In this issue
Autumn 2020; Vol. 12, No. 4
A Legacy of Touches from Rosina Lhévinne: An Interview with Daniel Pollack
Sixty years after Daniel Pollack came to the attention of the musical world as a prize winner in the inaugural Tchaikovsky International Competition, he performed concerts…
by Sonnet Johnson Autumn 2020; Vol. 12, No. 4
Questions and Answers
Question: When I was teaching online this spring, I noticed that my students benefited from short video tutorials, performance video feedback, and non-playing activities. I'd like to continue…
Autumn 2020; Vol. 12, No. 4
Life in Music
As we prepare for the school year, many of us consider fall a new beginning. I imagine most of us would agree that there has never…
Autumn 2020; Vol. 12, No. 4
Recordings
Frederic Chopin's music is among the most performed and oft-recorded of its genre. This presents an interesting challenge for modern pianists: how might one approach the music…
Autumn 2020; Vol. 12, No. 4
Book Reviews: Yoga in the Music Studio
As a yoga practitioner for almost two decades, I was thrilled to learn about Yoga in the Music Studio and eager to dive into reading Lesley McAllister's recent…
Autumn 2020; Vol. 12, No. 4
The Complete Pianist: From Healthy Technique to Natural Artistry
Penelope Roskell has created an encyclopedic masterpiece of pianistic wisdom, based on a fruitful performing and teaching career, and fueled by her quest for a healthy,…
Autumn 2020; Vol. 12, No. 4
Editor’s Letter
One of the hallmarks of being human and living in a knowledge-based society is the ability to learn and adapt throughout our lives.1 Once thought to…
Autumn 2020; Vol. 12, No. 4
Chopin and the Keyboard: Extracts from Fryderyk Chopin: A Life and Times
As a child Chopin was precocious. He was writing verse at the age of six and composing music from the age of seven. His very first…
Autumn 2020; Vol. 12, No. 4
New Music and Materials
(S3) SAPLINGS: 21 INTERMEDIATE PIANO SOLOS published by Red Leaf Pianoworks While presenting at and attending the Canadian Music Teachers Conference last summer in Winnipeg, I was introduced…
Autumn 2020; Vol. 12, No. 4
Pupil Saver: Tarantella by Paul Beaumont
T A R A N T E L L A by Paul Beaumont Luke, a busy straight-A student as well as a wrestler, needed a piece that…
Autumn 2020; Vol. 12, No. 4
The Nuts and Bolts of Teaching Piano Duet Repertoire: John Corigliano’s Gazebo Dances for Piano Four Hands
I. Introduction Piano duets constitute an integral part of the keyboard literature and are central to the development of specific musicianship and keyboard skills for students…
Autumn 2020; Vol. 12, No. 4
THE FANTAISIE-IMPROMPTU’S FORGOTTEN COMPANION: Ferdinand Hiller’s Hommage à Baroness d’Este
Ferdinand Hiller (1811–1885) is not a name often recognized today, but he was well known as a composer, pianist, and conductor in his day. He spent…
Autumn 2020; Vol. 12, No. 4
Improvisation: The Classical Way
Improvisation and classical piano are made for one another; since Beethoven, however, their relationship has been long distance at best. Many classical pianists are aware of…
Autumn 2020; Vol. 12, No. 4
Repertoire Swaps: Achieving Diversity and Inclusion through an Effective Repertoire Selection Device
Quality repertoire selection is crucial for helping our piano students move from the intermediate to advanced levels, and the same is true for university-level students. Yet,…
Autumn 2020; Vol. 12, No. 4
Ten Things You Can Do to Diversify Your Studio
Foreword by Artina McCain I am honored to be the editor for a column that will highlight voices of change in our musical community. If you…
Autumn 2020; Vol. 12, No. 4
Ricardo Castro and Romantic Mexican Piano Music
We often discuss the invaluable legacy left by our favorite Romantic composers such as Chopin and Liszt. We talk not only about their works but also…
Autumn 2020; Vol. 12, No. 4
Piano Lessons in the Dark: Understanding the Needs of Learners Who Are Blind
Concept Development When we walk into a room, we quickly grasp the size, shape, layout, contents, and any other relevant features of the room through our…
Autumn 2020; Vol. 12, No. 4
Survival of the Resilient: One Pianist’s Journey
My challenges began at birth. Many of my joints were malformed, the worst being my right hip, which had no socket, and my right wrist, which was…
Autumn 2020; Vol. 12, No. 4
2020 Collegiate Writing Contest Winner: Norwegian Folk Songs: Making Rhythmic Complexities Easy and Enjoyable
Developing an internal sense of metric pulse and an understanding of subdivisions of beats is essential to the success of a young performer. Without establishing a strong…
Autumn 2020; Vol. 12, No. 4
Autumn 2020: Keyboard Kids
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Autumn 2020; Vol. 12, No. 4
2020 Collegiate Writing Contest Runner-Up: Training Healthy Brains: Benefits of Using Improvisation in Music Lessons
As music teachers, we are constantly searching for innovative methods to help our students grow into comprehensive musicians and well-rounded individuals. We strive to give them…
Autumn 2020; Vol. 12, No. 4
2020 Collegiate Writing Contest Runner-Up: Teaching Sight Reading: More Than Saying “Practice More and Eyes on the Score”
By Zuoxiao Lyu Teachers play a crucial role in the development and improvement of students' sight-reading skills. Teaching sight-reading is more than merely assigning sight-reading pieces…