OK, boys and girls, let's imagine an ideal world where every kid thinks like this:
This is my version of Helping Kids to Enjoy Playing which I call I love playing the piano!
I love playing the piano!
because…
1. Mum and Dad love hearing me play.
2. I can play any time I want.
3. Mum comes and listens when I do my practice.
4. Dad asks me to play his favourites.
5. They never tell me to stop because they’re watching TV.
6. My piano sounds great. Dad gets it tuned every year.
7. Mum and Dad don’t nag me about how much time I spend practising.
8. I can play lots of stuff.
9. I have a great teacher and we have fun piano lessons.
10. I think the piano is the best instrument!
11. It is fun to tinker and make up my own stuff.
12. Sometimes I can work out how to play songs I heard on TV
13. I have a great practice room. It’s warm in winter and cool in summer.
14. My school teacher asks me to play in class concerts
15. I have fun things to play in our school band
16. I got a Highly Commended award at last year’s eisteddfod
17. The music examiner wrote an encouraging report for my last exam
David McKay
--
www.aussiemusician.blogspot.com
Showing posts with label piano. Show all posts
Showing posts with label piano. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 02, 2010
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Unique chord, or uniqueish?
I've played a lot of chords over the past 50 years, but there's one I only recall playing in one particular song.
I'd love to be told it is also found in other songs, but I don't remember it occurring, so far.
Thirteenths are among my most favourite chords, but while they are not ubiquitous, you do encounter them with some degree of regularity.
But where else does the great chord at the beginning of the second bar of The Sound of Music also occur?
[clears throat] The hills are alive with the sound of
mu -sic.
That chord on the mu is one weird chord. You play an E major first inversion chord with your right hand, and a low F with your left. It sounds amazing.
Any takers?
I'd love to be told it is also found in other songs, but I don't remember it occurring, so far.
Thirteenths are among my most favourite chords, but while they are not ubiquitous, you do encounter them with some degree of regularity.
But where else does the great chord at the beginning of the second bar of The Sound of Music also occur?
[clears throat] The hills are alive with the sound of
mu -sic.
That chord on the mu is one weird chord. You play an E major first inversion chord with your right hand, and a low F with your left. It sounds amazing.
Any takers?
Sunday, June 21, 2009
My first piano
Today is my Nanna's birthday. She was born on 21st June, 1885 and died on 3rd November, 1962
In September, 1959 she helped my mother and father to buy my first piano, which was an 85 note iron frame black upright which had been made late in the 1890s, I think.
The piano cost 99 guineas. Nanna said she would pay the 99 pounds if Mum and Dad paid the 99 shillings.
Mum and Dad bought the piano in a private sale from someone who lived in Marks Point, Lake Macquarie. The piano removalists couldn't get the piano down the stairs, so they had to lower it on ropes from the balcony. Mum was worried it would drop and be destroyed in the attempt!
But it arrived at Lot 33, York Crescent, Belmont North safely and soon after, on 29th September, 1959 I had my first piano lesson from Mrs Joy Walton at Melody Lodge in Albert St, Belmont.
I was a very nervous child and Mrs Walton was just right for me. She was kind and easy-going and I enjoyed every lesson from my Florence Wickins piano tutor.
I thought playing the piano was the greatest thing and never had to be told to practise. So it is not easy for me to relate to students who don't automatically want to practise, but I do try to understand.
I'm very grateful to my Nanna for her part in setting me on the road of discovering Music. Rachmaninov was surely right when he said
In September, 1959 she helped my mother and father to buy my first piano, which was an 85 note iron frame black upright which had been made late in the 1890s, I think.
The piano cost 99 guineas. Nanna said she would pay the 99 pounds if Mum and Dad paid the 99 shillings.
Mum and Dad bought the piano in a private sale from someone who lived in Marks Point, Lake Macquarie. The piano removalists couldn't get the piano down the stairs, so they had to lower it on ropes from the balcony. Mum was worried it would drop and be destroyed in the attempt!
But it arrived at Lot 33, York Crescent, Belmont North safely and soon after, on 29th September, 1959 I had my first piano lesson from Mrs Joy Walton at Melody Lodge in Albert St, Belmont.
I was a very nervous child and Mrs Walton was just right for me. She was kind and easy-going and I enjoyed every lesson from my Florence Wickins piano tutor.
I thought playing the piano was the greatest thing and never had to be told to practise. So it is not easy for me to relate to students who don't automatically want to practise, but I do try to understand.
I'm very grateful to my Nanna for her part in setting me on the road of discovering Music. Rachmaninov was surely right when he said
Music is enough for a lifetime, but a lifetime is not enough for Music.
Saturday, May 02, 2009
Bach Flute Sonatas
I'm playing Bach Sonata for Flute in B Minor [BWV 1030] with Philip Braithwaite in a lunchtime concert at All Saints Cathedral, Bathurst on Wednesday, 1st July, at 12.30 PM. This and the B Minor Orchestral Suite are said to be Bach's most substantial works for the flute.
But I can't find a recording of the work which features piano accompaniment. I already own the Teldec Bach 2000 set, which features Franz Bruggen playing the flute, accompanied by Herbert Tachezi on harpsichord. But every recording I can locate also features harpsichord. This may be the correct instrument to use, but give us pianists a break, please!
Is this a project for Angela Hewitt?
Bruggen and Tachezi play the first movement in a bit over 7 minutes. So far it takes me almost 9. I wonder how fast Phil wants to play it? Should I tell him he's dreamin'?
But I can't find a recording of the work which features piano accompaniment. I already own the Teldec Bach 2000 set, which features Franz Bruggen playing the flute, accompanied by Herbert Tachezi on harpsichord. But every recording I can locate also features harpsichord. This may be the correct instrument to use, but give us pianists a break, please!
Is this a project for Angela Hewitt?
Bruggen and Tachezi play the first movement in a bit over 7 minutes. So far it takes me almost 9. I wonder how fast Phil wants to play it? Should I tell him he's dreamin'?
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