Category Archives: Books about Music
An unquenchable thirst for sharps and flats
“I live a life of primitivity with the mind of a child and an unquenchable thirst for sharps and flats … Living in a cave, I am almost a hermit, but there is a difference, for I have a mistress. … Continue reading
Posted in Books about Music, Inspirational, Quotes
Tagged Duke Ellington, jazz, Music, music quotes
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Strike the head with a hammer.
I tell my students to make up a story for the pieces they play. There’s no right. There’s no wrong. They might need a prompt. Engage the imagination and let them fly with it. No story any student comes up … Continue reading
Living pianos
The piano: a complex set of mechanics that results in the creation and re-creation of the widest range of sounds – exquisite, exciting, dynamic, dreamy – an all-purpose instrument, complete, lending itself to every genre – solo, or as part … Continue reading
The Aquarium
It’s Performance Class week. It’s almost too easy for me by now – I almost feel guilty for how little I’m actually working this week. But these classes are so valuable. Last night one class was with the 9- and … Continue reading
The real thing
Certain things are perfect the way they are. The sky, the Pacific Ocean, procreation and the Goldberg Variations all fit this bill, and so do books. (~Joe Queenan). My blogger friend David Kanigan continues to post an assortment of awesomeness … Continue reading
Posted in Books about Music
Tagged choral music programs, Handel, Joe Queenan, Judas Maccabaeus, oratorio, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, used books
2 Comments
The soul of the piano
Oh the gaps! It was one of those moments. I was reading a book on pedal technique and a 150-Watt light bulb came on. How could I not have known? I knew that pedal was more than just a means … Continue reading
Posted in Books about Music, Performance, Piano pedagogy, Practice Tips
Tagged pedaling, Piano pedagogy, Piano pedal, Piano Performance, Practice Tips
2 Comments
How to Ace a History Exam
Here’s where I hold my nose and go against all my principles of educating. The topic of the music history exams was being discussed on a forum recently (Royal Conservatory of Music in Canada; The Achievement Program in the US). The syllabus … Continue reading
They don’t call it the Romantic Period for nothing
~ another gem from “The Great Pianists” (Harold C. Schonberg) We teach our students that “program music” was one of the innovations and staples of the Romantic Period. Music was ABOUT something – and audiences received literal programs that explained … Continue reading
Posted in Books about Music, Performance, Quotes
Tagged Bill Pevlor, Great Pianists, Moonlight Sonata, Romanticism
3 Comments
This is my brain on a book about my brain
Last week I had a mild panic attack about spending too much time online. For a few days I was having a hard time concentrating on a real book – and I looked for the LIKE button when I was … Continue reading
How many ways can you say, “Use the Pedal”?
From that lovely 300-page tome* that I acquired a couple of weeks ago, here are some of the common terms indicating the use of the right pedal: English: damper pedal, loud pedal, open pedal, sustaining pedal, amplifying pedal French: avec … Continue reading
