Category: pianist

Chopin, Chopin Waltz no. 14 in e minor, Chopin Waltz Op. 64 no. 1, Chopin Waltz Op. 64 no. 2, Cyprien Katsaris, Cziffra, Frederic Chopin, Gyorgy Cziffra, pianist, piano technique, practicing piano passages with rhythms, Scarlatti Sonata K. 96 in D, Uncategorized, virtuoso pianists, word press, wordpress.com, you tube, you tube video

Piano Technique: Even the Big Boys practice with rhythms–Cziffra demonstrates

arioso7: Shirley Kirsten

I'm a great admirer of the late Gyorgy Cziffra and his towering virtuosity. If anyone was under appreciated during his lifetime it was this wondrous pianist whose every phrase had meaning, intent, and emotion. Cyprien Katsaris, a dazzling performer in his own right, went out of his way to celebrate Cziffra's artistry during an interview… Continue reading Piano Technique: Even the Big Boys practice with rhythms–Cziffra demonstrates

Aronoff Frances Webber: Music and Young Children, Frances Webber Aronoff, Madeleine Carabo-Cone, pianist, piano, piano addict, piano instruction, piano instructor, piano lesson, piano lessons, piano pedagogy, piano teacher, piano teaching, piano teaching repertoire, Piano World, pianoaddict.com, playing piano, Shirley Kirsten, Shirley Kirsten blog, Shirley Smith Kirsten, The Playground as Music Teacher by Madeleine Carabo-Cone, Uncategorized, word press, wordpress.com, you tube, you tube video

Rina, 4, proves that the best teacher is the playground (15 weeks of piano lessons completed) Videos

arioso7: Shirley Kirsten

Rina has had three romps on my staircase, of which I'm fortunate to have as a playground substitute. Like most children in her age group, she has an abundance of kinesthetic energy waiting to be channeled creatively, if a teacher has the time, patience, and resources to do so. Back in the 70s the ideas… Continue reading Rina, 4, proves that the best teacher is the playground (15 weeks of piano lessons completed) Videos

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

arioso7: Shirley Kirsten

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)

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“Piano Student of the Week,” Claudia S. practices Bach and improves her playing (Video)

arioso7: Shirley Kirsten

Claudia is one of the old-timers around here at age 11. She came to study piano with me when she was just 6 and in those days, I gave her Noona's "The Red Drum," in addition to selections from Book One, Royal Conservatory of Music, University of Toronto: Hook "Minuet," Schein "Allemande," Telemann "Dance" in… Continue reading “Piano Student of the Week,” Claudia S. practices Bach and improves her playing (Video)

"America" from West Side Story, "Somewhere" from West Side Story, 1961 movie West Side Story, Edna Golandsky, Karen Olivo in West Side Story, Karen Olivo stage actress, Leonard Bernstein, Natalie Wood, phrasing at the piano, pianist, piano, piano instructor, piano lesson, piano lessons, piano playing and relaxation, playing piano, Taubman piano method, Uncategorized, West Side Story, word press, wordpress.com, you tube, you tube video

The Taubman method and controversial wrist break

arioso7: Shirley Kirsten

On my way home from the Bay area on Amtrak 712, I grabbed a few extra table napkins from the dining car, and let my imagination run wild as I scribbled some notes to myself. "Wild" should be emphasized since I had some pent up frustration related to the Taubman-Golandsky's ban on the "wrist break."… Continue reading The Taubman method and controversial wrist break

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

arioso7: Shirley Kirsten

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

Baltimore Maryland, Brian Ganz, D.C., Irena Orlov, Joanna Hoover former Director of the Levine School of Music, Levine School of Music in Washington D.C., Lillian Lefkovsky Freundlich, Pamela Sverjensky Director Levine School of Music Washington D.C., Peabody Institute of Music, pianist, piano, piano addict, piano instructor, piano lesson, piano lessons, piano pedagogy, piano repertoire, piano student, piano teacher, piano teaching, piano technique, Pianostreet.com, pianoworld, pianoworld.com, playing piano, Santiago Rodriguez, Shirley Kirsten, Shirley Kirsten blog, Shirley Smith Kirsten, studying piano, teaching piano, teaching piano to children, teaching piano to teenagers, technique, The art of phrasing at the piano, the art of piano playing, University of Maryland, word press, wordpress.com, you tube

REACHING BEYOND, a documentary about an inspiring piano teacher

arioso7: Shirley Kirsten

The plentiful gifts of Irina Gorin and her brood of piano students captivated so many after You Tube postings of musical offerings revealed soulful, expressive playing by youngsters as young as 4 to the ripe old age of 14+. A treasured group of pupils gracefully approached a Steinway grand with a finesse and creative uniqueness… Continue reading REACHING BEYOND, a documentary about an inspiring piano teacher

Baroque music, J.S. Bach, J.S. Bach Fugue in C minor BWV847, pianist, piano, piano addict, piano instruction, piano instructor, piano lessons, piano teacher, piano teaching, playing piano, Shirley Kirsten blog, Shirley Smith Kirsten, wordpress.com, you tube, you tube video

Parts one and two, Piano Lesson in progress: Parceling voices in J. S. Bach’s C minor Fugue, BWV 847

arioso7: Shirley Kirsten

Claudia, 11, practiced piecing out the Fugue form today in BWV 847 (three voices). We played through the subject, tonal answer, and counter-subject 1, continuing with a transition that led to statements of the subject and counter-subject. I had her singing and playing various combinations of voices, also noting an inversion of counter-subject I. The… Continue reading Parts one and two, Piano Lesson in progress: Parceling voices in J. S. Bach’s C minor Fugue, BWV 847

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

arioso7: Shirley Kirsten

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

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Piano Technique: Nifty warm-up routines (Videos)

arioso7: Shirley Kirsten

Phase one of lessons is a lively romp over the 88s. It sets the geography of the piano through a host of keys. Establishing a "feel" for the instrument with a supportive knowledge of key signatures, framed in buoyant rhythm, kicks things off. Here are few examples from Claudia's lesson. At age 11, she's advanced… Continue reading Piano Technique: Nifty warm-up routines (Videos)