Category: pianist

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Piano Instruction: Domenico Scarlatti Minuetto in C, L. 217 (Videos)

arioso7: Shirley Kirsten

Many of Scarlatti's compositions are not within easy reach of most piano students, but Margery Halford, editor, has compiled an Introductory album published by Alfred, with technically and musically attainable works. And it's a blessing that she's eliminated ones with crossed-hand acrobatics. Yet trills, so emblematic of the composer, are an ever-present challenge. Wrist Flexibility… Continue reading Piano Instruction: Domenico Scarlatti Minuetto in C, L. 217 (Videos)

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Piano Instruction: Mozart Minuet in F Major, K. 2 (a rolling forward wrist motion aids phrase-shaping) Video

arioso7: Shirley Kirsten

Mozart composed this Minuet when he was 6. Its beautifully crafted melody woos the listener from the very first measure with a curvaceous broken chord springing into graceful quarter notes. A forward wrist motion helps with shaping lines, softening the impact of weaker second and third beats. (The repeated C and Bb in consecutive sequence… Continue reading Piano Instruction: Mozart Minuet in F Major, K. 2 (a rolling forward wrist motion aids phrase-shaping) Video

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Rina, 5, and a review of her staircase activity: The Playground as Piano Teacher (VIDEOS)

arioso7: Shirley Kirsten

I updated the last blog-embedded video that previewed staircase activity planned for Rina's next lesson. It explored the tricky last line of Reinagle's Minuet which has a mix of rhythms and more complex melodic motion compared to the first three staves of music. What I added to the footage, however, was my plan to insert… Continue reading Rina, 5, and a review of her staircase activity: The Playground as Piano Teacher (VIDEOS)

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Quality spot-practicing by an adult student: Beethoven’s “Fur Elise” (Video)

arioso7: Shirley Kirsten

Marie, a motivated adult student, revisited piano studies after a decades-long hiatus. When she resumed lessons about 6 years ago, she made "Fur Elise" her goal-setting piece. Following long-term scale and arpeggio exposure accompanied by a detailed focus on minuets, short character works, sonatinas and the Chopin Waltz in A minor No. 19, Op. Posthumous,… Continue reading Quality spot-practicing by an adult student: Beethoven’s “Fur Elise” (Video)

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Launching a LIVE Webcam Piano Class at POWHOW! (Videos)

arioso7: Shirley Kirsten

Yesterday was an experience! A writer friend had referred me to POWHOW, an online conduit for webcam-driven classes, and my first thought was HOW ON EARTH did this apply to piano lessons which held a sanctimonious ONE-to-ONE student/teacher space for centuries? (It had started in Italy with Cristofori and his miraculous pianoforte invention) Would I… Continue reading Launching a LIVE Webcam Piano Class at POWHOW! (Videos)

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Piano Technique: Playing beyond the fingers to sculpt beautiful phrases (Debussy Arabesque no. 1)

arioso7: Shirley Kirsten

Many piano students who practice Debussy's Arabesque no. 1 tend to grab and articulate notes, rather than let them flow from energy streaming down relaxed arms into supple wrists. Reliance on fingers-down playing becomes the panacea for accuracy, while it sacrifices poetic musical expression. In the video below, I demonstrate how phrases can be sculpted… Continue reading Piano Technique: Playing beyond the fingers to sculpt beautiful phrases (Debussy Arabesque no. 1)

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Teaching piano to Rina, 5, with a supplementary video for mom that outlines our lesson plan and goals

arioso7: Shirley Kirsten

Rina's mother attends her daughter's lessons, takes notes, and receives a follow-up assignment. Today, I sent her a video that summarized what we had accomplished yesterday along with a goal-setting outline. *** The child has been working on her legato which is a new and enticing musical universe. For the better part of 6 months… Continue reading Teaching piano to Rina, 5, with a supplementary video for mom that outlines our lesson plan and goals

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Piano Instruction: Teaching “Flamenco” by Gillock with chord blocking and wrist forward spring motions (Videos)

arioso7: Shirley Kirsten

A favorite piece bundled with color and energy, Gillock's "Flamenco" is a joy to teach. The good news is that it has many chordal patterns built into its fabric, making it a easier to learn than works with less symmetry. In my instructional video, I use a "blocking" technique to map out the topography and… Continue reading Piano Instruction: Teaching “Flamenco” by Gillock with chord blocking and wrist forward spring motions (Videos)

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“The Secret Genius” of Pianist, Vitaly Margulis

arioso7: Shirley Kirsten

A serendipitous Facebook Friend request from Jura Margulis on the eve of my birthday, led to this bundle of love delivered on You Tube. As oxymoronic as it may sound, the pianist's father, Vitaly, channeled through cyber, wooed me into a sanctuary of beauty by his liquid phrasing and total immersion in Chopin's palette. It… Continue reading “The Secret Genius” of Pianist, Vitaly Margulis

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Preparing for a Skyped piano lesson to Europe by tweaking a Logitech Cam (Videos)

arioso7: Shirley Kirsten

Since there's a 9-hour difference between my West Coast locale and London, England, I had ample time to prep my external cam for the right keyboard angle. Conversely, the student beaming in from Europe had her SWEEX HD all lined up, with a link to Amazon where she purchased it, but not to THE AMAZON,… Continue reading Preparing for a Skyped piano lesson to Europe by tweaking a Logitech Cam (Videos)