PA Shorts: Give Yourself Permission
Ruth Reichl had a mouthful to say on the difference between an amateur and a professional on a recent episode of The Splendid Table. The difference between you and me…
Piano News Roundup: October 17
In this Piano News Roundup: Piano gift for young cancer patient, Schiff plays "last" sonatas, The new Levit, and more! The new Igor Levit Preparing a competition piano The language…
Great Finds: A Shrinking Piano & Practice Personalities
Thornton Cline is a respected music educator, songwriter, producer and performer. He teaches at Cumberland University and Cumberland Arts Academy in Lebanon, Tennessee, Sumner Academy in Gallatin, Tennessee, and maintains his…
Playing With Wolfgang: Stories, Images, Colors, & Characters
"What is going on in this passage?", asked my new teacher. I responded by giving him what I thought was a crackerjack harmonic analysis. "Yes, he said but why?" I…
Piano Maker’s Corner: Escape Velocity
This month Daniel Ley answers reader John R.'s questions, "What is the escapement? Is there one on every key? Do I need to have it adjusted every year?" Daniel also gives…
Vintage PA: Touch & Go
Megan sighed, “I’ve never been able to play louder with one hand and softer with the other. I just can’t do it.” We had been working on balance of layers…
Stepping Off The Page: 12-Bar Blues
Happy September, everyone! For all of you teachers looking to incorporate a bit of the blues into your students' repertoire, here's a simple way to use the concept of singing…
Piano Trolls
I owe you all a heartfelt thank you! Bless you, every one. In all my years of blogging and hanging out on PA social media we have never a troll…