Coping with Cross-Rhythms
November 2017; Vol. 9, No. 6
One of the most frequent problems I have encountered with students in my teaching, examining, and adjudicating is their approach to cross-rhythms. Yet, a lack of confidence—even fear—can easily be overcome by informed analysis and practical application. I therefore encourage students to accompany me through the...
Piano Method Review: Tales of A Musical Journey
November 2017; Vol. 9, No. 6
Tales of a Musical Journey, by Irina Gorin with assistance from Olga Lukantsov, is presented in the form of two chapter books for young children ages four to seven. Author Irina Gorin writes, “Books 1 and 2 cover the span of the first year of study and...
Unifying Techniques in Musical Compositions
November 2017; Vol. 9, No. 6
Any musical composition may be analyzed from the perspective of attempting to reveal its various facets of unity and variety. A work may often prove to be satisfying to the listener when these elements are in judicious balance. Notwithstanding that, however, the predominant features of any given musical masterpiece are...
November 2017: Create and Motivate: Developing Seventh-Chord Fluency
November 2017; Vol. 9, No. 6
The ability to recognize and play chords without hesitation benefits all pianists. For improvisers, chord fluency enables practical skills such as learning tunes by ear, transforming lead sheets to arrangements, jamming with others, and creating one’s own part in bands. For those who prefer to play...
November/December 2017: Poetry Corner
November 2017; Vol. 9, No. 6
Beethoven: Sonata No. 14 for Roma You were at the piano playing the “Moonlight,” A name Rellstab gave it when he heard The Adagio, and remembered moonlight Flecking the waves of Lake Lucerne. But this was afternoon, in Boston, The sun lighting up your apartment...
Protecting Passwords in 21st-Century Style
November 2017; Vol. 9, No. 6
Do you panic when prompted to enter a password? It’s virtually an impossible task to remember every password you create as most websites now require you to make an account and follow a specific set of rules for the username and a “strong” password. A...
November/December 2017: New Music Reviews
November 2017; Vol. 9, No. 6
(S3) From Sight to Sound: 6 Original PIano Solos, by Randall Hartsell. Randall Hartsell composed From Sight to Sound to express the “interconnectedness of nature and our lives,” and this collection contains six reflective pieces characterized by melodic simplicity and harmonic richness. The collection capitalizes...
November/December 2017: CD & DVD Reviews
November 2017; Vol. 9, No. 6
CurrentsMichael Mizrahi, pianoNew Amsterdam Records NWAM075[Total Time 60:01]www.discogs.com Whether you are an avid fan of contemporary music, a casual listener looking for something off the beaten path, or a pianist looking for new music to program, there is much to admire here. Simply put, this...
November/December 2017: Questions & Answers
November 2017; Vol. 9, No. 6
Q: This is the time of year when high school students are considering college and preparing for auditions. As a music administrator, do you have any suggestions for me and/or my students that would help us make good decisions? A (Part I): There are many...
2016 Clavier Companion Collegiate Writing Contest Winner: Finding musical expression through photography and film
November 2016; Vol. 8, No. 6
In the Spring of 2016, Clavier Companion sponsored its eighth Collegiate Writing Contest, inviting college students from around the world to submit 1,500-word essays on a pedagogical topic of their choice. We extend our sincere thanks to Drs. Brad Beckman, Courtney Crappell, and Sara Ernst...
Roll over, Mozart: Creative improvisation and composition activities
November 2016; Vol. 8, No. 6
The skill of improvisation is often looked upon as the realm of jazz musicians. Many classical musicians would not dream of “riffing” with Beethoven or Mozart melodies. However, incorporating elements of improvisation and composition in classical pieces can provide students with an active, creative approach for...
November 2016: Winds of Change
November 2016; Vol. 8, No. 6
While this column usually focuses on change as it transforms our profession and sometimes flusters its practitioners, I want to think about something that doesn’t change: the effect of artistry and its long-lasting impact. These thoughts come to mind as I reminisce about the unexpected...
Rhythm Boxes, Part 1
November 2016; Vol. 8, No. 6
When asked to teach a music course to undergraduate dance majors, I soon realized that decoding written rhythms does not come easily to non-musicians. For these students, writing Xs in “rhythm boxes” was easier to understand than learning to read music notation. Later, I transferred the...
May 2018: Recordings
May 2018; Vol. 10, No. 3
DebussySteven Osborne, pianoHyperion CDA68161[Total Time 73:21]hyperion-records. co.uk Debussy Steven Osborne, piano Hyperion CDA68161 [Total Time 73:21] hyperion-records. co.uk Eleven years after the release of his recording of Debussy’s complete set of preludes, British pianist Steven Osborne offers a captivating rendition of other Debussy masterworks, including...
May 2018: First Looks: Apps for Teaching
May 2018; Vol. 10, No. 3
A closer look at SuperScore A unique liquid display? Embedded performances? Interactive features for learning and performing? An amazing library of scores? Is it possible that all of these features are found in one free app? Yes, in an app called SuperScore. To say that...