Two Pianists in Time of War
November 2018; Vol. 10, No. 6
War requires many adjustments by the populations of the countries involved, and musicians are not immune from these circumstances. The lives of two pianists, one who lived during World War I and the other during the Korean War, illustrate the pressures placed upon individuals. communities, and societies. November 11, 2018 marks...
November 2018: Poetry Corner
November 2018; Vol. 10, No. 6
Contributing Editor, Richard ZimdarsPoem by Howard Nemerov Lines & CircularitiesOn hearing Casals’ recording of the Sixth Suite Deep in a time that cannot come againBach thought it through, this lonely and immenseReflexion wherein our sorrows learn to dance.And deep in the time that cannot come againCasals...
Libib Cataloging Service: Online Tool for the Pianist and Teacher
November 2018; Vol. 10, No. 6
Libib1 is a cloud cataloguing website and mobile app that helps to organize personal or small libraries of books, movies, music, or games. To use the service, one must create an account. Then, that library information will be stored in the cloud, where it can be synchronized between mobile devices and be accessed off-line. Libib offers...
November 2018: Book Review
November 2018; Vol. 10, No. 6
The Pianist's Guide to Standard Teaching and Performance Concertos: An Invaluable Resource of Keyboard Concertos from Baroque through Contemporary Periods for Teachers, Students, and Performers, by Karen Beres and Christopher Hahn. Review by Kate Boyd. Susan Geffen, Editor The Pianist’s Guide to Standard Teaching and Performance Concertos, a new guide to intermediate level piano concertos, consists...
November 2018: Closer Look: Visit the Menagerie
November 2018; Vol. 10, No. 6
(S4) Truly Astounding Animals, by Peter Rudzik. Canadian composer Peter Rudzik’s collection of twelve short piano solos for intermediate-to-advancing pianists takes us on a delightful, creative romp through the animal world. Reminiscent in spirit to Camille Saint-Saëns’s Carnival of the Animals, and in style to William Gillock’s best piano compositions, this collection has much to offer pianists eager for creative...
November 2018: New Music Reviews
November 2018; Vol. 10, No. 6
(S3-4) Big Phat Jazz Piano Solos: 10 Big Phat Band Classics, arranged by Gordon Goodwin. (S3-4) If you’re not familiar with the name “Gordon Goodwin,” you probably haven’t played in a high school jazz band in the last fifteen years or so. Goodwin’s music has achieved near ubiquity in the jazz education world because of his...
November 2018: Questions & Answers
November 2018; Vol. 10, No. 6
Q: If travel costs prohibit me from attending valuable conferences such as NCKP, what are other ways I can pursue professional development? A: It is true that by the time you factor in airfare, lodging, meals, registration fees, and lost income, the cost of attending a major conference in person is substantial....
Thank You
November 2017; Vol. 9, No. 6
This Editor’s column will be my last for Clavier Companion. After eleven years at the helm of this magazine and its predecessor, Keyboard Companion, I have decided to step aside. Eleven years is a long time, and I have enjoyed every moment of this wonderful ride. When...
On Boating and the Pleasures of Ear Training
November 2017; Vol. 9, No. 6
Yes. You read right. I bet you never thought you’d see the words “pleasure” and “ear training” mentioned in the same sentence. Pleasure and boats seem so much more compatible. People tend to grimace at the very thought of ear training, as if they’d just...
November 2017: Mind Matters: Thinking about Thinking
November 2017; Vol. 9, No. 6
What do you think about when you think about performing? Take a few minutes before reading further and make a short list. Below, I have listed some frequent responses about performance that I have heard from teachers and students:• I am afraid I will make mistakes.• I...
November 2017 Making Money Making Space: Creating Space to Move from Good to Great
November 2017; Vol. 9, No. 6
One of the wonderful realities and paradoxes about being a piano teacher in 2017 is that a good idea is only one click away. The proliferation of good piano teaching ideas and the increased connectivity that we have through email, social media groups, and websites...
Perspectives: Why I Love Teaching Learning-Challenged Children
November 2017; Vol. 9, No. 6
As a piano teacher, I love working with students who catch on to new concepts quickly, who are respectful and obedient, who are able to give polished performances, and who progress rapidly. Yet, over my two-and-a-half decades of teaching piano lessons, I feel my biggest...
November 2017: Pupil Saver: Set Your Alarm
November 2017; Vol. 9, No. 6
Students are sure to make time for Kevin Olson’s energetic early-intermediate piece Time’s Up! (FJH). The imaginative use of changing meters and brisk tempo give this piece a delightful spontaneity and definitely make it an enjoyable introduction to asymmetrical time signatures. The A section, in 5/4 meter,...
Moving from Sonatina to Sonata: Bridging the Gap with Johann Wilhelm Hässler
November 2017; Vol. 9, No. 6
Progressing from late-intermediate level sonatinas by Clementi and Kuhlau to early-advanced level sonatas by Mozart and Haydn can be a challenge for students. The piano repertoire does not have many well-structured eighteenth-century pieces of good musical quality by well-known composers that bridge this gap. The Six...
A Legacy of Excellence: An Interview with John and Nancy Weems
November 2017; Vol. 9, No. 6
Through their teaching, John and Nancy Weems have instilled in their students a love for music and a commitment to artistic pianism. In addition to a long-standing record of top awards in local, district, and state Texas Music Teachers Association competitions, John has taught winners of...