The teaser: http://youtu.be/M0U73NRSIkw You Tube can be a gift-giving repository. Documentaries about *Arthur Rubinstein, Lang Lang, Horszowski, *Richter, Kissin, et al, produced and edited with sensitivity and respect for musical art, can light a path of insight like no other. (In this spirit, I eagerly await the film about Seymour Bernstein produced by Ethan Hawke)… Continue reading The Gift of Music, An inspiring Evgeny Kissin documentary
Category: playing piano
Into the Hills with the Sound of Music –a Baldwin Acrosonic “acoustic” sings
The video attached to this writing validates the beauty of music-making on a well-maintained, though 1940s vintage era acoustic piano. Baldwin Acrosonics were the Cadillacs of the spinet and console variety pianos. They had a noticeable innovation compared to their sister-size instruments. (A deeper sound chamber, especially noted in the consoles that measured 40" or… Continue reading Into the Hills with the Sound of Music –a Baldwin Acrosonic “acoustic” sings
Piano Lesson: Teaching “GAME” by Kabalevsky, Op. 39 Children’s Pieces (Videos)
Vibrant musical miniatures are learning enticements for piano students. In this spirit, Dimitry Kabalevsky, a Twentieth Century Russian composer, shines in his collection of Children's Pieces (Op.39) that run the gamut of emotions, from sad expressions of human nature, "Waltz" (in d minor) to ebullient centerpieces, such as "Clowns," and "Galop." (spelled with one L)… Continue reading Piano Lesson: Teaching “GAME” by Kabalevsky, Op. 39 Children’s Pieces (Videos)
Piano Instruction: Suggested ways to practice Mozart Rondo: Allegretto, K. 545 in C Major
Having been through years of practicing and teaching this Mozart Alegretto, I have a few epiphanies that might benefit others. In the attached video, I assert that the opening Rondo motif with its lively thirds should not spill into an emphasized downbeat but rather a lifted one. This applies to the overlapping Left Hand as… Continue reading Piano Instruction: Suggested ways to practice Mozart Rondo: Allegretto, K. 545 in C Major
Pedaling Mozart (Andante, Sonata in C, K. 545) Video of lesson in progress
Pedaling is a universe often neglected by piano teachers, but needing attention.
Learning a J.S. Bach Invention requires an understanding of right-side-up, upside down, inside out, and other relationships
Knee-jerk technology brings the keyboard closer to an Online piano student
By reassigning a web cam to my knee, I was able to assist a student with a nagging measure.
A J.S. Bach Little Prelude: Making decisions about phrasing and articulation
The Urtext (original) editions of Bach's keyboard music offer sparse directions about phrasing/articulation, (groupings of notes) so the player has to make important decisions that reflect a Baroque style. But what are the guidelines in a process that has an intellectual and affective dimension? To the extreme, some pianists use pedal and soak up linear… Continue reading A J.S. Bach Little Prelude: Making decisions about phrasing and articulation
Play the piano like it’s a violin (Thoughts on practicing Chopin’s Prelude in E minor, Op. 28 no. 4)
If pianists would think of the string or vocal model when playing, their phrases would be sculpted and shaped nicely.
Playing A Children’s “Game” while learning the piano (Videos)
Kabalevsky bundled important aspects of piano technique into his Op. 39 Pieces for Children.
Arioso7's Blog (Shirley Kirsten) 