Category: music

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A Day with Two Piano Finalists

arioso7: Shirley Kirsten

A Kawai and Chickering were in a tight race, until one took off and surpassed the other. My whole Saturday was consumed with evaluating two pianos: a practically brand new "Kawai" 5'1" grand and a larger, nearly 5'8" size "Chickering," 1980. The Kawai captured my interest because a smaller studio upright of the same brand… Continue reading A Day with Two Piano Finalists

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Do’s and Don’ts for Piano Buyers and Sellers (Dream Piano’s last Chapter)

arioso7: Shirley Kirsten

DO’s for Buyers If possible take along a Registered Piano Technician and performing pianist with a good pair of ears to evaluate a used or new piano on the market. You can find a list of RPT members at your Piano Technicians’ Guild online site, or look in the business or Yellow Pages for the… Continue reading Do’s and Don’ts for Piano Buyers and Sellers (Dream Piano’s last Chapter)

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DREAM PIANO: Overview and Acknowledgments

arioso7: Shirley Kirsten

My two-year long romp on the piano finding trail with York as my professional companion and consultant had been worth all the time spent in, around and under pianos. How else would I have acquired knowledge about the piano’s harp, or cast iron plate were it not for his having the bravado to dismantle it… Continue reading DREAM PIANO: Overview and Acknowledgments

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On the Meat Rack of used pianos: One that Never Left Its Home

arioso7: Shirley Kirsten

I received a phone call on a June morning from a man who inquired about my piano-finding services. He sounded like he might be from India, but I wasn’t sure. “Do you help with selling a piano?” he inquired. "On occasion, I do," I replied. "It depends on the quality of the instrument." I could… Continue reading On the Meat Rack of used pianos: One that Never Left Its Home

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Piano Instruction: Mozart Rondo: Allegretto, 3rd mvt. Sonata in C, K. 545

arioso7: Shirley Kirsten

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6oSo-WC9OM http://youtu.be/Meb-yhioUIo In this instructional video I analyze the form and musical content of Mozart's Sonata in C Major, K. 545, Rondo: Allegretto, Third movement. (I play behind tempo to make the commentary and musical phrases more understandable) The Rondo, more often than not, is the form used in the last movement of a Classical… Continue reading Piano Instruction: Mozart Rondo: Allegretto, 3rd mvt. Sonata in C, K. 545

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Recording on a SLEEPER Dream Piano

arioso7: Shirley Kirsten

On a whim, I had decided to make an hour long trip to Visalia about 50 miles south of Fresno to sniff out the stock over at the “Piano Gallery.” (This was before it went out of business) A medium size establishment in an upscale shopping mall, it was owned by “Ginnadiy Merkerin,” a Russian… Continue reading Recording on a SLEEPER Dream Piano

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Piano Instruction: Five finger warm-ups in Major and minor (Video)

arioso7: Shirley Kirsten

Most piano students can begin playing five finger major and minor positions between the 6th and 9th month of lessons, if not sooner. Young children learning the basic symbols of notation and rhythm may need a longer period before embarking upon these exercises, although in Faber's "Piano's Adventures," Primer level, a five finger warm-up appears… Continue reading Piano Instruction: Five finger warm-ups in Major and minor (Video)

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Piano Instruction: Second Movement, Mozart Sonata in C Major, K. 545 (Video)

arioso7: Shirley Kirsten

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0i-2t9-4yI In this middle movement of Sonata, K. 545, Mozart emulates the opera with a spun out cantabile (singing tone) melody against a rolling, rippling broken chord bass line.  The tempo, Andante, should not be played too slowly because "Andare" in Italian means to "walk," which suggests a certain internal motion. Slower tempo designations in… Continue reading Piano Instruction: Second Movement, Mozart Sonata in C Major, K. 545 (Video)

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Piano Lesson: An advanced adult Student plays Chopin Etude Op. 25, No. 9

arioso7: Shirley Kirsten

We are practicing behind tempo because the student began studying this Chopin Etude Op. 25 No. 9 about two months ago. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DzcBrwi6foY "Joy" took piano lessons as a child and young adult, and then had a period without instruction. She started studying with me almost three years ago, and in that time we have explored… Continue reading Piano Lesson: An advanced adult Student plays Chopin Etude Op. 25, No. 9

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Piano Instruction: Part 3, Harmonic Rhythm and Phrasing, Mozart Sonata in C, K. 545, Shirley Kirsten, Piano

arioso7: Shirley Kirsten

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hrLWMN8e-84 In part 3 of this video presentation, I explore the Development section and Recapitulation of the Mozart Sonata in C Major, K. 545 Hare are the links to Part 1 and Part 2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u00VjBtn-t0 (Part 1) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8cBg_qKSeU (Part 2)