In this issue
July 2016; Vol. 8, No. 4
July 2016: Winds of Change
In the heat of this political season, the airwaves are full of talk about systems that don't work, about reform. I recently gave a political speech…
July 2016; Vol. 8, No. 4
The complete musician: A conversation with Robert Levin
Robert Levin is a master keyboard artist who performs on the harpsichord, fortepiano, and modern concert grand. He is also a conductor, theorist, musicologist, author, and…
July 2016; Vol. 8, No. 4
Tone production: Doing the right things for the right reasons
As a sophomore in college, I performed in a master class given by a former Van Cliburn Competition medalist. At one point, I was asked to…
July 2016; Vol. 8, No. 4
The Sound of the future
Editor's note: In the November/December 2014 issue, Clavier Companion launched a series of articles addressing the future of piano teaching. The following article is part of…
July 2016; Vol. 8, No. 4
The dynamics of sound and time
Music is at once simple and complex. We hear it, and we are moved by the feelings the music evokes. Yet, it is also a complex…
July 2016; Vol. 8, No. 4
Learning to play by ear
The purpose of this exercise is to plant a seed of playing by ear in fertile minds, a seed that could germinate and result in life-long…
July 2016; Vol. 8, No. 4
Twenty-first century trends in computer-assisted ear training
A fine chef is expected to taste a dish and identify the key ingredients and an artist is expected to identify the nuances of color and…
July 2016; Vol. 8, No. 4
Blues 103-Improvisation
In the last two columns, we looked at the steps involved in composing and varying a basic Blues melody. The next step is to stretch the…
July 2016; Vol. 8, No. 4
Learning John Cage’s Sonatas and Interludes
I couldn't use percussion instruments for Syvilla's dance, though, suggesting Africa, they would have been suitable; they would have left too little room [on the stage]…
July 2016; Vol. 8, No. 4
Vivid imagery in a piece from China
The Chinese composition "The Young Shepherd with his Little Flute" (in Chinese Folk Music for Children, Schott/Hal Leonard) is not only accessible for late-intermediate pianists, but…
July 2016; Vol. 8, No. 4
Girl Scout tricks: What music teachers can learn about retention from scouting
Who would have thought that my experiences and the training I received as a Girl Scout leader would influence my approach to piano teaching? Good retention…
July 2016; Vol. 8, No. 4
If my studio is full, why should I keep marketing?
Marketing piano lessons is most often used to refer to the process of obtaining new piano students. Consequently, when our studio is full or has a waiting…
July 2016; Vol. 8, No. 4
Music notation: A brief look at its historical evolution
In early Medieval times, if one wanted to learn a song, one listened to someone sing it. It wasn't until the ninth century that monks began to…
July 2016; Vol. 8, No. 4
Why do you play the piano?
For years, I have written about and counseled many people regarding their performance anxiety. I have lectured on the topics of symptoms and symptom reduction, as well as…
July 2016; Vol. 8, No. 4
July 2016: Questions and Answers
Q: If a family with an active child is trying to decide among competing, high-quality extracurricular activities such as martial arts, dance lessons, guitar lessons, art…