Long Distance Tuning

Last evening I worked with a violinist in Arizona.  It was fun.  He was very comfortable with the concept of energy healing for humans but was not at all convinced an 'inanimate object' would respond to any form of vibrational healing.

He's not skeptical any more. 

Golandsky Summer Symposium

http://www.golandskyinstitute.org/summersymposium/symposium_overview

I attended this symposium for the first time last week at Princeton University.  Whoa.

Piano Lessons with Ernest Barretta

http://www.kaufmanmusiccenter.org/images/uploads/content/Ernest_Baretta_bio.pdf

Ok.  So I'm trying on various piano teachers.  Susan Starr -http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Susan_Starr - a few weeks ago, Bob Durso -http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Durso - this past year,  Gregory Biss - Jonathan Biss's uncle, and Ernest Barretta this week.  Ernie lives nearby and he understands Dorothy Taubman's technique -http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dorothy_Taubman - which, as a former Certified Massage Therapist, I find amazingly brilliant.

So, I'm going to take monthly lessons with Mr. Barretta to learn how to incorporate Ms. Taubman's discoveries into my playing.  I have a small hand and her technique makes a very large difference.

Funfunfunfunfunfun . . . . .

Brahms Intermezzo Op. 118 No. 2 Emanuel Ax

I had a lesson on this piece with Susan Starr a few weeks ago.  I'm learning that within the context of the composer's score there are appropriate ways to express his or her intentions.  And then within those intentions there is room for personal expression.  I've listened to this piece by a number of performers.  Each one their own style.  Each one appropriate to the composer's intention.  Each one beautiful.

Here's yet another:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HEAD6vGOFeM

Susan Starr

I recently had a piano lesson with Susan Starr.  Fabulous!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Susan_Starr

I Beg You

i beg you . . . to have patience with everything unresolved in your heart and try to love the questions themselves as if they were locked rooms or books written in a very foreign language.  don't search for the answers, which could not be given you now, because you would not be able to live them.  and the point is, to live everything.  live the questions now.  perhaps then, someday far in the future, you will gradually, without ever noticing it, live your way into the answer . . .

(rainer maria rilke)

Piano Relationships

I play in a variety of amateur piano groups.  Usually on a Sunday afternoon.  In a lovely home.  On a beautiful piano.  Mostly Steinways.  Some Mason & Hamlins.  A few Baldwins.  I've noticed how everyone has great pride in the piano in their Living Room.  There's always this vague look of bliss on their face, absolute delight in owning such a magnificent instrument.

Here's something else I notice ~ the sound/energy/feel of the piano is in sync with the individual who owns it and plays it.  Some pianos have a big sound, some are tentative, some are nice but need to open up, some are difficult to play, some have no color or richness, some are a work in progress, and so on.  

It's not uncommon that the energy of the piano matches the energy of the owner.  

Anyone else notice that?