My first selection is a Juilliard graduation commencement address that's both grounded and inspiring. Joyce Di Donato, mezzo soprano, having received her honorary Doctorate resonates at the podium with wisdom and a touch humor--definitely worth sharing with a universe of musicians who can benefit from a perspective refresher and attitude-changer from time to time. http://youtu.be/qctdpdk-LhI… Continue reading This Week’s Favorite You Tubes!
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Two Adult Piano Students have an Arpeggio fun fest!
My two J's, back-to-back adult pupils, had a rollicking time practicing their arpeggios from legato to staccato. Both had epiphanies about wrist, forearm, and finger staccato in their transitions from whirly, swirly playing to crisp releases. For J(2) "weeping willow" arms allowed a stream of uninterrupted funneled energy that fueled his C Major romp over… Continue reading Two Adult Piano Students have an Arpeggio fun fest!
Harmonic rhythm awareness and blocking help phrasing
Besides having at least a rudimentary understanding of chord progressions, it's advantageous to be able to "sing" internally, or in full voice, as you accompany yourself through a cantabile movement. A good example, is the Andante of the supposedly "easy" (facile) Sonata of Mozart, K. 545, which is, to the contrary, a challenge to play… Continue reading Harmonic rhythm awareness and blocking help phrasing
My afternoon at the San Francisco Symphony with Yuja Wang, Pianist
It was a shock to my nervous system to hear a LIVE concert! I had been getting so used to iPod fed classics and You tube streamed performances that I forgot what I was missing. From my seat at terrace right, almost hanging over the stage, I heard amazing instrumental clarity and orchestral color, though… Continue reading My afternoon at the San Francisco Symphony with Yuja Wang, Pianist
The “Talent” equation in piano playing/learning
Last Wednesday night, Indre Viskontas, opera singer and neuroscientist explored the many facets of Creativity in a City Arts "conversation." And because a roving MIC didn't quite reach my section of the San Francisco Nourse Auditorium during the Q and A, I managed to continue the discourse Online at Indre's blog site. It's a no-brainer… Continue reading The “Talent” equation in piano playing/learning
Piano Instruction: Piecing out and Practicing J.S. Bach Little Prelude in F, BWV 927
One of my colleagues who filmed a tutorial on this gem, called it a "BEGINNER" composition, yet, in truth, it's not in the easy column. It demands a fluent technique and a thoughtful approach to learning that includes harmonic analysis, blocking, understanding counterpoint, making sensible decisions about articulation, and shaping phrases. Therefore, this "LITTLE" Prelude… Continue reading Piano Instruction: Piecing out and Practicing J.S. Bach Little Prelude in F, BWV 927
Chopin and his love of opera
Don't be deceived by the title of a you tube produced documentary that was perhaps devised to draw a wider audience of viewers. Chopin and the Women Behind his Music explores in depth, the composer's tie to the opera, and how the vocal model permeates his compositions, whether they be in fast or slow tempo.… Continue reading Chopin and his love of opera
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/
A Piano Teacher’s Hodgepodge Life with its ups and downs!
Today I was greeted by a rare Piano Ped. Forum Facebook post that celebrated a positive private teaching day. Teacher C. reported that all students had arrived on time for lessons, paid their fees pronto, and actually practiced. Bravo! Reams of peers LIKED the morsel of good tidings, except for one who JOKINGLY remarked, "Thanks… Continue reading A Piano Teacher’s Hodgepodge Life with its ups and downs!
Piano Study: Tempo shifts from Childhood to Adulthood
Turning back the clock to my early years as a piano student, I regarded ANDANTE as the slowest tempo marking in the musical universe. So did all my friends who foot dragged their pedal and stumbled through the doldrums of any piece that had the "A" for power down the pace and lower volume while… Continue reading Piano Study: Tempo shifts from Childhood to Adulthood
Arioso7's Blog (Shirley Kirsten) 