Livia Rev, Hungarian born pianist, who's 98, demonstrates in her playing how flexible wrists and relaxed arms spin beautiful phrases in legato and staccato. In a romp through Czerny studies, we observe her conspicuous, elastic wrist motions. http://youtu.be/LWjnPeQmrKA In a separate video posted to you tube, Rev, literally takes a student's hands and dips the… Continue reading Piano Technique: Wrist flexibility and relaxed arms
Tag: Word Press
Adult Piano Instruction: Sight-reading, Solfeggio, and Transposition
I reserve the last 10-15 minutes of my lessons with a few adult students for sight-reading, sight-singing with solfeggio, and transposition activity. While I begin with short pieces in five-finger positions, the requirement to transpose these in a Circle of Fifth progression (playing Major and Relative minors) is a valuable ear-training experience. In the following… Continue reading Adult Piano Instruction: Sight-reading, Solfeggio, and Transposition
Exploring a Chopin Nocturne with a theoretical awareness
This week I mass-emailed a note to my brood about the need to take a reputable theory course side-by-side with private piano lessons. Because the teaching hour is packed with technique, new repertoire, review, memorization, a need to deepen knowledge in the universe of theory/harmony and ear-training is a must. By example, I tried my… Continue reading Exploring a Chopin Nocturne with a theoretical awareness
A Blissful Hauskonzert through a Meet-up Connection
Well, it finally came to pass, and technology reigned, bridging the distance between player and audience. I was naturally present in body and spirit, but my face with its register of emotions was plainly blocked by my piano rack. About 12 hours before the event, I had posted a video revealing the seating arrangement. It… Continue reading A Blissful Hauskonzert through a Meet-up Connection
A Home Piano Concert draped in technology (Video attached)
I had a rip-roaring morning! Art, my next-door neighbor, who puts up with my round-the-clock practicing, was invited precisely at 11 a.m. to listen to my rehearsal in prep for my house concert set for next Saturday night. And naturally, as whimsical as everyone knows me to be, I did a MAN in the STREET… Continue reading A Home Piano Concert draped in technology (Video attached)
Piano Study: Voice parceled learning takes patience but it’s worth the effort
I always tell my adult students to spot practice where they have troublesome measures, and to take the time to voice pieces in detail. In Beethoven's "Moonlight" Sonata middle movement, Allegretto, the composer has created a chamber music effect---not an operatic framing--and the very character of his ensemble is one of balanced voices. I hear… Continue reading Piano Study: Voice parceled learning takes patience but it’s worth the effort
Piano Repair: Taking the noise out of my pedal!
Israel Stein, Registered Piano Technician, whose feats of repair have earned him national recognition, descended upon my humble abode like the fix-it fairy, and banished my sustain pedal noise forever! (Count on it for the years remaining in my playing lifetime) Trouble-shooting as he went along, Stein diagnosed the problem and followed through in graduated… Continue reading Piano Repair: Taking the noise out of my pedal!
The Big Piano Move!!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zV-I8xmQP5Y&feature=y http://youtu.be/zV-I8xmQP5Y Here she is on DISPLAY playing Chopin http://youtu.be/E9aZ9pVpPNk and Beethoven: http://youtu.be/hAB1_7jkJb8 *** Thank You once again to McCrea's AA Piano Moving http://www.mcpianomove.com LINK: https://arioso7.wordpress.com/2014/05/06/a-piano-teachers-hodgepodge-life-with-its-ups-and-downs/
Birthday Blogomania! Three pianists + 1 adult student intersect on April 19th
To my amazement, I celebrated these three musician luminaries in separate blogs over a period of years. So honoring them once again on their common birthday is a joyful undertaking. Adding a fourth celebrant to the mix, I've given a glowing spotlight to Marie, my adult student of longstanding. MURRAY PERAHIA https://arioso7.wordpress.com/2012/01/15/murray-perahia-pianist-is-in-a-league-of-his-own-videos/ Favorite you tube… Continue reading Birthday Blogomania! Three pianists + 1 adult student intersect on April 19th
Dalcroze Eurhythmics on Display at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music
Dalcroze Eurhythmics was in full bloom in a lively space at the San Francisco Conservatory last Saturday. It was a refreshing morning of music and movement in perfect synthesis. Jessica Schaeffer, Alice Mosley, and Yoriko Richman led a group of educators, pianists, and other instrumentalists through imaginative rhythmic offerings that kept all participants on their… Continue reading Dalcroze Eurhythmics on Display at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music
Arioso7's Blog (Shirley Kirsten) 