Since the 18th century, Mozart’s music has inspired deep analysis and discussion for both performers and music analysts. I won’t go into too much detail, but if you found this post, you’re interested in how to “correctly” play Mozart’s music on the piano. In this post, I first provide a brief description of the long-discussed …
Piano Course Review: ProPractice by Dr. Josh Wright
Introduction In this post, I review Dr. Josh Wright's full “ProPractice Lifetime Access Course” that currently includes 4 levels divided into 2 parts each, technique and repertoire. If you’re only interested in the repertoire section of one level, you can purchase just that section alone here. I purchased the full course, so this post will …
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The Selection: How to Pick Piano Repertoire to Increase Momentum and Avoid Frustration
Finding new piano sheet music is one of the most exciting parts of being a pianist. I love visiting old book stores that have a sheet music section, as I've found treasures from composers I've never heard of. Learning to pick piano music that is at the right level for you (not boringly easy and …
The Sound of Rain: Chopin’s Raindrop Prelude for Listeners, Performers, and Composers
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. This post looks at the qualities that make us feel the melancholy of the …
Creating Magic: Debussy’s Arabesque No. 1
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 …
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5 Ways to Find Joy While Practicing an Instrument
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 …
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A Farewell Waltz
On this day, October 17th, in 1849, Frédéric François Chopin passed away in Paris. "He had no predecessor and no successor.... Chopin came and departed like a comet from remote space," said Australian pianist, Ernest Hutcheson. History remembers Chopin as a morose and anxious man, one who composed a song to cope with his sorrows …
How to Practice Like a Prodigy
Were you a child prodigy? Did you have to suffer through the same courses of practice and lessons as people obviously not as gifted as you? Then this post is for you! Presenting How to Practice Like a Prodigy: A guide for those incredible geniuses who only ever excelled at their craft. Play through your …
Ravel: Rigaudon from Le Tombeau de Couperin
You made it to the weekend! I wanted to share one of my favorite pieces as a fun way to start the weekend. The "Rigaudon" from Ravel's Le Tombeau de Couperin is one of the pieces that made me fall in love with piano, and it's just a fun piece to both listen to and play …
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Mozart: Rondo in D Major, K.485
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iO3_mblaIlY This song will forever remain one of my favorite pieces to play and listen to. In this recording, Horowitz beautifully captures the lightness and wit that Mozart is known for. In fact, this piece itself is a bit of a musical joke. A Rondo is a form that repeats a theme, in this piece, …