I would like to post some short stries by me to my blog.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

It is important that teachers make their students take the Performance and Theory examinations of various world famous colleges like the Royal Academy of Music, London, the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music, the Trinity College of Music, London, and the Royal Conservatory of Music , Toronto. Preparing for these exams gives the student a thorough grounding in every aspects of piano study - Technical work (which includes scales, chords with inversions, arpeggios and cadences, as well as Etudes), Repertoire, Sight Reading and Ear Tests.  There are usually ten levels of examinations, followed by Degree exams. There are similar levels in Theory exams, giving the student a thorough grounding in the Rudiments of Music and at higher levels, Harmony, Counterpoint and Music History. The certificates thus obtained are also for valuable for getting scholarships in all college applications, and especially so if the student wishes to Major in Music.
Read more

Schumann: Of Strange Lands and People

Here we have to imagine a child reading a book such as Robinson Crusoe and dreaming about distant, exotic places.  In 1838 ,when this piece was written, Europe was still colonising the world and travelers were writing about strange and exotic people and customs. You will find on you tube performances of the Kinderscenen by the greatest pianists in the world. But in my opinion the best, most ideal performance is by Clara Haskill. Please listen to it. There are also dozens of edited versions of this piece, but you will be surprised by what you discover if you get the Urtext. I advise you to study the Kinderscenen only form an Urtext - Henle, Wiener Urtext etc. This is the only piece for which Schumann has written metronomic speeds, and they are astonishingly fast. Not one great artist plays this piece at the speed that Schumann has indicated - 108 to the quarter note. I myself like playing it at 80. Enjoy the delicate, bell-like quality of the melody notes and make sure that y...
Read more