Building Habits Or Correcting Mistakes?
Teacher: How did your practicing go this week? Student: Good. Teacher: How did you practice __________________? Student: I played it over and over for an hour everyday and always went…
Occupational Octaves: …as a Pianist with ADHD
In this fast advancing world with such great challenges for young people with ADHD out there, I see the human mind is the most important topic at hand – not…
Playing With Wolfgang: How Messiaen Taught Me The Law of Opposites
I was immersed in 5 pieces from Messiaen’s Contemplations of the Infant Jesus. It’s hard not to be once you step through the rabbit hole and begin working on them.…
Vintage PA: Ogres Are Like Onions
In the middle of a lesson a few weeks ago, I found myself saying, “Musical works are like onions.” There was no laugh or questioning look. My student simply sat…
Great Finds: Stories, Technique, & Pianism
Stories, Images, and Magic from the Piano Literature Neil Rutman From Bach to Scarlatti, to Beethoven, to Schubert, to Granados, to Prokofiev, these 190 pages will inspire pianists of all…
Playing With Wolfgang: A Romantic Accusation 2
“You’re a romantic!” said my teacher in a surprised voice, as though this explained everything he found perplexing about me. I had never been accused of being anything but a…
Leaving People Better Than You Found Them
It's easy to teach when everything is going well, when families support each other, when children are perfectly behaved, when students are healthy. It's a lot tougher when parents are…
PA Shorts: Famous Amateur Pianists
Just after reading a rather nasty comment on amateur pianists (the location shall remain nameless), I heard a performance of The Archduke Trio on the radio. What do the two have in…