Showing up for tennis ~ what it means for us

Image via Wikipedia Once again, professional tennis illustrates a relevant point for musicians. Two of the 2011 Australian Open men’s quarterfinals showed us what type of behavior is expected from professionals and what is unacceptable. The effects of not showing up The first example comes from the Roger Federer vs. Stanislas Wawrinka quarterfinal match. Rod [...]

Snow!

We had snow again last night!  There must be at least 3 feet on the ground by now, and it’s gorgeous. The appearance of everything has changed, even since the last storm. After one more storm, picnic tables and mailboxes will have disappeared. Bushes and posts already covered now have dunce caps with rounded tops. [...]

Q&A: sight-reading in chorus rehearsals

Image via Wikipedia Sight-reading in chorus rehearsals is different from sight-reading on our own. If you’re thinking that you’ll always have the music ahead of time, it isn’t going to happen.  From time to time you will be sight-reading in rehearsal. Sight-reading choral music has its own requirements It’s about the rehearsal, not the piano [...]

Piano and: balancing sound

copyright Bob Elsdale ~ used by permission As collaborative pianists, we can feel confident about balance without depending on someone else to assess the situation. Relying on someone who is listening from the house is iffy ~ 3 different people will give you 3 different opinions!​  Depending on which instrument a person plays, s/he will [...]

Working with conductors

Thomas Dunn ~ Image via Wikipedia Collaborative pianists wear many “hats.”  On many occasions, we are required to switch from one mindset to another and back, all in the same day. I have found that, while we have been trained to go from learning music to performing it as soloists, different skill sets apply depending [...]

Finding the switch

Image via Wikipedia Oratorio soloists often talk about what it’s like to walk out on stage, sit quietly for 20 minutes or more and then sing. I found myself in a similar situation last weekend. Playing complete programs has happened more often in my life recently.  The difference gave me something to think about. In [...]

How to improve your sight-reading

Image via Wikipedia This weekend,  I asked an adult student how it felt to play in a new way. She said, “I had to be hyper-alert and not think too much.” Even though she wasn’t sight-reading, her response would be a great description for how to do that. During my freshman year of college, it [...]

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

Image via Wikipedia My hope is that everyone will think about peace today and into the future.

Q&A: Playing organ pedals in stocking feet

Image via Wikipedia One word:  don’t! Here’s why… you’ll slip off the pedals or, you’ll waste concentration and energy making sure you don’t slip you’ll stretch the back of your heel too far playing a third will be impossible (C and E, say, with toe and heel at the same time ~ your instep will [...]

Performing focuses my practice

I don’t know about you, but I have an aversion to making a fool of myself in public. Some musicians prefer performing, some recording.  Still others like to play for their own enjoyment. I love performing, and also enjoy recording.  But playing for myself doesn’t quite do it. There is some intangible component to having [...]