When you think of a professional pianist, what do you think of? Do you picture a soloist in a concert hall, up on the stage alone with the piano? Do you think of an orchestra playing with a solo pianist? We often picture soloists when we think of professional pianists. It’s important to remember that… Read more »
Posts Categorized: articles
Pianos in All Shapes and Sizes
When you think of a piano, the first picture that usually pops into mind is a grand piano. But did you know that there are other styles? Even within the “grand piano” category, there are many different types, differentiated by their size. Here they are from smallest to largest: small grand, baby grand, medium grand,… Read more »
The Piano: Percussion or Strings?
Today I’d like to tackle the age-old debate: is the piano a percussion instrument or strings instrument? According to the dictionary, a percussion instrument is a musical instrument (such as a drum, xylophone, or maraca) sounded by striking, shaking, or scraping. A strings instrument is a musical instrument (such as a guitar, cello, or violin)… Read more »
Extended Techniques: Prepared Piano
Sticking with the theme of extended techniques, this week I’d like to take a look at the piano. You’re probably wondering, “What kind of extended techniques can a pianist use?” Keep in mind that pianos are not just black and white keys. When you take a look inside a piano, there are also strings, hammers,… Read more »
Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto in E minor Op. 64
At some point in their lives, every violin player learns at least an excerpt of a violin concerto. A concerto is a standard 3-movement form of music that tends to be “fast-slow-fast”. They tend to be about 30 minutes in length, and one instrument has a solo while the orchestra plays along. In Felix Mendelssohn’s… Read more »
Extended Techniques on Violin
In my last post, I discussed extended techniques used by many skilled flute players. I also mentioned that plenty of other instruments can use extended techniques. Violin is popular for extended techniques, just like the flute. Prepared Violin is probably one of the most unique extended techniques. Violinists place an object on or around the… Read more »
Extended Techniques on Flute
When you think of the flute, what comes to mind? A lilting flute solo over a professional orchestra? The jazz flute? Believe it or not, the flute can do a lot more than just classical or jazz music. The flute became a very popular instrument for avante garde composers to use in the 20th Century…. Read more »
Victor Borge: Pianist and Comedian
This week, I decided to take a look at the piano from a humorous perspective. Victor Borge was a classical piano player who captivated his audiences through humor. Hailing from Denmark, Borge grew up in a family of musicians, so he started studying piano at the Royal Danish Music Conservatory at age 10. In his first… Read more »
JESM Instructor Publishes 2nd Book
First of all, Raluca Bojor is a phenomenal piano instructor. While she consistently receives incredible reviews from students, patents and even fellow staff, her talents stretch far beyond the studio. Raluca’s talents do not go unnoticed. One of my favorite things about Raluca is the diversity of her work. In addition to teaching and studying as a grad… Read more »
Cello is awesome!
For this week’s informative blog, I decided take some time to learn about the cello. The cello is a magnificent instrument that enjoys huge popularity. This high profile instrument is popular for good reason. It’s versatility in both tone and range of pitch makes it ideal for both accompaniment and solo performance. So far I… Read more »
