Monthly Archives: May 2011
Oboe fun
I had an ill-fated stint as an oboe-player in high school. The instrument was cheap, the reeds were expensive (you can always blame the reeds) and I didn’t get proper instruction. I swore up and down that no child of … Continue reading
Save the CBC – again!
Here’s another online petition to do what little we can to maybe restore a touch more funding to the CBC – although after the last go-round of programming changes I’m not completely convinced they deserve it. Can you tell I’m … Continue reading
A funny thing happened in F Sharp Major
Feeling rather shallow for skipping the fugues in the Well-Tempered Clavier, part of my sight-reading endeavour, I went back and caught up with the Preludes. I’m not a bad sight-reader, but the fugues take that extra bit of hard work. … Continue reading
In good company
“I am not fitted to give concerts. The audience intimidates me, I feel choked by its breath, paralyzed by its curious glances, struck dumb by all those strange faces.” ~Frederic Chopin
Is Grade 1 even necessary?
I never dreamed that I would learn so much by blogging. I’ve read a lot of other forums, blogs, articles, etc. but now I’m learning from comments left on my own blog – thank you to all! As I have … Continue reading
Posted in Canadiana, Examinations, General
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Resources for 3rd and 4th year students
Subtitled: Is Grade 1 harder than it used to be? Part 2 . See Part 1 here. I find the transition from the method books to grade 1 to be somewhat challenging with some students. If only they were all … Continue reading
Posted in Examinations, Piano pedagogy
Tagged Artistry at the Piano, Composers, Mikrokosmos, Piano pedagogy, Piano Technique
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Beautiful choral music
Earlier this week I mentioned the benefits of belonging to APTA and included the news that one of my daughters and another student/friend played a duet in the Final Recital. My other daughter is also a fine musician. Among other … Continue reading
Posted in Inspirational
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Quote of the Week
“To be alive, to be able to see, to walk, to have houses, music, paintings – it’s all a miracle. I have adopted the technique of living life miracle to miracle.” ~Arthur Rubenstein
Posted in Inspirational, Quotes
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Alberta Piano Teachers’ Association
The Alberta Piano Teachers’ Association (APTA) is another organization for piano teachers in Alberta. Unlike ARMTA (Alberta Registered Music Teachers’ Association), anyone can join. You don’t need any qualifications or experience. The yearly fee is very low and there are … Continue reading
Something a bit more personal
This is only minutely related to music. My sister and her husband lost everything in a wild fire that has destroyed almost half their town in Northern Alberta (Slave Lake). They escaped with the clothes on their backs, their dog, … Continue reading
Posted in General
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How to Improve Your Sight-Reading in 32 Easy Steps
Read through Beethoven’s Piano Sonatas. All 32 of them. Your sight-reading will improve – guaranteed. Lest you’re impressed, let me set the record straight. I haven’t done this but David McKay – a former crowd control officer (high school music teacher) … Continue reading
Quote of the Week – and a lesson from Golf
From The Piano Teachers Art by Isabelle Yalkovsky Byman: My own teacher, Olga Samaroff, had two mottos which we heard over and over: … Continue reading
Posted in Books about Music, Practice Tips, Quotes
Tagged Piano Performance, Piano Technique
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