tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15148338689668656982024-03-05T13:34:02.188-08:00In HarmonyGabrielahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517539941863646826noreply@blogger.comBlogger177125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514833868966865698.post-80918117170719331992016-11-06T19:22:00.000-08:002016-11-06T19:22:00.224-08:00"Chopin never played his own pieces the same way twice." I was looking for some record that Chopin supported the idea of never playing the same piece twice. Perhaps there is a source other than Vladimir Horowitz's obituary. Fascinating!<br />
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Excerpt from<br />
<a href="http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/section/learning/general/onthisday.gif" imageanchor="1"><img alt="On This Day" border="0" src="http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/section/learning/general/onthisday.gif" height="72" width="270" /></a><br />
<h5>
<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/learning/general/onthisday/bday/1001.html">November 6, 1989</a></h5>
<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/learning/general/onthisday/bday/1001.html"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: "times";"><b>OBITUARY:</b></span><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-family: "times";"><b> </b></span></span><b>Vladimir Horowitz, Titan of the Piano, Dies</b></a><br />
<h5>
<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/learning/general/onthisday/bday/1001.html">By BERNARD HOLLAND</a></h5>
<br />
...<br />
Mr. Horowitz was not overly worried by accusations of textual infidelity. "When I sit at
the keyboard," he said, "I never know how I will play something [missing text]. The head,
the intellect, is only the controlling factor of music making. It is not a guide. The guide
is your feelings. Chopin never played his own pieces the same way twice."
<br />
At another time Mr. Horowitz said: "I am a 19th-century Romantic. I am the last. I take
terrible risks. Because my playing is very clear, when I make a mistake, you hear it. But
the score is not a bible, and I am never afraid to dare. The music is behind those dots.
You search for it, and that is what I mean by the grand manner. I play, so to speak, from
the other side of the score, looking back."
Gabrielahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517539941863646826noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514833868966865698.post-6427102666330706992016-07-31T14:14:00.000-07:002016-08-04T14:15:28.410-07:00Happy Birthday!Wow, this has been around online for five years, and I'm only now watching it!!<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/S75gYhODS0M" width="420"></iframe><br />
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<br />Gabrielahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517539941863646826noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514833868966865698.post-88797821955752601912016-04-14T11:11:00.000-07:002016-03-31T11:49:23.579-07:00April 2016 Wrapup<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>A Few Facts: </b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #666666; font-size: small;">- The Digital Age has changed the way the
recording industry chooses music to publish. The industry now is able
to rely on data collected on what people want to hear, so they no longer
publish based on the gut instincts of music experts. This means we're
getting more of what we want. This is great for business, but is it so
great for music?</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyCu87GNh-zlygLhScxR062d7oa8I_SeZnr9hsIqgWP18ucGfRJ9BEDIq727LiSUP25ySBkFbSWYlviwb2ZGSJvWOQxQLI2KzDSm2SeZ_rSzfwYJss8OVBhOLmjxrSlOE3Vmt89TF47f8/s1600/jazz+piano+CREDIT+to+lorettaalvaradoDOTcom.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">-Conducting
class gave me <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">a</span> reverential respect for large ensemble
conductors. They truly have the most challenging performance job, in my
humble opinion.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMxIVr9-pWS_Kh7u1Yv7Kf0tt7Fz4BBilgd6FV850-8Uvxk3g3AZx11M4k2I5dPTKp7PvQfwlWTEgmnfszsTRi1q5BMwQrkH-lCFCoJ0IF_LnG6Ey0R56uenlP8bg3g2JfWDyr_XkYfXY/s1600/piano.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMxIVr9-pWS_Kh7u1Yv7Kf0tt7Fz4BBilgd6FV850-8Uvxk3g3AZx11M4k2I5dPTKp7PvQfwlWTEgmnfszsTRi1q5BMwQrkH-lCFCoJ0IF_LnG6Ey0R56uenlP8bg3g2JfWDyr_XkYfXY/s320/piano.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><b>Awesome thing from this month: </b> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;">- I've had<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> the pleasure of perusing my former piano teacher's <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">new book, Piano Studen<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">t's Tool<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Kit<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">, </span></span></span></span>and discovering<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> his new <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">website: <a href="http://www.pianoinstructionandtuning.com/">http://www.pianoinstructionandtuning.com</a></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>To-do's and Goals for this Month: </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">- Finish<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> the examples in the aforementioned Piano Student's Tool Kit, including Advanced Blues Licks</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">-Reach performing </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">proficiency </span>with my by ear piece, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8pM7Xwx6TiE&index=11&list=PLQSI1G-XiB-26H2gWcNYpE1MdYHWoqYtT">A Perfect Day</a>,
from (don't laugh) the Peter Rabbit Sountrack. Truly one of the most
melodically calming and mysteriously searching pieces I've ever heard. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">-Review one Baroque piece to performance proficiency</span><br />
<br />Gabrielahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517539941863646826noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514833868966865698.post-71644160913276060082016-03-31T11:54:00.000-07:002016-03-31T11:54:46.095-07:00Chord playing and Vocalists<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin07Ny_lDsF1feMr9FJPRXog_-TIRAsCxq71dqUPC9-AVDe4BSe3eKnVol3rGao1jYAUhMA16w0kW8Ho2jay4ebq-R7UwiAXdaYd3v_Ytdvf0nJbpVCLhB7hi5oAnTS7jzemxxQx9QYWM/s1600/Sissel+cd+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin07Ny_lDsF1feMr9FJPRXog_-TIRAsCxq71dqUPC9-AVDe4BSe3eKnVol3rGao1jYAUhMA16w0kW8Ho2jay4ebq-R7UwiAXdaYd3v_Ytdvf0nJbpVCLhB7hi5oAnTS7jzemxxQx9QYWM/s1600/Sissel+cd+cover.jpg" width="319" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My latest vocalist crush</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Recently a parent contacted me about teaching her daughter to play by chords in order to accompany herself while singing. I was excited to get back to this parent to say, yes, I would be delighted to teach that. Playing by chords really enhances a vocalist's performing ability and versatility, not to mention pure enjoyment. For one thing, the ability to transpose an accompaniment to your vocal range in a matter of minutes. Also, how it accelerates learning any music- useful for anyone!<br />
<br />
Many musicians will tell you accompanying a singer is a labor of sheer love - a lot of love. Honestly I believe being an accompanist for a singer is one of the most harrowing jobs of an instrumentalist. Not so when a vocalist accompanies himself. And not so <i>much </i>when a vocalist is also a proficient instrumentalist. The latter person is the best equipped to be a vocalist's accompanist. <br />
<br />
As I talk to prospective students and their parents, I think more about
explaining why I teach playing by chords and ear, not just by note reading
like most teachers, and how <i>remarkably effective </i>this teaching method
is - after all, it's old as Bach. More on this next time....Gabrielahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517539941863646826noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514833868966865698.post-3305737587074160772016-03-21T11:51:00.000-07:002016-03-31T11:52:06.199-07:00Happy Birthday Bach!<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in -0.5in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">"The aim and final end of all music should be none other than the glory of God and the refreshment of the soul."</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in -0.5in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">-- Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)</span></span></span><br />
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Gabrielahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517539941863646826noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514833868966865698.post-79992127991803660462015-12-01T18:13:00.000-08:002015-12-01T18:13:00.249-08:00Music and the Brain<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Gabrielahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517539941863646826noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514833868966865698.post-34381842860890625982015-11-01T17:44:00.000-08:002015-11-01T17:44:00.144-08:00Chopin's Etudes, Visualized<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf50Jjny49T7VW6S2h-QgzxgezK2-R-8O1VD5I6O4TgbvezL2Tv69zEiwRnsKB8v372f73WcgxM3HKF5df20mgtSkSwHt7XZh9x3g3v_c_1mMg2FdpFJwXB0rONw-seQXX4_5hFN2qy4A/s1600/ZesYNTW.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf50Jjny49T7VW6S2h-QgzxgezK2-R-8O1VD5I6O4TgbvezL2Tv69zEiwRnsKB8v372f73WcgxM3HKF5df20mgtSkSwHt7XZh9x3g3v_c_1mMg2FdpFJwXB0rONw-seQXX4_5hFN2qy4A/s640/ZesYNTW.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />Gabrielahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517539941863646826noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514833868966865698.post-2322759446649204792015-10-12T07:30:00.000-07:002015-10-12T17:37:47.808-07:00These Hands...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMwgVagpXG6qNpduDedSyWqR3ugB2nmVXw5kPpSsS5yH5YNq_qQJJsB55aS5CvYkzowdip6lp9WbJ1X0rwUVEtnfBpe_Jn3S2Te5xWVuz6aukGZNrj53cTZFPJt0V39ZRvxGYcWAfwLZU/s1600/11695837_10153541961777269_7428315891078330127_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMwgVagpXG6qNpduDedSyWqR3ugB2nmVXw5kPpSsS5yH5YNq_qQJJsB55aS5CvYkzowdip6lp9WbJ1X0rwUVEtnfBpe_Jn3S2Te5xWVuz6aukGZNrj53cTZFPJt0V39ZRvxGYcWAfwLZU/s1600/11695837_10153541961777269_7428315891078330127_n.jpg" /></a></div>
My favorite: Rachmaninoff. Most creative: egg beaters. The fonts are a nice touch.Gabrielahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517539941863646826noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514833868966865698.post-52097793348865294602015-10-01T18:13:00.000-07:002015-10-01T18:13:00.247-07:00The Room (Inside An Instrument)Fantasy world. This reminds me of I Spy books, with their enchanting rooms of shadows and beams of light.<br /><br />
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://fstoppers.com/commercial/pictures-unbelievable-macro-shots-taken-inside-instruments-6129">Macro Shots Taken Inside Instruments</a></span></span></h4>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs86UCZEI2q-HWuVqf2PMyS5UvtEb-v3B_7s12TvF5oTujn7ieBuaqI-bbshCREXkJusqmDvJr-aRT2qWaodxMPQAmCLlzxhEq73zCtHnA-6KsizacSaQ6XiaCK4vw3moilAk1cIS8vtA/s1600/photos-inside-instruments+credit+to+FStoppers.co.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs86UCZEI2q-HWuVqf2PMyS5UvtEb-v3B_7s12TvF5oTujn7ieBuaqI-bbshCREXkJusqmDvJr-aRT2qWaodxMPQAmCLlzxhEq73zCtHnA-6KsizacSaQ6XiaCK4vw3moilAk1cIS8vtA/s1600/photos-inside-instruments+credit+to+FStoppers.co.jpg" /></a></div>
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Gabrielahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517539941863646826noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514833868966865698.post-58766373946902177642015-09-18T08:02:00.002-07:002015-09-21T01:15:39.614-07:00Syrian Pianist: Songs of Defiance<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;">A Syrian pianist, husband, father... a refugee from the ISIS holocaust. As with all episodes of horror, this time is not without its music.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;">These men are leaving their families behind on the brink of "the deepest circle of hell." They may be lost at sea. They must find a safer escape route for their families. And winter is coming, when the sea will be more cruel.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;">You can help Syrian refugees through many relief charities. Here is one, led by Billy Graham's son:</span></span><br /><span style="color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.samaritanspurse.org/?s=syria" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;">http://www.samaritanspurse.org/?s=syria</a></span><br /><br /><span style="color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;">I happened to glance at Facebook's trending headlines, and as God would have it, this caught my eye. How inspiring and how sobering. I'm glad the world is seeing the crisis in the Middle East, and if it takes being a musician to move people to action, I say the more, the better.</span></span><br /><span style="color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">First of all, I'm praying. Second, I want to learn this man's music, start a band, and spread his message.<br /><br /> For now, I'm sharing his story.<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/EPySYTNbU0A" width="560"></iframe></span></span>Gabrielahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517539941863646826noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514833868966865698.post-91662285506654935552015-09-01T05:18:00.000-07:002015-09-01T05:18:00.067-07:00Ornette Coleman Passes<span style="background-color: white; color: #3e3e3e; font-family: 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.8571434020996px;">Jazz legend </span><a href="http://www.washingtontimes.com/topics/ornette-coleman/" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: border-box; color: #015fb6; font-family: 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.8571434020996px; text-decoration: none;">Ornette Coleman</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #3e3e3e; font-family: 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.8571434020996px;">, the visionary saxophonist who pioneered “free jazz” and won a Pulitzer Prize in 2007, has died. </span><a href="http://www.washingtontimes.com/topics/ornette-coleman/" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: border-box; color: #015fb6; font-family: 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.8571434020996px; text-decoration: none;">Read more</a> <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0NMkb6Km_275CXWzWaEJavvmyN-PuF2MjeVttAqAmj9i7erEw9k_GJAzFGvoNSeu-MlwC5IMKwaVO3l432M0Q_VBlqx3rMtrvtFY4lWpgtI0kjEmHynXUmAuZ6bhSreOjS5AUyIVNY6M/s1600/Ornette+Coleman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="369" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0NMkb6Km_275CXWzWaEJavvmyN-PuF2MjeVttAqAmj9i7erEw9k_GJAzFGvoNSeu-MlwC5IMKwaVO3l432M0Q_VBlqx3rMtrvtFY4lWpgtI0kjEmHynXUmAuZ6bhSreOjS5AUyIVNY6M/s640/Ornette+Coleman.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Gabrielahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517539941863646826noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514833868966865698.post-44712379216429901582015-08-01T17:37:00.000-07:002015-10-12T17:36:11.230-07:00So you hate counting?What if you had to memorize this instead?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgElCOlufNk30CdVYstA1oxovUv3IF4hSpDOx6Va6Dq821R3p_fGvQ5a2RF3FYGvOt8E9KtNHVaMFJ9dJr7DvmV45cUQbG7H-Nq9ZOlKuGmMFx0w78c1KbC-8xNqEqLA41jnCpcCU2AHrE/s1600/Rhythm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgElCOlufNk30CdVYstA1oxovUv3IF4hSpDOx6Va6Dq821R3p_fGvQ5a2RF3FYGvOt8E9KtNHVaMFJ9dJr7DvmV45cUQbG7H-Nq9ZOlKuGmMFx0w78c1KbC-8xNqEqLA41jnCpcCU2AHrE/s1600/Rhythm.jpg" /></a></div>
Gabrielahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517539941863646826noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514833868966865698.post-49875290481454854622015-07-04T10:45:00.000-07:002015-07-04T10:45:35.127-07:00Exiles Know Freedom <span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17.5636348724365px;">Posted by a friend, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/alaneasonTN">Alan Eason</a>: <br /><br />I love this emotional rendition of "The Stars and Stripes Forever," conducted by then-National-Symphony conductor Mstislav Rostropovich on his return to his homeland of Russia in 1990. He had been stripped of his citizenship under the Soviets for sheltering and defending Alexander Solzhenitsyn, who also took refuge in the United States. Rostropovich loved his homeland of Russia, and his return concert, held in the Bolshoi Hall of the Moscow Conservatory, drew half of the intelligentsia of Moscow and was televised on Russian TV nationwide. After a mournful rendition of (his mentor as a youth) Shostakovich's #5 symphony, which depicted Stalinism and its terrors, he brought the audience to its feet with "The Stars and Stripes Forever" as a finale.</span><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/CakL8QnsQnM" width="640"></iframe>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17.5636348724365px;"><br /></span>Gabrielahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517539941863646826noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514833868966865698.post-88458405529892874362015-07-01T19:10:00.000-07:002015-07-01T19:10:00.414-07:00Heard an Interview with George Gershwin<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmVCCkCA4mjg70a5Ga7cD0dKNF4VRada7_5Tm1dMNEyYM2dr7-7Ib6_BGWiKKR_B_weXY3DmLQlIQh5zmkolKiVbFQN3hGdBsJrLPy5qbYygoXjjNSSSW0CojpYlW5yKbrdFppwNn65y0/s1600/gershwin+radio+interview+credit+the+atlantic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="473" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmVCCkCA4mjg70a5Ga7cD0dKNF4VRada7_5Tm1dMNEyYM2dr7-7Ib6_BGWiKKR_B_weXY3DmLQlIQh5zmkolKiVbFQN3hGdBsJrLPy5qbYygoXjjNSSSW0CojpYlW5yKbrdFppwNn65y0/s640/gershwin+radio+interview+credit+the+atlantic.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Lyon Text', Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 30.0000610351563px;">Go check out <a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2015/06/language-mystery-redux-who-exactly-was-the-last-american-to-speak-like-this/395090/">this article</a> and hear "a rare, brief interview that George Gershwin had done on </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rudy_Vall%C3%A9e" style="background-color: white; color: #458cd5; font-family: 'Lyon Text', Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 30.0000610351563px; text-decoration: none;">Rudy Vallee’s</a> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Lyon Text', Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 30.0000610351563px;">hyper-popular radio show in 1933."</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Lyon Text', Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 30.0000610351563px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Lyon Text', Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 30.0000610351563px;">Wow.</span><br />
<iframe frameborder="0" height="290" src="http://www.npr.org/player/embed/411996252/412260286" width="100%"></iframe>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Lyon Text', Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 30.0000610351563px;"><br /></span>Gabrielahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517539941863646826noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514833868966865698.post-62324673468476721682015-07-01T02:16:00.000-07:002015-11-01T02:18:38.080-08:00Just a little networking post: <a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/14530237/?claim=hzpza3xfqvq">Follow my blog with Bloglovin</a> Gabrielahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517539941863646826noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514833868966865698.post-50451868696187110832015-06-01T19:54:00.000-07:002015-06-01T19:54:00.331-07:00Musical BoomwhackersBach sounds amazing even with boomwhackers. Fascinating to watch, especially if you're a musician thinking how they thought this out.<br />
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".l.1:3:1:$comment10153281442917269_10153290806452269:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body" style="color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif;"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".l.1:3:1:$comment10153281442917269_10153290806452269:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".l.1:3:1:$comment10153281442917269_10153290806452269:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.$end:0:$0:0"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16.0799999237061px;"><br /></span></span></span></span>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Y5seI0eJZCg" width="560"></iframe>Gabrielahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517539941863646826noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514833868966865698.post-8103872018676672412015-05-15T21:31:00.000-07:002015-05-15T21:31:00.195-07:00"You really have to commit to an instrument to master it."<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://scontent-sjc.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfp1/v/t1.0-9/p480x480/11013498_957028817704552_7685175655722920749_n.jpg?oh=b65d55541982433e3f578e622781ca59&oe=55DF059D" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://scontent-sjc.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfp1/v/t1.0-9/p480x480/11013498_957028817704552_7685175655722920749_n.jpg?oh=b65d55541982433e3f578e622781ca59&oe=55DF059D" width="213" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16.0799999237061px;">“Schools have really shifted their focus to testing, and music has really become more of an extracurricular activity. It’s almost treated like a sport. My cla</span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #666666; display: inline; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16.0799999237061px;">ss used to last almost an hour. Now it’s down to thirty minutes. By the time the kids get seated and settled, we’re almost out of time. It’s a shame, because music helps to teach focus and discipline. You really have to commit to an instrument to master it. There seems to be more of a ‘popcorn mentality’ among students today. As soon as something gets difficult, they’re onto something else.</span>..<br />
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<blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/humansofnewyork/photos/a.102107073196735.4429.102099916530784/957028817704552/?type=1">
Posted by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/humansofnewyork">Humans of New York</a> on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/humansofnewyork/photos/a.102107073196735.4429.102099916530784/957028817704552/?type=1">Thursday, April 23, 2015</a></blockquote>
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<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; display: inline; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16.0799999237061px;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: helvetica, arial, lucida grande, sans-serif;">- Humans of New York </span></span><br />
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<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; display: inline; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16.0799999237061px;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: helvetica, arial, lucida grande, sans-serif;">https://www.facebook.com/humansofnewyork/photos/a.102107073196735.4429.102099916530784/957028817704552/?type=1&fref=nf</span></span>Gabrielahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517539941863646826noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514833868966865698.post-80773625735977230632015-05-01T05:32:00.000-07:002015-05-01T05:32:00.135-07:00Thought$<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
And now it makes sense...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVHMpCk9YELBWcZuL62efPil5NvN-Gnv4AGpADt7kB4Yo7RMsoI1NsRtBwGsG0ceX_lFlqQ_Yvvn0Ynl0wbzNSVjDYCyVE3E6QIEeCE_ua3CQP6UEArbmFR6DIh_TFqMawccko_uoJzog/s1600/10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVHMpCk9YELBWcZuL62efPil5NvN-Gnv4AGpADt7kB4Yo7RMsoI1NsRtBwGsG0ceX_lFlqQ_Yvvn0Ynl0wbzNSVjDYCyVE3E6QIEeCE_ua3CQP6UEArbmFR6DIh_TFqMawccko_uoJzog/s1600/10.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />Gabrielahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517539941863646826noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514833868966865698.post-78641285045366821892015-04-17T05:44:00.000-07:002015-04-17T05:44:28.417-07:00Should You Be Practicing Right Now? <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKClopylBhfd0w6CSSeIWF6uxRDNWpVA6FDtXKo2VFutA0sH2VrPUl4cAqxC06MTPYAAtUwyrSlunWpfgl6fCUlswzttXWI1d75IFccjIhARXTBkEVHG-MYYVtgADBDDP7Bb4786A4jSc/s1600/Capture.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKClopylBhfd0w6CSSeIWF6uxRDNWpVA6FDtXKo2VFutA0sH2VrPUl4cAqxC06MTPYAAtUwyrSlunWpfgl6fCUlswzttXWI1d75IFccjIhARXTBkEVHG-MYYVtgADBDDP7Bb4786A4jSc/s1600/Capture.JPG" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8GtJXWeiO9ChMBj9tuj_zKrzcYBUkVhsWweRbndoeLJzZA4sc8DGP7EnhCVvSoO7rk4JuxrycYMlaxl-qwMsLsJwhkEW3Z40YvpAii6aOZQMAWeYIzuILtaTBiP-lqvkkVuSk6ynLIBg/s1600/10557155_962521357122155_7894964136413662073_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8GtJXWeiO9ChMBj9tuj_zKrzcYBUkVhsWweRbndoeLJzZA4sc8DGP7EnhCVvSoO7rk4JuxrycYMlaxl-qwMsLsJwhkEW3Z40YvpAii6aOZQMAWeYIzuILtaTBiP-lqvkkVuSk6ynLIBg/s1600/10557155_962521357122155_7894964136413662073_n.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />Gabrielahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517539941863646826noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514833868966865698.post-88397313993776420202015-03-17T08:26:00.000-07:002015-04-17T05:27:54.532-07:00Composition Helpers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I enjoyed the tips from this site: http://learn2writesongs.hubpages.com/hub/Learn-How-To-Write-Songs</div>
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Here are the charts they posted. Also see their instruction video on how to use the progression chart: </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_4Vbhxn3XXF0zbsDqbz3FvZ0m3Te6L1bYB5dCM4GyEN2m-1SnaMw0Cg-I3cxtDvprffaTLnuJ0OsjsUE-8J9wnr1fq-hhsp1UACLhdwFGWFtCROOMQ3abQ6WbE3TCpPwCgKlFg48Vkhc/s1600/6888960_f520.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_4Vbhxn3XXF0zbsDqbz3FvZ0m3Te6L1bYB5dCM4GyEN2m-1SnaMw0Cg-I3cxtDvprffaTLnuJ0OsjsUE-8J9wnr1fq-hhsp1UACLhdwFGWFtCROOMQ3abQ6WbE3TCpPwCgKlFg48Vkhc/s1600/6888960_f520.jpg" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsTP318B7_ozwikzhcKKcozv0754K5N5rFO-WextikSnQ4BV8cezKutS3KHQy2Phxl2Gwo4iohPgx7tP__3UTB-rdpv_loDANhUWcnOb2iQaQmwV35NG3kAzlgqbSyjFieVWEXeqb43P4/s1600/6889257_f520.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsTP318B7_ozwikzhcKKcozv0754K5N5rFO-WextikSnQ4BV8cezKutS3KHQy2Phxl2Gwo4iohPgx7tP__3UTB-rdpv_loDANhUWcnOb2iQaQmwV35NG3kAzlgqbSyjFieVWEXeqb43P4/s1600/6889257_f520.jpg" /></a></div>
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Gabrielahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517539941863646826noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514833868966865698.post-66007950984041926112015-02-16T18:29:00.000-08:002015-06-07T19:11:58.467-07:00Read Mozart (Not Just His Notes)<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17675009-mozart" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Mozart by Paul Johnson" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1366556178l/17675009.jpg" title="Mozart by Paul Johnson" width="100" /></a>A biography to be reckoned with by a historian who rivals the best. I have enjoyed Johnson's work before, so this book will be on my reading list!<br />
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Quick <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1084559049?utm_medium=api&utm_source=custom_widget">review by Doug Wilson</a>, one of my favorite cultural commentators:<br />
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"This was a quick and enjoyable read. Mozart was a phenomenal genius, and
this short book -- short just like Mozart's life -- gives a marvelous
sense of that genius. For those who don't know much about Mozart's life,
and don't know whether or not he was a founding member of the Dave
Clark Five, this is the book for you. If you know enough about Mozart to
think that joke wasn't funny, this is also a book for you."<br />
<br />
Gabrielahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517539941863646826noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514833868966865698.post-44099745860283321262014-12-02T07:30:00.000-08:002015-03-24T09:27:33.522-07:00The Golden Ratio The piano keyboard is a repeating pattern of eight white keys interspersed with five black keys. That statement is dull unless you see its association with the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_ratio">Golden Ratio</a>. Eight and five and their sum, fifteen, are part of a number sequence related to the Golden Ratio, and this numerical patterning is found often in nature. Before you raise an eyebrow at this seemingly numerological statement, take some time to acquaint yourself with the subject.<br />
While it has nothing to do with numerology and is merely an observed aspect of nature, you begin to realize why people would come up with this idea that approaches a superstitious character.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE6_fcbu6SbdRA51bnP1CgCNpdDLnaQWDLTMhsT-wwz6bDzL1P3U8Uz44Xq4iDMFDTB8IZ802qciFJKUYkK3mbCxLtxt8ALusZJWdXjmzBmnOFeOAR7piPZF_OWfx3M8a7kpG0UUNgeCs/s1600/Greek+music+article+temple+of+poseidon+Credit+to+bbcDOTcom+news+business.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE6_fcbu6SbdRA51bnP1CgCNpdDLnaQWDLTMhsT-wwz6bDzL1P3U8Uz44Xq4iDMFDTB8IZ802qciFJKUYkK3mbCxLtxt8ALusZJWdXjmzBmnOFeOAR7piPZF_OWfx3M8a7kpG0UUNgeCs/s1600/Greek+music+article+temple+of+poseidon+Credit+to+bbcDOTcom+news+business.jpg" height="180" width="320" /> </a></div>
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The actual Golden Ratio number (rounded)
is 1.618. The following are called "claims," but so many observations and some undeniable associations strongly suggests the truths of the increasingly popular "Intelligent Design" movement:<br />
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Bees follow it in their reproduction: their male to female ratio is golden. It is seen in the architecture of flowers, stems and leaves as well as skeletal structures. The spirals of DNA molecules, cyclones, shells and galaxies follow it. Polls show a face is more attractive if it reflects the golden ratio. It was even observed in the shape of woman's
uterus at its most fertile. (!)<br />
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Famous artists use it. Renaissance painters were obsessed
with it. And it isn't a recent discovery: the ancients used it, as seen
by the architectural of the Pyramids and the Parthenon. <br />
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Read more <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_ratio">HERE about The Golden Ratio in music</a>.<br />
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The intersection of music and science are fields that I know almost nothing about but find absolutely fascinating. When it comes to my musical work, I'm more a laborer than a philosopher. I practice, practice, practice, and then teach how to practice. But here and there I can dabble in musical metaphysics and science, and write a little post to hopefully inspire greater appreciation for the wonderful gift of music.Gabrielahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517539941863646826noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514833868966865698.post-61127654351566148032014-11-15T19:13:00.000-08:002014-11-18T17:28:22.861-08:00How to Keep Performances of the Same Piece from Getting StaleLike Chopin, never play it the same way twice. This article from Bulletproof Musician is fabulous. The popular posts on the right side bar look great as well. <br />
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Excerpt: <br />
<h1 class="entry-title" itemprop="headline">
<a href="http://www.bulletproofmusician.com/how-to-keep-performances-of-the-same-piece-from-getting-stale/">How to Keep Performances of the Same Piece from Getting Stale</a></h1>
by <span class="entry-author" itemprop="author" itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="http://schema.org/Person"><a class="entry-author-link" href="http://www.bulletproofmusician.com/author/njkalm/" itemprop="url" rel="author"><span class="entry-author-name" itemprop="name">Dr. Noa Kageyama</span></a></span> <br />
<br />
<span class="entry-comments-link"></span><br />
<a href="http://www.bulletproofmusician.com/how-to-keep-performances-of-the-same-piece-from-getting-stale/" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" title="How to Keep Performances of the Same Piece from Getting Stale"><img alt="How to keep performances of the same piece from getting stale" class="feat-post" src="http://www.bulletproofmusician.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/origin_2253520087.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a>More engaged musicians<br />
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A trio of researchers (including conductor <a href="http://herbergerinstitute.asu.edu/faculty/selectone.php?ID=30" target="_blank">Timothy Russell</a>) ran a <a href="http://pom.sagepub.com/content/37/2/125.abstract" target="_blank">study</a>
to see if a more mindful approach to performance would be a) more
engaging and enjoyable to the musicians, and b) preferable (and
noticeable) to listeners as well.<br />
<br />
To test their hypothesis, they recruited 60 members of a college
orchestra to perform the finale from Brahms’s Symphony No. 1 two times.<br />
<br />
The first time, the conductor gave the orchestra the following
instructions: “Think about the finest performance of this piece that you
can remember, and play it that way.”<br />
This was the control condition – where musicians were given an
aspirational and presumably motivational goal, but a comparatively
passive goal, geared more towards <i>re</i>creating a performance than creating it anew in the moment.<br />
Before the second performance (the experimental condition), the
musicians were instructed to “Play this piece in the finest manner you
can, offering subtle new nuances to your performance.” The idea with
these instructions was to get the musicians to be more present and
mindful, to think more creatively and spontaneously in the moment,
and be more improvisational in their performance.<br />
<br />
To gauge the impact of these two sets of instructions on the
performers’ level of engagement, the musicians were asked to rate their
enjoyment of the performance after each run-through.<br />
<br />
Not surprisingly, musicians rated the more mindful, improvisational
performance as being more enjoyable. The results suggest that being more
actively involved in creating something new is more engaging than
striving to recreate something from the past.Gabrielahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517539941863646826noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514833868966865698.post-43395116910848321972014-10-20T07:46:00.000-07:002014-10-20T07:46:00.189-07:00Canned Laughter<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUyOdCD1hm5p_u88WibZAt8tgCWR1w_eagZpz6worlQfWeO7UruV4VDVzUCy8xMDSnE-ni9_WVyyxMpIXzWnD5yyKmjVbEYEQ4hjlNQ4FYMGn5kPj0C0QfYpLoEbsl8bMeesdjk26Oy8s/s1600/220px-Victor-Borge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUyOdCD1hm5p_u88WibZAt8tgCWR1w_eagZpz6worlQfWeO7UruV4VDVzUCy8xMDSnE-ni9_WVyyxMpIXzWnD5yyKmjVbEYEQ4hjlNQ4FYMGn5kPj0C0QfYpLoEbsl8bMeesdjk26Oy8s/s1600/220px-Victor-Borge.jpg" /></a></div>
Of course Weird Al Yankovich is the king of musical comedians. Tim Hawkins is a great second.<br />
<br />
And what was his name? Oh yes, found him:<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victor_Borge" title="Victor Borge">Victor Borge. </a>I knew it started with a B.<br />
<br />
He did musical stand up comedy to make uprights fall over.<br />
I tried.<br />
<br />
Oh, and I must insert my favorite piano joke:<br />
<br />
Which kind of piano does God love best? <br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioc4wWWFrv1RitFdF2A8xLQ_1XWsfjSFJhUiQEaLwEGYNdm1FaMkEzMBfL5KMrq4SkDjHoWJH094cJ6OM83RVYbvdLbGZS0y-HsoB3_tI3RZ_CHsk0pE6cenoJ2jVeTVbh3Kq0FrDC9ao/s1600/humor+more.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioc4wWWFrv1RitFdF2A8xLQ_1XWsfjSFJhUiQEaLwEGYNdm1FaMkEzMBfL5KMrq4SkDjHoWJH094cJ6OM83RVYbvdLbGZS0y-HsoB3_tI3RZ_CHsk0pE6cenoJ2jVeTVbh3Kq0FrDC9ao/s1600/humor+more.jpg" height="286" width="320" /></a>God favors the upright.<br />
<br />
*canned laughter*<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Not as much a shining group, but maybe worth perusing: <a class="yschttl spt" href="http://comedians.about.com/od/top10lists/tp/10essentialmusicalcomedians.htm" id="link-1" target="_blank">10 Essential Musical <b>Comedians</b> - <wbr></wbr>About.com <b>Comedians</b></a>Gabrielahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517539941863646826noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514833868966865698.post-7607869968368127822014-10-01T07:10:00.000-07:002017-03-08T08:49:35.993-08:00Bach Would Be Proud: I Teach Modern Basso Continuo (Chords)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY7dqBjqPflXhZ9vntPRW9LJ8D8iloHpxNpmPue5FQ20InxkUojUPO2BgcsOEx-BfIgaBFbV73tdQD3aSX2VWNY2U0QIYijwFuyqxgoXkLoZX-Z52fxqYPYCWwEpFMwCnui33853ZAIXE/s1600/Classical+music+dummies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY7dqBjqPflXhZ9vntPRW9LJ8D8iloHpxNpmPue5FQ20InxkUojUPO2BgcsOEx-BfIgaBFbV73tdQD3aSX2VWNY2U0QIYijwFuyqxgoXkLoZX-Z52fxqYPYCWwEpFMwCnui33853ZAIXE/s1600/Classical+music+dummies.jpg" /></a>As
I talk to prospective students and their parents, I think more about
explaining <a href="http://thoughtsinharmony.blogspot.com/2011/07/three-ways-to-play-piano.html">why I teach playing by chords</a> <a href="http://thoughtsinharmony.blogspot.com/2011/07/three-ways-to-play-piano.html">and ear, not just by note
reading like most teachers, and how remarkably effective this </a><br />
<a href="http://thoughtsinharmony.blogspot.com/2011/07/three-ways-to-play-piano.html">teaching method is</a>. I'm passionate on this and want to spread this method!
Lea<b>rning chords is a very old and somewhat forgotten essential keyboard
skill.</b> Really, essential. Like scales. But it's been lost for the
most part. Why? Especially since learning to play by ear and aural
training is still common in Eastern Europe, Russia (Eur-russia is where a
LOT of the greatest pianists and composers come from) and Asia (think
Suzuki method for toddlers). <br />
<br />
Familiar with Bach? In
Bach's day, it was taken for granted that a keyboard player could be
given the basso continuo (their equivalent to chord symbols) and realize
the appropriate harmony in order to accompany other musicians or simply a
melody. Bach would be proud: I teach that. Why don't others?<br />
<br />
There are many reasons many pianist don't know, much less teach, chord playing today. Since I'm a history buff and music history was my major's concentration, this development was fascinating to me.
One reason for chord playing's neglect is that this skill was not the
rage of the mid to late 1800's, when learning piano became a favorite
American hobby especially for the young. The rage was to be able to
play like Chopin - or at least play Chopin. And every other virtuoso
that was the rockstar of Victorian audiences. Seriously, Franz Liszt was the Beetles/BG's/Ricky Martin/One Direction/Backstreet Boys of his day. (I had to think hard for the names of these girl-gaggle-gathering boy stars.)<br />
<br />
Though the piano rage started to wane as Elvis and the Beatles
came on the scene, it seemed like by the 50's, hardly a house lacked a
piano, and everybody's aunt taught lessons. For the purpose of playing classical and sacred music by note.<br />
<br />
And still today piano teachers are trying to get every student to be Rachmaninoff. And yes, I totally completely 100% want every pianist to play classical music!!! But, Bach would say they need to play chord symbols too. And Rachmaninoff would scoff (I had to) if he heard musicians didn't have aural training. So, let's all get together, take over modern America, and LEARN TO PLAY THE THREE WAYS! **cue in 1812 Overture Canons**<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Gabrielahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517539941863646826noreply@blogger.com0