PA Shorts: How Charlie Brown Helped My Career
When I was in middle school I was asked to play a solo in the winter program. It was a big honor. My teacher and I worked hard on my…
Becoming A Pianist: A Worthwhile Journey, Gloria Fast
Do you remember the instant you knew you were a pianist? Perhaps for you it was a gradual realization? The father of a former student of mine sent me this…
Not Harder, Just More Complicated
This semester, I have been tutoring a foreign graduate student. He is struggling with English and with his practice skills. I think that his main problem has been this: He…
Duo for Harpsichord and Jackhammer
There was a situation during the rehearsal for our EAC keyboard recital last Tuesday. We were premiering our new harpsichord in its solo capacity and so had both the concert…
PA Shorts: Substitute… Musical Education
My husband sent me a link to an article by Ta-Nehisi Coates entitled, Learning a Foreign Language is Like Learning a Sport: The long road to not sucking at French.…
PA Shorts: Say Whaaat???
The judge's comment sheet read: "I'm sorry but the left pedal is not used for color. Good try anyway." I read it again. It still said the same thing. What…
Jack of all Trades
When you teach in an outlying area, you have to keep quite a few irons in the fire. This semester I have renewed my relationship with the harpsichord. Ours is…
Some Sage Advice
Often when I am teaching and practicing, I say or do something successful and think, "How did I know that?" Sometimes, I can mentally thank the person who blessed me…