Romantic era piano repertoire: A murmuring stream and the supple wrist (Burgmuller creates beauty from simplicity)

"The Clear Stream" from Friedrich Burgmuller's Twenty-Five Progressive Pieces offers a student an opportunity to create limpidly beautiful phrases from unraveled broken chords spun out in triplets. In order to create the "mormorando" (murmuring effect) in the treble, it's best to first block out the "chord" patterns with a "spongy" wrist in slow motion before…

The Berkeley Rose Garden draped in photos and music

Today was my maiden journey to the paradise of Roses in Berkeley. No words can amply describe the effect such beauty had upon me. (Taking pictures was irresistible) Burgmuller's "Tender Flower" was the perfect musical framing. http://youtu.be/Som4mPzd9sc P.S. I made a passing cameo appearance amidst the heavenly, terraced bouquets LINK to FB Photo Album https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10200446952169541.1073741827.1628726576&type=1&l=109128a237…

The best seat in the house (concert hall) with a treasured companion

I met 80-plus, sparkling Sonya recently at the Berkeley Fellowship of Unitarian Universalists, and discovered that her son, Renato, graduated Oberlin-- small world. It wasn't long before my new-found friend invited me to join her as a choir concert companion to Hertz Hall, UC Berkeley campus. It was my first formal musical touchdown post Bezerkeley…

“Flamenco” by Gillock is a winner! (Intermediate Level piano repertoire)

Over the years, Gillock's music has sparked the enthusiasm of piano students who sometimes need a kick start piece to lift them out of a rut. "Flamenco" can be such a game changer! For Fritz, age 9, who's infatuated with baseball and soccer, the sheer energy of this character piece, draws him to the piano…

A Love story born of flowers and set to the music of Bela Bartok

It was my birthday a few days ago, and I was blessed with the gift of flowers and a plant from two close friends. These sit side-by-side atop my upright piano: Little did I know that "Roy" who delivered the tulips to my doorstep had quite a story to share about how he met his…

Colorful miniatures that grow piano technique and musicianship

Most piano students know first hand about Burgmuller and his Progressive character pieces in the Romantic genre. They are a bundle of delights with picturesque titles that match the music. But few might realize that Bela Bartok's collection of miniatures is an easy rival, having glowing melodies and dance-like folkloric rhythms. Still, both composers from…

Irina Morozova plays Gershwin!

Here's a photo-imported version of "I Got Rhythm!" (Click HD) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vaOK7MosFo&feature=youtu.be On the artist's CD menu are the following treats: 1. Gershwin Improvisations for Solo Piano: Clap Yo' Hands 2. Someone to Watch Over Me 3. Sweet and Lowdown 4. Maybe 5. S'Wonderful/Funny Face 6. That Certain Feeling 7. Looking for a Boy 8. Earl…

Bach with and without Pluck

Elaine Comparone and Dusan Bogdanovic produced a stunning CD, combining harpsichord and guitar in their J.S Bach Inventions and Sinfonias collaboration. Both musicians have firmly established reputations as fine performers and recording artists so their get-together has surely been a treat for listeners far and wide. Just today, I broke out my Bach with Pluck!,…

Piano performance: The moment of creation can be deceiving and how we can learn from video playbacks

I was telling a musical friend about the discrepancy between what we think we're hearing during our own performances and what bears out in a review of our self-made recordings. This is why teaching and learning opportunities abound in comparing one reading to another by way of video/audio replays. It's not only our own playing…

Piano Technique: Playing with bigger energies beyond the fingers

Practicing a programmatic miniature from Kabalevsy's Op. 39 Children's Pieces can draw on energies well beyond the fingers. "Funny Event" is a good example with its series of sound bursts on the first beat of each measure. If a student takes the pecking approach, typing away at the keyboard, one note at a time, his…