Category Archives: sports and piano

When is Superbowl Sunday? I better find out before it’s too late.

Posted on January 30, 2012 by

Shades of 1988, when I committed the biggest crime of my life. I dared to schedule a student recital on the most SACRED day of the year, Superbowl Sunday! What did I know having been raised on baseball, the Brooklyn … Continue reading →

Posted in "Did Somebody Say Fresno?!", Bulldog fever in Fresno, Daniil Trifonov, Fresno California, Fresno State football, Fresno State Girls Softball, Journal of a Piano Teacher from New York to California, Old Fig Garden in Fresno, pianist, piano, piano blog, piano blogging, piano instruction, piano lesson, piano lessons, piano lessons competing with sports, piano lessson, piano teaching, playing piano, scheduling piano recitals, Shirley Kirsten, Shirley Smith Kirsten, sports and piano, Superbowl fever, Superbowl mania, teaching piano, The Bad News Bears, The Superbowl, Uncategorized, Valley Music Center in Fresno, Valley Music Center in Fresno California, word press | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Piano practicing, performance, and gym routines: Always Reach Beyond! (Video, Bach Invention 8 in F)

Posted on November 27, 2011 by

I take my inspiration from the two Irina/Irena-s, each pronouncing their names slightly differently. Irina Gorin is the ingenious piano teacher from Carmel, Indiana via the Ukraine, and Irena Orlov is from Washington D.C.’s Levine School of Music via Leningrad. … Continue reading →

Posted in Bach Two Part Inventions, Bally Fitness Center, Bally Total Fitness, Bally's Gym, Bally's Gym Fresno CA, gym workouts to help piano playing, iMac computer, iMac iMovie, iMac21, iMovie, Irena Orlov, Irina Gorin, Irina Gorin piano studio, J.S. Bach Invention 8 BWV 779, J.S. Bach Invention 8 in F Major BWV779, J.S. Bach two part Inventions, Levine School of Music, Levine School of Music in Washington, Levine School of Music in Washington D.C., mind body connection, music and photography, music and photos, music and the breath, musical phrasing and breathing, photos, piano lesson, piano playing and relaxation, piano practicing, piano practicing with use of a camcorder, piano student, piano teacher, piano teaching, piano technique, Piano World, pianoaddict.com, Pianostreet.com, pianoworld, pianoworld.com, playing piano, recording piano performance for self assessment, self hypnosis, self-analysis, Shirley Kirsten, Shirley Kirsten blog, Shirley Smith Kirsten, sports, sports and piano, Steinway M grand piano, studying piano, talkclassical.com, videotaping a piano performance and self analysis, Vladimir Horowitz, word press, wordpress.com, you tube | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Piano Technique: Nifty warm-up routines (Videos)

Posted on November 19, 2011 by

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, … Continue reading →

Posted in g minor scales and arpeggios, musical phrasing and breathing, New York City High School of Performing Arts, Oberlin Conservatory, phrasing at the piano, pianist, piano, piano addict, piano instructor, piano lesson, piano lessons, piano playing and phrasing, piano playing and relaxation, piano practicing, piano teacher, piano teaching, piano technique, Piano World, pianoaddict.com, Pianostreet.com, pianoworld, pianoworld.com, playing chords at the piano, playing piano, playing staccato at the piano, Shirley Kirsten, Shirley Kirsten blog, Shirley Smith Kirsten, sports and piano, studying piano, technique, the natural minor scale, whole body music listening, word press, wordpress.com, you tube, you tube video | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Profile of a courageous adult piano student (with a video out-take)

Posted on October 9, 2011 by

I’m fortunate to be working with five adult students who love the piano and its repertoire. Their enthusiasm is at high volume–keeping the live wire connection between student and teacher bristling with energy. Regardless of busy work schedules, they still … Continue reading →

Posted in adult piano students, athletics and piano, baseball and piano, classissima.com, Impressionist Music, Mildred Portney Chase, mind body connection, mindful piano practicing, muscular memory, music and the breath, music teachers association of california, musical phrasing and breathing, piano instruction, piano instructor, piano lessons, piano student, piano teacher, piano teaching, pianoaddict.com, pianoworld, pianoworld.com, playing piano, satire, Shirley Kirsten, Shirley Kirsten blog, Shirley Smith Kirsten, sports and piano, Teach Street, teaching piano, teaching piano to adult students, The Inner Game of Tennis by Timothy Gallwey, whole body listening, whole body music listening, Willie Mays, word press, wordpress.com, you tube, you tube video, Zen and the Art of Archery | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments