Category: pianist

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Piano Technique: Burgmuller’s Tarentelle, Op. 100-Fueling and shaping fast passages with a dipping, supple wrist (Videos)

arioso7: Shirley Kirsten

Most piano students will have been assigned a Burgmuller selection or two during their formative years of study. And most likely, these would have been snatched from the composer's Twenty-Five Progressive Pieces, Op. 100 that advance by steps in difficulty, though it can be argued that all contain unique technical challenges. Composed in the Romantic… Continue reading Piano Technique: Burgmuller’s Tarentelle, Op. 100-Fueling and shaping fast passages with a dipping, supple wrist (Videos)

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Piano Technique: Re-arranging hands for speed and agility in Burgmuller’s “La Chasse” (The Chase) Videos

arioso7: Shirley Kirsten

I used Burgmuller's "La Chasse" (The Chase) as my springboard for this particular discussion. The opening section of this composition, at break neck speed, quickly builds to a forte dynamic with an ensuing spill of staccato broken octaves, against a chordal Left Hand carrying a melody. It's plainly a bummer! For some players, the only… Continue reading Piano Technique: Re-arranging hands for speed and agility in Burgmuller’s “La Chasse” (The Chase) Videos

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Lesson planning for a 5-year old piano student–(Video)

arioso7: Shirley Kirsten

Rina who's into her sixth month of study, is ready to learn dotted-half notes. Up to now, she's been saturated with black and white cardboard circles included within a packet along with Irina Gorin's Tales of a Musical Journey instruction. The black notes (quarters) are known as "short" sounds, and the white ones (Half-notes), "long-sounds"… Continue reading Lesson planning for a 5-year old piano student–(Video)

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Pastorale by Burgmuller in lilting two: Op. 100, 25 Progressive Pieces

arioso7: Shirley Kirsten

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ibsna1UDJVU A plaintively beautiful piece, Pastorale requires a lilting "feel" of two beats per measure. A flowing melody permeates the voicing, cushioned in sonorous chords. The challenge is not to upstage the treble line as it unfolds. The phrasing in the right hand responds well to the supple wrist and curves of motion while the… Continue reading Pastorale by Burgmuller in lilting two: Op. 100, 25 Progressive Pieces

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How to practice Burgmuller’s Harmony of the Angels (also known as “Angels’ Voices”)

arioso7: Shirley Kirsten

In the video below, I demonstrated a preliminary blocking chord motion, while shaping the line, and having interactive flowing hands. Knowing the harmonic outline is equally pivotal in the learning process. Understanding how harmonic rhythm/resolutions of chords, for example, affect phrasing helps the student to interpret the music. Un-blocking chords follows with forward rolling wrist… Continue reading How to practice Burgmuller’s Harmony of the Angels (also known as “Angels’ Voices”)

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The rolling wrist in Burgmuller’s “Harmony of the Angels”

arioso7: Shirley Kirsten

Each of Burgmuller's Op. 100, 25 Progressive Pieces is more enchanting then the next, and bundled into every charmer is a technical goal to be met. In "Harmony of the Angels" it's abundantly clear that the supple wrist must roll forward, and the continuum of triplets from left hand to right must be in an… Continue reading The rolling wrist in Burgmuller’s “Harmony of the Angels”

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The Suzuki Method for Piano, Pros and Cons

arioso7: Shirley Kirsten

The traditional Suzuki method, devised by its pioneer advocate, Shinichi Suzuki applied originally to violin instruction. Students as young as 2 or 3 learned to play their instruments in the way language was acquired, through imitation. (I recalled black and white film footage showing hundreds of Japanese children lined up in rows with baby-size violins,… Continue reading The Suzuki Method for Piano, Pros and Cons

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Burgmuller’s “The Return”–like a light opera, with interspersed drama (videos)

arioso7: Shirley Kirsten

"The Return" from the composer's Twenty-Five Progressive Pieces, Op. 100, is ear-catching. Like an Offenbach opera replete with an Overture, it delights in a set of lighthearted staccato chords that spill into a passionate MINOR sequenced interlude, setting the heart afire. Extinguished by the revisit of Eb Major punctuations, the music drifts off by authentic… Continue reading Burgmuller’s “The Return”–like a light opera, with interspersed drama (videos)

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Burgmuller’s “Tender Flower” for rolling wrist motion (from 25 Progressive Pieces, Op. 100)

arioso7: Shirley Kirsten

This charming Romantic character piece provides a perfect opportunity to practice the forward rolling wrist motion, especially with its motivic pairs of 8th notes. While the second one under the slur is notated as staccato, it should not be clipped. As an example, think about how a singer would phrase these notes. She certainly wouldn't… Continue reading Burgmuller’s “Tender Flower” for rolling wrist motion (from 25 Progressive Pieces, Op. 100)

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Piano Technique: Two nifty warm-up routines, one loopy, the other for zig-zaggers

arioso7: Shirley Kirsten

Claudia, 11, and I do a 20-minute warm-up before she tackles repertoire at her weekly lesson. Today I snatched two routines that might help others with the time-honored, upper arm roll, supple wrist, and elbow swing. Just my bias showing about technique and what I favor in its development. I've presented this one before, but… Continue reading Piano Technique: Two nifty warm-up routines, one loopy, the other for zig-zaggers