Tag Archives: Classical music

William Tell Revisited

Posted on May 17, 2013 by

I have a bright 7-year-old student. He’s playing stuff he shouldn’t know yet. He’s understanding concepts he has no business understanding yet. He plays a piece once (his musical literacy is high) and it’s memorized. Biggest musical interest: the classics. … Continue reading →

Posted in Music Humour, Music Videos | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

I would have towered over Beethoven

Posted on May 10, 2013 by

… by an inch and a smidge. _____________________________________________________________ Image: via Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra

Posted in Beethoven, Music History, Music Humour | Tagged , , | 12 Comments

A Top 5 List

Posted on May 8, 2013 by

High Fidelity is a novel by Nick Hornby about a guy named Rob who works in a record store.  It’s funny, poignant, heartbreaking, and hopeful. Rob has a penchant for making lists – of imagined conversations, ex-girlfriends, and pop music. … Continue reading →

Posted in Bach, Books about Music, Inspirational, Mozart, Music History, Music Videos | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

It is cruel that music should be so beautiful

Posted on April 28, 2013 by

“It is cruel, you know, that music, that music should be so beautiful. It has the beauty of loneliness and of pain: of strength and freedom. The beauty of disappointment and never-satisfied love. The cruel beauty of nature, and everlasting … Continue reading →

Posted in General, Inspirational, Quotes | Tagged , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Language is unable to explain music

Posted on April 15, 2013 by

“No matter how painfully exact music might be notated nor how carefully protected from double meanings by indications of tempi, dynamics, phrases, accents, etc., it always contains hidden elements which cannot be clearly defined, for language is unable to explain … Continue reading →

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Play until your fingers bleed

Posted on March 30, 2013 by

Talent renders the whole idea of rehearsal meaningless; when you find something at which you are talented, you do it (whatever it is) until your fingers bleed or your eyes are ready to fall out of your head.  Even when no one … Continue reading →

Posted in General, Inspirational, Practice Tips, Quotes | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Beethoven. Pushing us beyond our limits.

Posted on March 14, 2013 by

Beethoven gave us some fast – sometimes obscenely fast – metronome markings. These speeds have been debated for almost 200 years already. What was he thinking? Was his metronome faulty? Were there clerical errors at the publishing house? He was … Continue reading →

Posted in Beethoven, General, Music History, Performance | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Theory exams when the student is ready

Posted on March 13, 2013 by

Imagine. Writing a theory exam when the student is ready – and at their convenience. Not being tied to those May/August/Dec or Jan scheduled exams. One more reason to choose Conservatory Canada as an exam system in Canada. New are … Continue reading →

Posted in Examinations, Theory | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Well. That’s done.

Posted on March 11, 2013 by

For the last 18 years I’ve been teaching one or more of my kids to play the piano. That adventure is over. Last month my daughters both took their final (for them) exams. Then on Saturday I sat nervously in … Continue reading →

Posted in General, Method Books, Performance, Studio News | Tagged , , , , | 21 Comments

The Goat Edition

Posted on March 8, 2013 by

Classical Music. The Goat Edition. You can’t not laugh. and another… One more. Because Pierrot Lunaire isn’t bizarre enough on its own. Thank you Orlia.

Posted in Music Humour, Videos | Tagged , , , , , , | 8 Comments

I hear this is true

Posted on March 7, 2013 by

    Source: Insomniac Anonymity  

Posted in Music Humour | Tagged , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Intensely interior music

Posted on March 6, 2013 by

My own experience of the Bach’s Goldberg Variations is Glenn Gould’s 1981 recording. My interpretation is Gould’s. Such is the power of the first hearing of a piece of music. I’m not alone in this. Nor am I alone in … Continue reading →

Posted in Bach, Music Reviews, Performance | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments