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…
PA Shorts: Just For Fun
Now that fall semester is really underway, we have reached that certain point (school started mid-August here) when I need a dose of silliness. So here is a dose of…
Success = Yard Maintenance
Over the summer, I had to make some fundamental decisions about what and how much I do professionally. In order to make the changes needed, I was forced to ponder…
Some New Things (and an unashamed plug)
All those who love piano will want to pick up Viviana Sofronitsky's new Fortepiano recording entitled simply, Franz Schubert. The instrument is truly lovely (made by Paul McNulty) and the playing…
Vintage PA: The Uncertainty Principle
Remember my story wherein Teacher 42 became so uncomfortable with musical choices that she finally said, "You mean there's no right way?" I concluded that I had given that teacher…
Playing With Wolfgang: Harpsichording with Rameau & Couperin
I remember clearly my first meeting with a harpsichord. I was in my first semester of music history and my assigned presentation was to demonstrate French harpsichord music for the…
Relationships
“You don’t choose your instrument, “ she said, “Your instrument chooses ” The piano chose me. It’s been a long and fruitful relationship, a relationship of major significance and intimate proportions. …