Last Monday and Tuesday my students performed intwo studio recitals at Schmitt Music in Minnetonka. To the right is a photo of Bryce receiving his well-earned Piano Performance trophy for 2009. He raised his trophy in victory (and mom says he took it to school to show his class!) I love it that he's proud of his achievement. He's one of the hardest workers in the studio.
Below: 6 year old twins Alexis and Sydney play Twinkle Twinkle Little Star together at their first piano recital. More pictures to come!
One of my favorite pedagogical speakers is Marvin Blickenstaff. A few yearsago I attended a week long class at St. Thomas University in St. Paul and heard him speak many times. My favorite notes are these:
SHAPINGTHE SOUND - Rules of Thumb for the Student.
RHYTHM
Shorts go to long (crescendo)
Downbeats are magnetic -- the sound is drawn to them ?but ?
No two successive downbeats should be alike.
Upbeat figures are interesting and have great musical energy.
HARMONY
Stress the unusual; de-emphasize (relax) the predictable.
I6/4 chords are magnetic. (Think what a downbeat 1 6/4 must be!)
Harmonic considerations are more powerful than either rhythmic or melodic ones.
Look to harmony first when determining the sound.
MELODY
The last note of the group is the quietest.
High notes must be supported from below. Theimportant notes are the low ones -- they have energy and push.
Composers often place their musical goals on long notes. Go to the long notes, make them project.
Upbeat figures are interesting and unpredictable -- downbeats are the predictable result.
When in doubt, . . . swell (crescendo).
TEXTURE
Piano sound is most interesting when the hands are never the same volume.
When playing two or more notes within a hand simultaneously, make the volume different for each note.
PHRASING
Place the focus of your phrase as late as possible. ("The later, the better.")
Tradition says:
Out of 4, go for 3
In a two-measure phrase, focus on the downbeat of the second measure
The Question is more interesting than the Answer
Two-note phrases or relationships favor the first note.
GENERAL Variety is the spice of musical life. Vary the sound. Do not repeat a phrase exactly the same way.
Last Monday and Tuesday my students performed in two studio recitals at Schmitt Music in Minnetonka. To the right is a photo of Bryce receiving his well-earned Piano Performance trophy for 2009. He raised his trophy in victory (and mom says he took it to school to show his class!) I love it that he's proud of his achievement. He's one of the hardest workers in the studio.
