“Liebesträume” is not just a piece of music; it’s a testament to the power of dreams. The title itself translates to “Dreams of Love”, and the music certainly lives up to this name. It takes us on a journey through the realms of love, from the sweet innocence of first love to the profound sorrow of love lost.
The beauty of “Liebesträume” lies not only in its melody but also in its ability to evoke deep emotions. It’s a piece that speaks to the heart, resonating with our own experiences of love and loss.
As we bid farewell to “Liebesträume”, let’s remember the magic it holds. It’s a piece that continues to inspire and move listeners around the world, a testament to the enduring power of music. Until next time, keep the music playing!
This piece is based on the legend of St. Francis of Paola, who, when refused a boat to cross the Strait of Messina, spread his cloak on the water and walked across it. The piece is characterized by various wave-like figures created by rapid tremolos and scales, depicting the raging sea.
St. Francis of Paola (1416 - 1507) was born in Paola, Italy, and is known as the founder of the Minim friars. He spent a short period in the “Franciscan Order” in his youth, but then lived as a hermit in a cave by the sea near Paola, which he developed into the mendicant order known as the “Minims”.
In the next blog, we will delve deeper into Liszt’s other works and his life. Look forward to it!
This piece depicts the famous anecdote of St. Francis of Assisi preaching to the birds. As St. Francis began his sermon, the birds listened attentively and flew away in all directions following the cross cut by St. Francis. From the beginning, delicate sounds are created by high-pitched passages, trills, and tremolos, vividly depicting the chirping of the birds.
Liszt composed this piece during the period when he moved from Weimar to Rome. This was also a time when his faith deepened. As a result, he composed a large number of religious works, and in 1865, he entered the priesthood. Thus, “Two Legends” can be said to be a work composed during an important turning point in Liszt’s life.
In the next blog, we will discuss another piece from “Two Legends”, “St. Francis of Paola Walking on the Waves”. Look forward to it!
Franz Liszt’s “Two Legends” expresses different legends about these two saints through music. How each song depicts the legend of the saint will be discussed in detail in tomorrow’s blog. Look forward to it!
According to a book I recently read, children perceive the ‘Santa dressed up by adults at the daycare Christmas party during the day’ and the ‘Santa who delivers presents to children’s bedrooms at night’ in different ways. It was suggested that 4-year-olds tend to judge the adult-dressed Santa as ‘real’, while 6-year-olds tend to judge it as ‘fake’. There was also a suggestion that 6-year-olds judge the Santa who delivers presents at night as ‘real’.
This research provides a new perspective on child developmental psychology by revealing how much children believe in Santa Claus and how that belief changes over time.
I myself have been told by children, ‘Teacher, Santa only comes to children.’ Each time, I respond, ‘That’s not true. If you believe, he will come to adults too.’ In fact, adults who believe in Santa Claus are actually the most strategic. Because they know that the ‘power of belief’ is the secret to attracting presents.
They know the joy of finding something in their stockings on Christmas morning. It might be coal, or it might be a diamond. But it is the surprise brought by the ‘power of belief’ that is the greatest gift of all.
That’s why, as they grow older, they continue to quietly wait for Santa Claus in their hearts without doubting his existence. And that believing heart becomes the diamond in the stocking. The magic of Santa Claus is an eternal gift for all those who hold the breath in anticipation on Christmas night.
The Sublimation of Waltzes and Mazurkas into Solo Pieces
Chopin composed at least 59 mazurkas. These were based on the traditional Polish dance, the mazurka. However, Chopin transformed the traditional mazurka into an entirely new genre.
Chopin’s mazurkas retained the characteristics of traditional mazurkas, such as the use of repetition, but he made them more technically interesting and increased tonality and chromaticism. He also used classical techniques such as counterpoint and fugue to make the mazurkas more technically interesting.
Similarly, Chopin’s waltzes also evolved from dance music to solo pieces through his unique interpretation. His waltzes are characterized by their lively rhythm and beautiful melodies, captivating listeners.
These transformations show how Chopin was always seeking the best instrument to express his music in the best condition. We’ll end our discussion on Chopin’s musical transformation and the musical styles he pioneered here.
Looking forward to seeing you in the next blog post!
Today, we’re going to explore the fascinating world of Frédéric Chopin, who was known for his delicate musicality. He auditioned various pianos to find the ones that best suited his music. However, the venues where he performed were also crucial in understanding his sensibilities. Chopin didn’t prefer public performances and held only about 30 public concerts throughout his career. He earned most of his income from composing and teaching, and his performances were mainly in salons or friends’ homes, which provided a more intimate environment. At the height of the 19th century, there were over 40 salons in Warsaw. However, as larger venues became attractive due to technical acoustic improvements, the number of salons decreased almost to zero. Despite this, Chopin preferred performing in salons, and his music was very suitable for the intimate atmosphere of the salons.
In our next blog post, we’ll discuss the impact Chopin had on dance music. Stay tuned!
Today, we’re going to delve into the captivating world of the 19th century, a time when the poet of the piano, Frédéric Chopin, was crafting his masterpieces. Chopin, celebrated for his unique musicality, was always in search of the perfect instrument to express his music. He auditioned a variety of pianos from various manufacturers, including Broadwood, Graf, and his beloved Erard. Each of these pianos, known for their unique sound characteristics, played a significant role in shaping Chopin’s composition style. So, how did these pianos influence Chopin’s music? While we don’t have detailed records, the fact that Chopin used these various pianos shows his constant pursuit of the best instrument to express his music.
Stay tuned for our next blog post where we’ll delve deeper into this fascinating topic!
Next time, I will talk about the piano technology of Chopin’s era. See you then!
Next time, I will talk about another piano that Chopin used, the Broadwood and the Graf pianos. Stay tuned!
Last time, we explored the “lost angel’s voice”, the Pleyel piano. This time, I want to discuss another piano that Chopin used, the Buchholtz piano. Buchholtz’s piano was celebrated for its beautiful sound and unique resonance. However, this piano also vanished in the flames of war. Therefore, its sound is lost to history. Yet, we can attempt to rediscover the charm of Buchholtz’s piano by delving into its roots and understanding how its beautiful sound was created. Buchholtz’s piano produced its beautiful sound through its unique structure. In particular, the component known as the soundboard was the secret of its sound. The soundboard is the part that amplifies the sound of the piano and creates a rich resonance. Buchholtz’s piano had a different design of the soundboard compared to other pianos. However, the specifics of that design were lost forever when Buchholtz’s piano was destroyed. Therefore, it is very challenging to reproduce its sound today. Yet, we can speculate what its sound was like, and try to appreciate the charm of Buchholtz’s piano. The ill fate of Buchholtz’s piano was a significant loss for the history of music. However, its influence continues to resonate in our hearts. I hope that the sound of Buchholtz’s piano will be revived in the world someday, and I wish to conclude this blog with that dream.
Next time, we will explore Erard’s piano, which was also used by Chopin. Stay tuned!
Today, I will share an intriguing tale about Frederic Chopin, often referred to as “the poet of the piano”. Chopin had a unique preference for the sound of his piano. He would always bring his own instrument to his performances, dedicating hours to its tuning. He likened the sound of his piano to “the voice of an angel”. However, his piano was quite delicate, susceptible to changes in temperature and humidity. As a result, he would always shield his piano with a blanket to protect it. He also cautioned the transportation team to handle his piano with care. Regrettably, after his demise, his piano was damaged in a mishap during transit, and was lost forever, along with his music. Chopin used pianos from various manufacturers, such as Buchholtz, Erard, and Pleyel, but the one that met this unfortunate fate was a Pleyel piano.
As a part of our project calmed down, the technician and I decided to go to a bit high-class eel cuisine restaurant.
I was shocked to see the first dish.
There was a life sized eel bone on the big elongated plate.
Next, some other dishes were served one by one.
Every food was very nice.
Suddenly, the cell phone of the technician started to ring.
In the beginning, I though it was a phone call.
But I knew it was an alarm not to forget to take a photo before we eat.
Yeah. We talked many times to each other to remind ourselves if one of us was forgetting to immortalize the moment vie a cellphone pic.
However, both of us totally forgot at once upon entering the restaurant!
If the alarm rang 15 minutes earlier…, but it was too late.
That being so, the pictures are only the second half of the dishes.
On our way back home, I enjoyed seeing some buildings that I used to often go around.
Thanks to the fond old memories, I was able to get my energy back from the summer heat fatigue.
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| Egg rolls in broth | Vinegared eel | Main dish |
In the beginning, she planned to use it for an upright piano.
However, as she realized it is a bit too small for even an upright, she decided to change the purpose. She put a doorplate “WIC”.
One day, the guest made an excuse to powder her nose.
She was surprised at seeing a lot of clothes when she opened the door.
She didn’t know that WIC stands for Walk-in-Closet while WC means Water-Closet in Japan!
Priority measures to prevent the spread has been issued by the government due to Covid as of January 24th.
When I heard the news, I was very sad.
As you know, I wrote in my previous blog that I’m looking forward to the next opportunity to enjoy another round of Spanish cuisine mainly Paella at the restaurant “Girasol”.
However, due to this government ordinance, all restaurants should close their shops earlier than current schedule. (There are some exceptions)
As a result, I will miss the chances to dine out after working.
After a long period of depression, I shifted over into more constructive way!
I went to a supermarket to buy some ingredients.
I cooked Paella myself! So, "Adio's"
To start with, I’d like to ask you all whether or not you are aware that Beethoven’s 10th symphony performed on the 9th of this month.
I expect a mix of reactions. You might be thinking, “What are you talking about?” Or “The composer wrote only 9 symphonies.”
As Beethoven passed away while creating some fragments of his 10th symphony, it was indeed incomplete.
Some people attempted to complete it by adding some supplementary brush based on the composer’s style.
First, Barry Cooper who has been a Beethoven scholar, musicologist, composer completed the first movement referring to Beethoven’s 350 pages original sketches.
Next, David Cope who has been an author, composer, scientist did for the second movement by using his own AI named Emmy.
Then, a composer, Hideaki Shichida introduced a work which consists of four movements as Beethoven’s 10th symphony.
However, in proportion of the number of the movements, the portion of the original sketches left by Beethoven himself was too small.
So, it would be more decent to consider it to be Mr. Shichida’s composition.
In 2019, some musicologists and computer programmers with Matthias Röder turnout to be pivotal in finishing Beethoven’s uncompleted work.
It was scheduled to be performed on April 28th that is the birth date of the composer.
Unfortunately, this plan had been postponed due to Covid-19 pandemic.
Gladly it was performed by the Beethoven Symphony Orchestra on October 9th 2021!
Regardless of the pros or cons, it is worth while listening to it!
Today I’d like to continue where we left off.
As I wrote in my preceding article, one of my students asked me the question whether or not the pianos which have more than 88 keys in the low part are for our pets.
As a matter of fact, the student knew that the audible range of human-beings is narrower than the most other animals.
However, those creatures are able to greet high-frequency tones, but not to low ones.
Therefore, the number of types of creatures must be limited very small from this perspective.
Here is a list of the animals which are likely suitable as our pets to enjoy the big sized piano’s sounds.
①elephant ②ferret ③blue whale
Some parts of amphibians, fishes, reptiles and insects have ability to sense very low sounds. However, due to the substantial difference between human-beings and those creatures, I doubt that they recognize the sounds as music. (The main discrepancies: retention, discriminability of frequency, substantivity of auditory)
Now, I’ll do a review quiz.
Enjoy it!
Q: Rearrange the number of the creatures below in order of the ones which are able to engage lower frequency.
①human-being ②cat ③blue whale ④ferret
I believe that you know standard pianos have 88 keys.
Also, that some grand pianos of Bösendorfer have 92 or 97 keys is predominantly known among aficionados.
However, Stephen Paulello, the French manufacture, produced pianos that have 102 keys.
Also, STUART & SONS, a company located in Australia, manufactured the pianos that have 108 keys!
These extra keys are for low parts.
Generally speaking, audibility range of human beings is considered to be 20hz-20,000hz.
However, most people are able to hear a narrower range than it.
With respect to the relation between music and audible frequency is that the frequency rises twice every one octave.
In standard pianos, the frequency of the lowest A is approximately 27Hz while it is approximately 4186Hz in the highest C.
Therefore, pianists seldom play these very low keys.
Now, we can see that the purpose of these extra keys is not for the actual playing with fingers.
The other parts of the piano such as, strings, tables and so on react in vibrational overtone even if the players don’t touch those keys.
One day, one of my students who is versed in this theory asked me “Are the pianos which have a lot of keys for our pets?”
Do you get the drift of her question?
I will share the charade with you tomorrow or later!
Look forward to it being posted!
As there were various choices in the menu at the Japanese-style restaurant, it was difficult for me to make up my mind on only one.
Finally, I decided to order the cuisine Inada cooked in soy sauce as a set menu.
As a matter of fact, I didn’t know anything about that fish, so I asked my friend who was sitting next to me about it.
He told me that it is a kind of a fish called by different names at different stages of growth.
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| Prior to cooking | Post cooking |
For example, the tycoon “Ieyasu Tokugawa” changed his name Takechiyo → Motonobu → Motoyasu → Ieyasu as he became greater.
Not all the fishes are not accredited as this honor.
The fish that are classified as the privileged position as Shusse-uo must have obviously advanced at each juncture of their lives in terms of their taste and figure.
When I ate Inada yesterday, I felt something nostalgic though I hadn’t even heard its name.
So, I decided to scrutinize Inada.
Then, I found the interesting fact that Inada is called Hamachi in Kyushu area.
I was raised on Kyushu-island in my childhood.
My late mother often cooked Hamachi.
As soon as I knew that the fish I ate yesterday was identical as “Hamachi” being introduced itself as “Inada” following the Kanto way, I was filled with a great joy.
Many memories of my childhood brought back for me. They thankfully gave me a happy moment.
Here are the lists of each name of this fish in accord with its grow in Kanto and Kyushu.
1. Kanto area：Wakashi→Wakanogo→Inada→Warasa→Buri
2. Kyushu area：Wakanago→Yazu→Hamachi→Mejiro→Buri
During my time in Wakanago, I was just toying with the piano.
When I was in Yazu, I had difficulty in dealing with my academic study and practicing the piano.
At the stage of Hamachi, such difficulty increased, because I was attending a general high-school.
I consider the current status of myself to be Mejiro which is still nepionic (juvenile).
However, I have been making an effort every day to become better in prospect of the day that I will be Buri someday.
I hope all people who have been learning the piano will continue their musical study as long as possible.
It would be great pleasure and satisfaction of myself that music becomes your companion for ever and ever.
We will have the harvest moon tomorrow. The mid-autumn moon decorates the night sky beautifully.
However, it is not always the full moon. According to National Astronomical Observatory, there are two reasons for this.
One of them is that the dates of the mid-autumn moon are decided by the number of the days from the dark of the moon following the sun and lunar calendar.
On the other hand, the ones of the full moon depended on the positional relationship of the sun, the earth and the moon. In addition, the number from the full moon to the mid-autumn one changes because the orbit of the moon is oval.
This year, the dates of the mid-night moon and the full moon accord with each other after 8 years.
We call such a full moon in September as a harvest moon, because it is the harvesting season.
I can hardly wait till tomorrow night!
May our music help to give us all a bumper harvest as well!
When I was a student, I heard the result that the group of examinees who took tests while listening W. A. Mozart’s music scored higher.
Also, it has been widely believed that Baroque music such as, J. S. Bach’s composition style has a power to heighten people’s concentration.
However, we have less opportunities to see these sorts of theses today.
It is because that some modern researchers have disclosed the issue that how big the effect to our brains by listening to classical music is yet to be understood.
According to the newest theory, by keeping to play a musical instrument or take lessons for the instrument for ages, the brain power will be markedly improved.
Taking an active approach to or music and mind will bear fruit time after time!
Some students who noticed it asked me curiously how big they are and other such viper-ish details.
Actually, I haven’t seen any so far, and I’ve been looking.
So, please don’t worry about them.
As you know, under such recent moist conditions, some kinds of wild creatures tend to be more active.
Particularly, in Iruma-shi, a mountainous area, a lot of nature remains.
Even though I don’t welcome snakes, I’m glad my town keeps good ecological integrity.
The management association of the building started a newly grass-establishment yesterday.
I hope all the visitors of my piano class will enjoy the environment of lush greenery besides playing the piano!
Q: Why was Thaikovsky such a great gardener?
A: Because he was so good at compos(e)ting!
I knew that is the gist of the pun, as “compost” is fertilizer made from vegetable matter.
Nevertheless, I didn’t get the drift of it in the beginning.
What puzzled me was why the specific composer’s name was chosen.
Finally, I knew the fact below.
Russia has a reputation as being backwards, provincial and filled with foolish farmers. Even Tolstoy was a failed farm reformer.
That stigmatism may contributor to Tchaikovsky being chosen.
He was pretty dainty. I am reading into this to ascertain it.
I am most likely full of compost.
I came up with a favorable finding.
Working memory, self-control and flexibility that are called executive functioning are enhanced.
In the US, MRI is often used to know the difference between the brains of musical trained people and others.
As a result, particularly for children, the human brain shows obvious differences.
Some people believe that cortex which is for decision-making seems to have no relation to music.
However, we statistically know that the cortex of the children who have had musical training is more developed than the others. Furthermore, even the nerve strand and the temporal lobe have plasticity development in the former ones.
On top of that, their ability between the two cerebral hemispheres are also superior.
It is because the anterior corpus callosum of people who have received musical training is more developed.
Many people think that musical ability is irrelevant to the network and cognitive system of our brain.
Of course, these kinds of developments such as, regarding pitch and rhythm are not directly related.
I conclude that musical training does indeed impart cognitive benefits.
As you know, the rapid development of artificial intelligence is changing our life style and choice of vocation.
The computer has rendered many professions obsolete.
It has been said that jobs that are a matter of life or death and artistically oriented will continue to be the domain of man and not machine. Examples include doctor, beautician, children’s nurse, psychological counselor, musician, cartoonist, film director, school teacher, tour conductor.
Much to my delighted, it is likely we piano teachers will survive. Our labor entails the work of musician, teacher, and counselor.
Though every musical career engaged with stage performances or instructing students has had a tough time since the virus issue occurred. Human persistence prevails. We keep on doing our best because we are endowed with human passion and volition.
They sometimes use notes with a lot of flags enjoyably.
As you know, the note with one flags is called eighth note, the one with two flags is called sixteen’s note.
The more the flags are placed the shorter the length of the note.
The number of the flags is limitless.
So, children tend to like to add numerous flags to their composition with funny captions “Impossible to be played” etc.
I’m sure you know the note “eighth note” that is one flag.
Two flags or three flags are still popular.
However, do you know how many pieces that includes five flags that means 128th notes?
L. v. Beethoven used hundred twenty-eighth notes in the first movement of Pathetique Sonata Op. 13, the first movement.
Also, I noticed that Charles Valentin Alkan often used the notes with a lot of flags in his compositions when I attended the recital for his works.
Even though some children criticize that notes with a lot of flags look like wacky worms, I recommend all of you not hesitate to add more flags for the sake of musicality.
Upon hearing such I was then rewarded with joyous news. They let their wishes be known to continue our piano lessons online.
I mean, I’ll be darned, from the Isle of Kyushu music this far north can be so easily heard.
What is “atonal” music? Well, -. Whereas “Modern” is simply perceived as -.
How fortunate we are to live in the modern period to have opportunities to enjoy various kinds of music atonal or not! I hope you all have a wonderful 2021!
As you may know, the title ‘Auld Lang Syne’ originally comes from a Scottish poem. Directly translated it means 'old long since' but it is often used idiomatically to express 'Old times', or 'Long, long ago'.
Keep this information in mind as it will help you with the final puzzle of this year.
Q: What do vampires sing on New Year's Eve?
I'd like to express my sincere gratitude here to all the support from students, parents and many other people throughout the year. I wish you a peaceful and pleasant 2021!
“Please keep turning off your phone during the whole performances. Thank you.”
However, what if your phone starts suddenly ringing against your will? You will be in a panic, won’t you?
Here is a message posted in a concert hall above.
“If your phone rings during the concert, you will be required to go on stage and play the bassoon.”
This humorous warning would remind us to do double-check if all the electronic devices are off, and make all the attendance feel good, wouldn’t it?
Usually participating in these events inspires students motivation and new goals.
They get excited by the experiences themselves, and by listening to other’s performances.
As we all know, these opportunities give the students extra hard practices that are indispensable for improvement.
Do you think we have no other recourse than giving up?
The answer is definitely, “No!”
By searching recorded concerts or posted online recitals, you will find these very good substitutes indeed.
I also recommend giving concerts to your family members. Everyone is together during the holidays. (OK. Not quite everyone this wacky year, but more than enough to feed on their responses.)
My piano class will have a video recital in the coming year.
Some students have already started to prepare for it.
I’m truly thankful to today’s technology that works for us during this hard period.
Through it, even this hard time can not dilute our excitement till the time that allows us to play on the stage arrives once again.
Congratulations are in order.
She told me that the other auditionees had no stamina to play through the piece on the grand piano.
It’s known as “grand” for a good reason.
Applause is in order for the others as well for trying.
The grand piano is such a powerful instrument that players need to have strong fingers and the skill on how to control their arms.
In the beginning, he was unable to generate enough sounds with his pinkies when he played chords.
However, he showed amazingly high levels of concentration to overcome his initial weakness.
He took five lessons including one online lesson in two weeks to prepare for this audition.
He deserves the result and the praise, so one more time, “Congratulations!”
As a matter of fact, today the parents of one of my students purchased a YAMAHA’s upright piano” YUS5Mhc”.
The design of the leg parts of this model is an elegantly shaped gentle curved S-line similar to animal legs.
The word cabriole came from a French dance term meaning “jump”.
The origin of it is Italian meaning “the caper of female deer”.
As the quality of all the pianos of YUS series are well regarded, the parents have been wavering to choose only one.
She told me on the day before she purchased the YUS5Mhc that she had fallen under the enchantment of the cabriole legs.
I’m sure that the family can’t wait for the arrival of the piano which has so mesmerized them!
This is an annual event by international schools in Kanto area that has continued for decades.
However, holding it online was a first. It was an experiment, if you like.
I was glad to see quite a lot of students in Tokyo, Kanagawa, Saitama, Chiba participating.
I got a phone call last night.
It was a great news. One of my accomplished students got a “gold”! The highest score in the festival!! Hurrah!!! This is three exclamation point news.
I’ve heard that her mother screamed when she heard the triumphant news!
Moreover, what impressed me the most was the student’s word “my appreciation to you would be the same even the case that I had received bronze not gold.”
Here’s a quick history of the harpsichord. It is the musical instrument which is considered to be an ancestor of the modern piano, being most likely invented in the late Middle Ages.
The biggest difference between these two instruments is volume.
Modern pianos can generate loud and soft sounds while the harpsichord plays at the same volume regardless of how strong our touches are.
Back to recent history. the aforementioned student abruptly asked me if the harpsichords had electronic buttons to control the volume!
Needless to say, they had no means of lighting except for depending on candles, oils and such.
In 1792, the gas lamp was invented by W. Burdoch.
It took about 90 years to spread among the people because it had a high risk of explosion.
In 1878, J.W Swan invented a filament lamp. Then, Thomas Edison made an improvement on it.
Perhaps, surprisingly, the time fluorescent lamps became popular in Japan was 1960’s. As many of you know, LED lights are predominantly used nowadays.
However, you might not know that LED was invented as far back as 1961 for Red, in 1968 for Greenish yellow, in 1993 for Blue and in 1998 for White.
When I was a child, my grandfather told me that he was studying hard with the lights of fireflies to admonish my laziness.
No thank you for a firefly, but I’m sometimes seized by a desire to travel through time and space to meet past composers!
Some of them showed me some articles written by other piano instructors.
One blog drew my attention.
According to what was written the featured piano institute doesn’t accept adult beginners who have no music experience by the age of 35.
I don’t agree with such notion. And I definitely think it should not be policy.
It is ridiculous, to put it bluntly.
A lot of adults regret saying “I wish I could have taken up the piano lessons earlier.”
However, we see many children being unwilling to practice the piano around us, right?
Unless children take interest in music, their aptitude will never flower.
Likewise, there are no too late situations. Age doesn’t matter.
Our brains have amazingly good plasticity. It is the right time for you to play the piano!
To be more exact, as the number includes twins and siblings, it could be six!
First, the twin’s parents chose the model SU7 which has the best quality of Yamaha’s upright pianos.
As it is made-to-order production, it will arrive to their house next month.
Indian siblings took up lessons, so I introduced their parents to Clavinova that is a high grade electronic piano series.
Next, one adult beginner asked me if he could get an reasonable electronic piano aimed at beginners.
So, I introduced him to a major musical instrumental store.
I was glad to know they sold a good one.
In February, the Covid-19 problem started, I was obliged to hold lessons via the internet.
One of the new students who had been looking for the piano, hurriedly asked me a music merchant because she definitely needed a piano for remote lessons.
This was the first unfortune, because the day she called was the first day that almost all the musical instrumental shops closed due to the declaration of a state of emergency.
I don’t know how she got the instrument, but I saw a small keyboard at our first online lesson through the screen.
The second unfortunate occurred this week.
The visitor who took a trial lesson showed a strong interest in piano.
Then, I accepted his request that he wants me to introduce a reliable shop.
A clerk sent a very precise mail to him on the very same day.
I was under the impression that the person and the shop are in sales negotiation.
One week later, I realized it didn’t reach him.
Anyhow, I was shocked to know recently that one-quarter out of all mails have been engulfed by an internet darkness.
In an aside, I had two nonarrival envelopes since this January.
I learned every correspondence means is not perfect.
Please write to both SMS and the email for contacting my piano class.
I will surely write you back.
By doing so, we will experience that the third time lucky, won’t we?!
And now, I have special offer to you!
I usually don’t hold more than one trial lesson.
However, unlimited number of those lessons are approved prior to admission for the time being.
(The trial lesson is not free of charge. )
Please feel free to contact us through the inquiry form on our website for any questions or comments.
Thank you.
Initially, the student called this “Sonata No. 332.”
So, I corrected him,“That is Sonata No.12, not 332.”
These triple digits are Köchel catalogue that is the chronological numbers for Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
As a matter of fact, this work is the one that has generated a lot of controversial discussion in the music history.
It was considered to be K.332 in the first version of Köchel catalogue.
However, it was reckoned as K330k as it was probably composed while he stayed in Paris in the summer of 1778. The rationale behind this was that two musicologists asserted that the four pieces including this No.12 showed the typical Paris style. As Alfred Einstein accepted their theories, these four pieces A minor (K310), C major (K.330), A major (K331) and F major (K332) were placed on the works in Paris in the third version and after.
However, some subjective criticisms, such as empirical study by Wolfgang Plath and Allan Tyson arose. As a result, the positioning of these sonatas changed in a major way.
That is to say, Plath’s assertion that they were composed in the summer in 1780 or later was adopted. Then, it was corrected by Tyson that they were composed in 1783 in Vienna or in Salzburg in the same year.
In another edition later published, they speculated the period to be the summer of 1783 or the time the composer visited Salzburg with his wife.
Therefore, the double number – K332-300k became meaningless. We may have to place these pieces on the end of 300 or the beginning of 400.
As Mozart wrote over 600 pieces, organizing all his works perfectly is nearly impossible, but I’d love to try.
Did you know it needs 200 hours to play every piece attributed to him?!
So, I phoned my cousin to know if my relatives are ok or not.
She told me that as her house is on a rather high hill, they are ok.
Then, I asked her about her son’s house.
You see that my late beloved dog’s house was there.
She told me that his house is also untouched.
As the matter of fact, when I left the house, I left my upright piano and my dog to the family.
Even though my beloved dog passed away some years ago, my upright piano till I got a grand piano remains.
Actually, my cousin is such a kind person that everybody can’t help but love. I’m proud of her.
I’m very thankful to her to hear my upright can still be heard.
I hope all the problems in the area will pass like a cloud that no longer reigns.
This is considered to be one of his superior pieces among his middle sonatas. (I will write about early sonatas, middle sonatas, and late sonatas in other blogs.)
“Appassionata” was composed between 1804 and 1805. As you may know, the number of keys and type of piano used by Ludwig changed over time.
Beethoven was using the piano produced by Érard (French) when he wrote Appassionata. This piano had 68 keys covering a low F to a high C. The piano he was using before 1803 had only 61 keys. This piano was produced by Walter. Definitely, this development stimulated the composer’s incentive to make the fullest use of the wide range of keys this piano had to offer. This piece is known as the one that Beethoven got back on his feet from despair with. As you may be privy to, the Heiligenstädter Testament hinted that his suicide was planned out by himself in 1802. His exacerbated hearing loss brought him to the brink. It is not too much to say that hearing is a musicians‘ life. However, Beethoven wrote the piano sonata ”Waldstein”, the symphony “eroica”, “Appassionata” and many more inspired pieces in those few tumultuous years. This fact alone gave him the reputation as being one mentally tough dude to people in later times. When this piece was published in 1807, the title was “piano sonata No. 54 Op.57. “ It was in 1837 that this piece started to be called “Appassianata”. I’m sure that we can all agree that it is important to know the background of a composition including the instruments used and the composer’s personal life. This leads to a deepened appreciation of the work and, more importantly, the determination to give the work our utmost dedication. Adding “piano sonata No. 54 Op. 57” to our repertoire is definitely a worthy passion.
First of all, the student starts at the top of the board with an easy question, such as 'Are you a boy? If so, he would choose 'yes' while the girl opts for 'no'.
Next, different questions are asked that the students have to answer, all the while progressing down the board. Finally, they come to the end of the game to see their results!
Two is commonly seen as a duet.
Trio is not so rare nowadays.
I sometimes see scores written for four or five people to play together.
Today I had an opportunity to read an article about the single piano for 88 people playing at the same time.
88 people can’t stand or sit near the keyboard.
Surprisingly, the piano has 88 extended arms for the people to reach keyboard!
Do you want to play on the piano as one of 88 people?
piano rolls at the start of his career . These are a scrolls of music that a player piano plays. A player piano plays music by reading marks or indentations on the scrolls.
Once he became a successful musician, he largely abandoned the habit. However, he made a few, including the beloved Rhapsody in Blue. The piece is so long that it didn't all fit on just one roll. So, his performance was split into two rolls so as contain the entire work.