Tag Archives: Johann Sebastian Bach

Keeping up our skills as piano teachers, with an “eye” to taking on challenges

Posted on April 9, 2017 by

I couldn’t resist juxtaposing the importance of learning new and challenging music with an “eye” toward how we can best accomplish our short and long-term goals within our teaching milieu. (The EYE metaphor becomes CLEARER and dual serving as the … Continue reading →

Posted in blogmetrics.org, Classical music blog, French Suite, French Suites, J.S. Bach, Johann Sebastian Bach, Journal of a Piano Teacher from New York to California, piano, piano teaching, Shirley Smith Kirsten | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Exploring modulations, secondary dominants and sequences in a J.S. Bach keyboard learning journey

Posted on January 12, 2017 by

Without doubt, the French Suites and other keyboard works of J.S. Bach require a multi-dimensional learning approach. It’s not enough to enter the universe of the great Baroque master with a singular intent to absorb counterpoint, or parcel voices, sing … Continue reading →

Posted in piano | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Murray Perahia’s earliest piano teacher and her influence on him

Posted on December 18, 2016 by

Jeannette Haien is rarely recognized for her role in Murray Perahia’s musical development, though it’s clear through her own words, (rekindled posthumously) that she must have had a profound effect on him. (She was Perahia’s mentor from age 4 to … Continue reading →

Posted in Jeannette Haien, Murray Perahia | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Learning a new and challenging piece along with a student

Posted on December 13, 2016 by

It’s easy for piano teachers to inhabit a comfortable space, teaching mainly repertoire that they’ve well learned, put away and brought back for review. It can perpetuate a stale process of retreading “old” pieces without posing a refreshing self-made challenge … Continue reading →

Posted in Bach French Suites, J.S. Bach, Johann Sebastian Bach, piano | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

“Great pianists speak about imagination and the singing approach”

Posted on May 20, 2016 by

I’m grateful to Pianist/Teacher Emma Leiuman for posting this recorded ensemble of inspired voices. Leon Fleisher, Daniel Barenboim, Gyorgy Sebok and Arthur Rubinstein share an approach to music-making that is devoid of mechanics, didactics, and methodology. They speak about a … Continue reading →

Posted in great pianists, great pianists speak, piano, piano blog | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Piano Technique: Shaking out Bach Ornaments! and the influence of Claudio Arrau

Posted on March 24, 2016 by

When working on executing ornaments with an adult student as they appear in J.S. Bach’s Prelude in F minor, I thought instantly of Claudio Arrau’s allusions to “shaking” these out, without having a thread of tension in the arms, wrists, … Continue reading →

Posted in Claudio Arrau, J.S. Bach, Johann Sebastian Bach, piano technique | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Learning J.S. Bach’s “Sheep May Safely Graze” (Egon Petri piano transcription)

Posted on March 20, 2016 by

Egon Petri offers a transcription of J.S. Bach’s “Sheep May Safely Graze,” (based on the Baroque composer’s “Birthday” Cantata) and it’s drawn a cult of admirers, mostly adult students begging to learn it. The work originally scored for two flutes, … Continue reading →

Posted in Bach, Egon Petri, J.S. Bach, Johann Sebastian Bach, piano, piano arrangement, piano transcription, Sheep May Safely Graze, Shirley Kirsten, Shirley Smith Kirsten | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments