Music is a magic that can change the world
I've been procrastinating this review for most of the year because this book, Presence, influenced me so deeply that I wanted to do it justice. While I may not be able to do just that, at least I can share this resource with people who would benefit from it: musicians, creatives, and people living in …
Frederic Chopin is one of the public’s favorite composers for many reasons. One big reason is that he leaves his listeners feeling things deeply, even if they can’t describe in words what they’re feeling. Pieces like the “Raindrop Prelude” (in D♭ Major, op. 28 no. 15) leave people inspired and on the verge of tears …
What I love the most about teaching new adult pianists is that they have a reason why they're learning the piano. They're not doing it because their parents are making them. The desire is completely internal, and more than that, it's based in deep feelings that are strong enough to internally motivate them through the tough parts of taking up something new.
This book has been on my reading list for a while (and I think it got there from its mention in an Adam Neely video), but it was my class on Musical Expectation that pushed me to finally read it, and I'm so glad I did. Leonard B. Meyer writes from his perspectives as a …
Continue reading "Book Review: Emotion and Meaning in Music by Leonard B. Meyer"
As some of you may know, I am about to head off to grad school for the Fall to pursue an MM in Music Theory! It's all really exciting, but I'm not certain what kind of jobs - if any - I'll be able to balance with the program, so I'm trying my hand at …
Continue reading "Store Opening! and What is your favorite spooky piece?"
Claude Debussy's music creates magic wherever it goes. It frequently draws new students to the piano with the desire of playing his most famous pieces like Clair de lune and Arabesque No. 1. This post looks at how Debussy composed this music and what that has to do with being a performer of his music as …
Continue reading "Creating Magic: Debussy’s Arabesque No. 1"
As musicians, we spend a lot of time by ourselves in the practice room trying to acquire skills on our own, albeit with a little guidance from our teachers. It's pretty easy to practice when we first start out on an instrument. As the honeymoon phase comes to an end, however, we frequently find ourselves …
Continue reading "5 Ways to Find Joy While Practicing an Instrument"
In one of my choirs, the graduating seniors were asked to share words of wisdom as we look forward to graduation in the next couple weeks. I'm in a unique position in that I actually graduated back in 2016 with a BA in Piano Performance and English Literature but had the opportunity to return to …
Madeline Bruser, a Juilliard graduate and an authorized instructor of mindfulness meditation brings these two aspects of her life into her book The Art of Practicing: A Guide to Making Music from the Heart. In this work, she not only covers the physical aspects of playing an instrument in avoiding injury and freeing the body, …
Continue reading "Book Review: The Art of Practicing by Madeline Bruser"
170 years after his death, Chopin still captivates audiences with his music. His set of preludes that cover all 24 major and minor keys are a great starting place to learn how to analyze his work, as it can be dense. The Prelude in E minor, op. 28 no. 4 is one of my favorites …
Continue reading "The Power of Chopin’s Prelude in E Minor, Op. 28 No. 4"
