In this issue
May 2014; Vol. 6, No. 3
Caring for your piano
A well-prepped piano, the foundation of pianism The piano can be a very mysterious instrument. Pianists, whether they are amateurs or professionals, learn a great deal about…
May 2014; Vol. 6, No. 3
Loving an old piano
You can certainly buy a fine piano brand-new nowadays—that is, if your bank account can stand the shock. After you've looked at the sticker price, the…
May 2014; Vol. 6, No. 3
Making practice records work
There was a sign in my college piano professor's studio which said "Practice smarter, not harder." For a determined undergraduate who had no background in good…
May 2014; Vol. 6, No. 3
Teaching students not to rush
by Michelle Conda Brianna, one of my graduate students, had a student who wouldn't slow down—even with the threat of the "Practice Police." I had my…
May 2014; Vol. 6, No. 3
Endings
by Bradley Sowash Add pizzazz by repeating the last chord concerto-style in a couple of ranges. Flying hands Play the last chord hand-over-hand Liberace-style for a…
May 2014; Vol. 6, No. 3
Drifting toward interpretation
by Bruce Berr Among musicians, the word "interpretation" appears to be undergoing what linguists call semantic drift—a past meaning changing to something slightly different in the…
May 2014; Vol. 6, No. 3
Discovering Dana: A hidden American treasure
This past March, I had a delightful experience that I thought I'd share with you, and, as a result, introduce a fascinating musician, whose music you…
May 2014; Vol. 6, No. 3
A day at the beach
The Grade 2 Lessons Book of the Michael Aaron Piano Course (Alfred) is home to a tried-and-true pupil saver, "The Breakers." The piece is excellent for…
May 2014; Vol. 6, No. 3
A case for history and theory in the practice room
Music instructors the world over face a common challenge: to convince performance students that music scholarship— whether it be theory, history, or both— is relevant to…
May 2014; Vol. 6, No. 3
A unique collection of historical keyboards
Historical instruments in the Ira F. Brilliant Center for Beethoven Studies at San José State University. In the fall of 2003, I arrived…
May 2014; Vol. 6, No. 3
Bricks or clicks?
Ten years ago, one of my friends asked me if I knew of a cello teacher who would come to the house to teach her children.…
May 2014; Vol. 6, No. 3
May 2014: Questions and Answers
Q: How can I learn to use social media to improve and expand my studio business? A: In the last column, I mentioned that if you're…