly in my mind's eye in its flight of fancy. But I wish it were as easy to play, as to imagine. Relaxation is the key word here, but not to the point that the 16th-notes become like glissandi--a faint gloss over the keys. First in slow practice tempo you would… Continue reading Piano Technique: “Butterfly” by Grieg, a revisit (playing and exploring the rolling, rotational motion) videos

Aiden Cat, classical music, classissima, classissima.com, iMac, iMovie, Irena Orlov, letting go to music, Levine School of Music, mind body connection, Mozart, Mozart Rondo Allegretto K. 545, music, music and heart, music and the breath, piano playing and breathing, piano playing and phrasing, piano playing and relaxation, piano practicing, piano studio, piano technique, Piano World, pianoaddict.com, Pianostreet.com, pianoworld, pianoworld.com, playing piano, Shirley Kirsten, Shirley Kirsten blog, Shirley Smith Kirsten, Steinway grand piano, Steinway M grand piano, Steinway piano, studying piano, the art of piano playing, Uncategorized, video editing on iMovie, video performances, video uploading, videotaped replay, whole body listening, whole body music listening, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, word press, wordpress.com, you tube

Playing piano and getting into the spirit (Video with Aiden cat joining in)

It's holiday time, and we're all eating with gusto. In honor of Thanksgiving, we completely let go, pardoning ourselves of any rigid diet that would preclude an all out splurge. So now, enter the piano, as a feast of delights waiting for the player to partake without a hint of holding back. It seems like… Continue reading Playing piano and getting into the spirit (Video with Aiden cat joining in)

Cantata 78 by J.S. Bach performed at the First Moravian Church in New York City, classissima, classissima.com, Elaine Comparone, emotion in music, First Moravian Church in New York City, Fresno, Fresno California, Kol Nidre, memoir, Mozart, music and heart, music in churches, music in Jewish temples, music in religious services, music in synagogues, musical inspiration, New York City High School of Performing Arts, Pianostreet.com, pianoworld, pianoworld.com, publishers marketplace, publishersmarketplace, publishersmarketplace.com, Shirley Kirsten, Shirley Kirsten blog, Shirley Smith Kirsten, Steinway M grand piano, the Crystal Cathdral, the Crystal cathedral, W.A. Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, word press, wordpress.com, Yom Kippur, you tube, You Tube Cantata no. 78 performed at the First Moravian Church in New York City, you tube video

What’s happened to music in churches, temples and other religious sanctuaries? (2013 update)

On a rainy Sunday morning I was surfing You Tube in search of a spiritually poignant musical offering. One particular posting had been so inspiring that my index finger ached from so many mouse-clicked replays. It was ? "Verum"--The one word lingered in my foggy memory, amply retrieved to reap a reward. Out popped Mozart's… Continue reading What’s happened to music in churches, temples and other religious sanctuaries? (2013 update)

J.S. Bach, J.S. Bach Prelude in C from the Well Tempered Clavier, J.S. Bach Well Tempered Clavier, Johann Sebastian Bach, JS Bach, music, music and heart, New York City High School of Performing Arts, Oberlin Conservatory, phrasing at the piano, pianist, piano, piano playing and breathing, piano playing and phrasing, Piano World, pianoaddict.com, Pianostreet.com, Shirley Kirsten, Shirley Kirsten blog, Shirley Smith Kirsten, Steinway and Sons, Steinway grand piano, Steinway M grand piano, Teach Street, video editing, video editing on iMovie, video montage, video performances, video uploading, videotaped replay, Well Tempered Clavier, whole body listening, whole body music listening, word press, wordpress.com, you tube, you tube video

A different view of Bach and the piano (Prelude in C) Video

On a whim, I decided to keep my Mac at a distance from the Steinway, walk over to the piano without being too conspicuous, and offhandedly play the Bach Prelude in C from the Well-Tempered Clavier. Since I hadn't yet mastered the editing side of iMovie, I figured a majestic lead into the playing would… Continue reading A different view of Bach and the piano (Prelude in C) Video

Baroque music, blog, blogger, blogging, Fresno California, J.S. Bach, J.S. Bach two part Inventions, learning piano, mind body connection, mindful piano practicing, mindful practicing, MTAC, music, music and heart, music and the breath, music teachers association of california, musical inspiration, musical phrasing, musical phrasing and breathing, phrasing at the piano, pianist, piano, piano instruction, piano instructor, piano playing and breathing, piano playing and phrasing, piano practicing, piano practicing motivators, piano studio, piano teacher, piano teaching, piano technique, piano warm-ups, Piano World, pianoaddict.com, Pianostreet.com, pianoworld, pianoworld.com, playing piano, Shirley Kirsten, Shirley Kirsten blog, Shirley Smith Kirsten, slow mindful practicing, slow piano practicing, studying piano, teaching piano, teaching piano to children, technique, the art of piano playing, Theory, What pianists can learn from string players, whole body listening, whole body music listening, word press, wordpress.com, you tube, you tube video

Piano Lesson Excerpts: Practicing the Bach Invention 13 in A minor (Videos)

This morning, Claudia, 11, practiced the J.S. Bach A minor Invention behind tempo, (in slow motion) to improve her musical/technical understanding of the composition. She worked on "weaving"/shaping the main idea or subject, which is a broken chord figure. The interaction between hands or voices (there are two them) was a particular focus, as it… Continue reading Piano Lesson Excerpts: Practicing the Bach Invention 13 in A minor (Videos)

"Tales of a Musical Journey" by Irina Gorin, Debussy Arabesque no. 1, Debussy Arabesque No. 1 by Claude Debussy, learning piano, mental imagery, mind body connection, Mozart sonata in C K545, music, music and heart, phrasing at the piano, pianist, piano, piano addict, piano instruction, piano instructor, piano lesson, piano lessons, piano pedagogy, piano playing and breathing, piano playing and phrasing, piano playing and relaxation, piano practicing, piano student, piano teacher, piano teaching, Pianostreet.com, pianoworld, pianoworld.com, playing piano, producing a singing tone legato at the piano, Scarlatti, Scarlatti Sonatas, Shirley Kirsten, Shirley Kirsten blog, Shirley Smith Kirsten, slow mindful practicing, slow piano practicing, studying piano, Teach Street, teaching piano, The art of phrasing at the piano, W.A. Mozart, whole body listening, whole body music listening, word press, wordpress.com, you tube, you tube video

Jello and other mental images for pianists

Here comes the jello again. I thought I was the only one swimming around in it until I found the good company of Irina Gorin, piano teacher and author, who served what amounted to a jello substitute at her piano lessons. She had packed away a small tub of colorful putty that she dispensed to… Continue reading Jello and other mental images for pianists

Chopin Waltz Op. 64 no. 1, Cyprien Katsaris, Masterclass Media Foundation, mind body connection, mindful piano practicing, music, music and heart, phrasing at the piano, piano, piano instruction, piano instructor, piano lesson, piano masterclass, piano masterclasses, piano playing and breathing, piano playing and phrasing, piano playing and relaxation, piano student, piano teaching repertoire, piano technique, Piano World, pianoaddict.com, Pianostreet.com, pianoworld, pianoworld.com, Romantic era music, Romantic music, Shirley Kirsten, Shirley Kirsten blog, Shirley Smith Kirsten, talkclassical.com, Teach Street, teaching piano to children, The art of phrasing at the piano, whole body listening, whole body music listening, word press, wordpress.com, you tube, you tube video

A Little Dog Chasing its Tail: Cyprien Katsaris celebrates Chopin in this inspired Masterclass (Waltz, Op. 64 no. 1)

Cyprien Katsaris is a teacher's teacher and pianist's pianist. His prowess is on full display in a masterclass with a young girl who plays the Chopin Waltz, op. 64 no. 1. (Kudos to the Masterclass Media Foundation for adding this gem to its roster) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUqLjdy4cO4 Like Boris Berman, Katsaris has a unique talent for transforming… Continue reading A Little Dog Chasing its Tail: Cyprien Katsaris celebrates Chopin in this inspired Masterclass (Waltz, Op. 64 no. 1)

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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)