I was greeted by two e-mails yesterday that bore links to Grigory Sokolov's digitized recital at the Theatre des Champs Elysee in Paris. (2002) The communication from Seymour Bernstein read as follows: "Stop whatever you are doing! You are about to hear performances that certainly must rank among the greatest examples of music making and… Continue reading The Gold Standard in piano playing (Sokolov IS a legend in his own time)
Category: Seymour Bernstein pianist
The Transfer Piano Student
I would hate to pigeon hole all "transfer" students in one way or another. It would be unfair, and unfortunately many piano teachers shy away from prospects who were immersed in learning environments where little progress was made over a period of years. Some reluctant piano instructors might say, "there's just too much work involved… Continue reading The Transfer Piano Student
The Piano Repertoire: Does making fingering/hand adjustments constitute a “swindle?”
Seymour Bernstein, author of With Your Own Two Hands, remarked that "Chopin wrote out an outline for an intended method of teaching piano. And when he died he left it to Charles Alkan who never finished it. Wouldn't you think that Chopin would stress at the beginning that everything depends upon a deep emotional involvement… Continue reading The Piano Repertoire: Does making fingering/hand adjustments constitute a “swindle?”
Nikolai Lugansky, pianist, plays chess and loves poetry
The nearly 7-minute You Tube interview was telling. Luganksy waxed poetic about poetry, and recited one of his favorites by Boris Pasternak. It was in Russian, but it's lyrical lines stole the show. No translation needed. He was seated beside a conductor named Petrenko, and both were being queried by the first bassist of the… Continue reading Nikolai Lugansky, pianist, plays chess and loves poetry
Birds spring to life in these collections for piano!
Here's a case of music composed by a pianist who has an abundance of talent in so many directions that it's dizzying! If I thought LEONARD Bernstein was the renaissance man, with gifts as a conductor, pianist, composer, and mentor, well here comes SEYMOUR Bernstein in a shimmering spotlight of his own! I'm awestruck! Having… Continue reading Birds spring to life in these collections for piano!
My favorite Gershwin performances (Videos)
Surfing the Internet, I discovered four inspired readings of my favorite Gershwin selections. These included performances of "I Got Rhythm," the three piano Preludes and Rhapsody in Blue. (I've already regaled Yeol Eum Son's riveting "Embraceable You" in a few previous blogs) First, Irina Morozova delivers a show-stopping, "I Got Rhythm," track 13 of Gershwin… Continue reading My favorite Gershwin performances (Videos)
“When Do I Play My Best?” An inspiring message from Seymour Bernstein
Seymour's playing in this tableau is divinely beautiful. And having sampled the pianist's artistry through many of his posted You Tubes, I wonder why he didn't get the recognition he deserved during his formative years, playing in public. At least now, at 85, he's enjoying a renaissance of interest in his teaching, music-making, and musical/life… Continue reading “When Do I Play My Best?” An inspiring message from Seymour Bernstein
Seymour Bernstein, pianist, imparts wisdom about the “undulating” wrist and its influence on the singing tone (Video)
This is my favorite video in a You Tube series featuring Seymour Bernstein, pianist/master teacher, and author of With Your Own Two Hands, a piano learning classic. Part #4 is an engaging demonstration of how the "undulating" wrist helps to produce an astonishingly beautiful singing tone. In the universe of molto cantabile playing, Bernstein also… Continue reading Seymour Bernstein, pianist, imparts wisdom about the “undulating” wrist and its influence on the singing tone (Video)