Tag: Word Press

learning a new piano piece, piano blog, piano blogging, piano instruction, piano learning, Shirley Kirsten, Shirley Smith Kirsten, Tchaikovsky

Early stage learning, and ways of knowing a new piano piece

arioso7: Shirley Kirsten

One of my adult students has embarked upon studying Tchaikovsky's "German Song," Op. 39, and in her initial baby-step exposure to the composition, she has already explored multiple ways of "knowing" the work. http://youtu.be/ocd8Ci0Ny_E http://youtu.be/iEfP45vQIqs 1) Setting a fingering for each hand, and counting beats through each measure in a sub-divided way (within a slow… Continue reading Early stage learning, and ways of knowing a new piano piece

Andras Schiff, Andreas Schiff piano recital, piano blog, piano blogging, San Francisco Davies Hall, Shirley Kirsten

Andras Schiff in recital at S.F. Davies Hall (Feb. 15, 2015)

arioso7: Shirley Kirsten

Pianist, Andras Schiff delivered an uneven performance at San Francisco's Davies Hall yesterday afternoon. Those who expected the pianist to play his signature Bach program were pleasantly surprised by Schiff's insertions of self-imposed Baroque style ornaments in Mozart's "Drawing Room" Sonata, K. 545.(in particular) As whimsical as it might have seemed, the "improvisation" was out… Continue reading Andras Schiff in recital at S.F. Davies Hall (Feb. 15, 2015)

Classical music blog, Journal of a Piano Teacher from New York to California, Mozart, Mozart Sonata in F Major K. 332, Mozart Sonatas, pianist, piano, piano blog, piano blogging, piano pedagogy, Shirley Kirsten, Shirley Smith Kirsten, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, word press, you tube

Thoughts on learning Mozart Sonata No. 12 in F, K. 332 (first movement)

arioso7: Shirley Kirsten

After my review of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's "Drawing Room" Sonata K. 545 in C, Allegro, I discovered by comparison that the opening movement of K. 332 in F Major, had a more complex mosaic. In the short space of its nearly three page exposition, K. 332's multiple themes weave through markedly contrasting sections. *A Sturm… Continue reading Thoughts on learning Mozart Sonata No. 12 in F, K. 332 (first movement)

Adapt-A-Stand, piano, piano accouterment, piano blog, piano blogging, piano rack extender, pianoman products

Piano Rack Extender: Adapt-A-Stand

arioso7: Shirley Kirsten

My latest studio accouterment is an import from Clear Lake, Iowa. (Pianoman Products is owned by a piano tuner.) For me, it's Good-bye to 4 page limit/slipping and sliding sheet music, or self-made cardboard creations with monster clips . Using Adapt-A-Stand I can now stretch to six pages and scan from left to right without… Continue reading Piano Rack Extender: Adapt-A-Stand

Carnegie Hall, Chopin, Cincinnati World Piano Competition, Debussy, Marianna Prjelvalskaya, Naxos, piano competition, Rachmaninoff, Weill Concert Hall, you tube.com

A Big New York Debut Recital for Pianist, Marianna Prjevalskaya

arioso7: Shirley Kirsten

After many international victories and a stash of prizes, honors and recital appearances flowing out of them, Marianna Prjevalskaya, will make her debut in New York City's cultural limelight. EVENT DETAILS "MARIANNA PRJEVALSKAYA, 2013 GOLD MEDALIST OF CINCINNATI WORLD PIANO COMPETITION, PERFORMS her debut recital at CARNEGIE HALL. (Weill Recital Hall) "The event, presented by… Continue reading A Big New York Debut Recital for Pianist, Marianna Prjevalskaya

adult piano instruction, Chopin, Chopin Waltz in A minor, Chopin Waltzes, Frederic Chopin, piano, piano blog, piano blogging, piano instruction, piano teaching, Romantic era, Shirley Kirsten, Shirley Smith Kirsten, tempo rubato, word press, wordpress, wordpress.com, you tube, youtube.com

Tempo Rubato and Chopin Waltz in A minor No. 19, Op. Posthumous

arioso7: Shirley Kirsten

Tempo Rubato as defined in Wikipedia: "Tempo rubato (free in the presentation, Italian for: stolen time) is a musical term referring to expressive and rhythmic freedom by a slight speeding up and then slowing down of the tempo of a piece at the discretion of the soloist or the conductor." I think of it in… Continue reading Tempo Rubato and Chopin Waltz in A minor No. 19, Op. Posthumous

Classical music blog, J.S. Bach, Johann Sebastian Bach, keyboard music, music, piano, piano blog, piano blogging, Well Tempered Clavier

Me, My Neighbors and J.S. Bach

arioso7: Shirley Kirsten

I spent two full nights with J.S.B., recording at ungodly hours, deleting a lion's share of playings, worrying about my neighbors' patience threshold. With a "runner's high," equivalent of being in the zone, I just couldn't let go of the momentum, as tenants beside me were trying to get some sleep. The LAYOUT Four adjacent… Continue reading Me, My Neighbors and J.S. Bach

Chopin, Chopin Waltz, Chopin Waltz in C sharp minor, Frederic Chopin, piano instruction, piano lessons, piano technique, tempo rubato

An adult student excels: Chopin Waltz in C# minor, Op. 64, No. 2

arioso7: Shirley Kirsten

I'm beaming from ear to ear, as I showcase Julie's progress by way of a recent lesson collaboration. I say collaboration, because students and teachers learn together and gain insights as they take a common musical journey. Julie happens to be indirectly related to me. That is, her mother studied with concert pianist, Ena Bronstein… Continue reading An adult student excels: Chopin Waltz in C# minor, Op. 64, No. 2

Dozen a Day by Edna-Mae Burnam, pentascales, piano, piano blog, piano blogging, piano lessons, piano technique, Shirley Kirsten, Shirley Smith Kirsten

Piano Technique: Student/teacher echo exchanges stabilize rhythm and refine articulation

arioso7: Shirley Kirsten

Of my favorite teaching strategies is bouncing warm-ups back and forth with students. We echo short phrases in legato and staccato as a form of rhythmic rehab. The recordings of these interactions become valuable practicing aids between lessons. Yesterday, an adult pupil and I had fun sharing E Minor/Major penta-scales and five-finger position thirds from… Continue reading Piano Technique: Student/teacher echo exchanges stabilize rhythm and refine articulation

Chanukah, Christmas, Holiday greetings, New Year greetings, piano, piano blog, piano blogging, Shirley Kirsten, Shirley Smith Kirsten

Happy Holidays!

arioso7: Shirley Kirsten

To all my faithful readers whom I dearly treasure and appreciate! *** Two grand pianos and my Yamaha Arius digital chime in! http://youtu.be/XQP1OU6a5ak http://youtu.be/5dl0YKJcL0Y http://youtu.be/yYox8SUHwsM And an excerpt from Handel's Messiah http://youtu.be/FyUpV4hEWu8 For those who celebrated Chanukah! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FjqM6xYeWAI Wishing all a Happy New Year with dreams fulfilled! A personal favorite: Sleigh Ride, Anderson and Roe… Continue reading Happy Holidays!