In this issue
July 2018; Vol. 10, No. 4
July 2018: Editor’s Column
Claude Debussy June 1908 The Debussy Debate With this issue, we celebrate the centennial of Claude Debussy (1862-1918). Pianists and piano teachers hold him in high…
July 2018; Vol. 10, No. 4
July 2018: Preludes
The Elvina Pearce Teacher Education Fund The Frances Clark Center is thrilled to announce the generous and transformative gift received from renowned teacher Elvina Truman Pearce.…
July 2018; Vol. 10, No. 4
July 2018: Poetry
Homage to John Cage Silence is so accurate. —Mark Rothko Light through vaulted windows, the shadows of elms in wind. On stage, the pianist, hands in his…
July 2018; Vol. 10, No. 4
July 2018: Research
Research on stimulating environments' effect on the brain lands NEA grant for Colorado State University A group of Colorado State University faculty studying the effect that…
July 2018; Vol. 10, No. 4
Touching Debussy, Teaching Alchemy
Sound is touch at a distance.Jad Abumrad, from Radiolab "Sound is touch at a distance." I heard this quote at a recent talk given by Radio…
July 2018; Vol. 10, No. 4
The Recorded Legacy of Claude Debussy
Table 1: Debussy’s acoustic recording with Mary Garden. In 1904, soprano Mary Garden entered the Paris recording studio of Gramophone & Typewriter Ltd. with her pianist,…
July 2018; Vol. 10, No. 4
Connections Between the Music of the United States and Claude Debussy
Claude Debussy June 1908 It has been more than one hundred years since Claude Debussy was composing masterpieces that were part of a general revolutionary movement…
July 2018; Vol. 10, No. 4
First Debussy Piano Pieces With Pedagogical Advice
Claude Debussy was a person of great restraint and even considered elusive by some. He was not concerned with the technical issues of a pianist, and…
July 2018; Vol. 10, No. 4
July 2018: Winds of Change
As you read this column, have pity for the long-suffering editor—my submission was way past the usual deadline. As an excuse I can only offer that…
July 2018; Vol. 10, No. 4
July 2018: Pupil Saver
A grand setting for C minor by Carmen Doubrova Some students diligently practice their repertoire pieces, but are less enthused about scales and exercises. Fortunately, long ago,…
July 2018; Vol. 10, No. 4
Growing Through Music: Pivots
To achieve the highest versions of ourselves, it is necessary not to be rigid. After all, being alive means we are in a constant state of…
July 2018; Vol. 10, No. 4
Purple Days
Yesterday, Andrew came into his lesson scowling. He stomped her to the piano bench, sat down, and crossed his arms in front of his chest, still…
July 2018; Vol. 10, No. 4
July 2018: Closer Look: Book Review
by Ann DuHamel Adaptive Strategies for Small-Handed Pianists is a revolutionary, pioneering work that addresses small-handedness in an extraordinarily comprehensive manner. The book, by Lora Deahl…
July 2018; Vol. 10, No. 4
July 2018: First Looks: New Music Reviews
Six Progressive Sonatinas for the Piano Forte, Op. 36, by Muzio Clementi. Authentic Revised Edition ("With Considerable Improvements"), edited by Arthur Houle. This volume presents Clementi's…
July 2018; Vol. 10, No. 4
July 2018: Recordings
Claude Debussy: ÉtudesÉlodie Vignon, pianoCypres Records CYP1678[Total Time 63:18]cypres-records.com French pianist Élodie Vignon's first recording focuses on Debussy's twelve études, paired with twelve new poems (titled…
July 2018; Vol. 10, No. 4
July 2018: Questions and Answers
For this issue, Sam Holland invited Jennifer Snow, Executive Director of the Frances Clark Center, to answer the following questions: What is the value of professional…
July 2018; Vol. 10, No. 4
July 2018: Keyboard Kids
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July 2018; Vol. 10, No. 4
Consonance vs. Dissonance: Inborn or Cultural?
For many years, I have taken issue with the notion (held by some) that consonance—the absence of musical tension—equates to combinations of pleasant and agreeable musical sounds, while dissonance—the presence of…
July 2018; Vol. 10, No. 4
Toward Integrated Teaching
Would you teach your students to play only the first six notes of each major scale? Of course not! Good teachers introduce a complete concept, often from multiple perspectives. They may…