"[It's] so demanding... The only way you don't enjoy it is if you don't compete to the best of your ability."

- Tony La Russa, Manager of the St. Louis Cardinals, 11-time World Series Champs

... the same can be said for piano :)

Mizzou

This is a picture of my friend James, who is the choral director at Carl Sandburg College up near Chicago.  We were in school together at Mizzou while he did his masters in choral conducting and I was in my latter years as an undergrad.  Below, witness his excitement upon opening the most recent University of Missouri School of Music brochure to find a picture of you know who :)

My hair is definitely shorter in the brochure, but yes, it's yours truly.  Taken roughly two years ago in front of the columns and Jesse Hall.  That picture is my pride and joy.  I even had a former student last year who was a senior in high school at the time and received last year's School of Music brochure amongst all the college stuff she was getting in the mail at the time and later ask if it was really me.  HA!  Didn't know your piano teacher was actually legit, huh?  I love it.  Thanks for sharing, James.  You made my day, old friend!

happy wednesday

I don't know about you, but I need a laugh.  The last couple of days I have been a complete snotball.  My allergies have been acting up and my sinuses have not been happy about it.  It makes for lovely evenings as I stare into the tube, drugged up with a cup of tea and horrendous mornings with the neti pot.  I'm barely getting my work done, if that.  Awesome, right?

But this morning, my mom posted the following on my facebook wall, which made me feel tremendously better, at least on the inside.  This was taken at the Mayo Clinic atrium, where this couple walked in for a check-up and spotted a piano.  Totally impromptu.  Youtube informs me they've been married 62 yrs and he was 90 at the time this was taken.  Boy do I love old people.  And man do I love my instrument.  Watch and enjoy...

From my cup of tea to yours, Happy Wednesday.  Cheers.

haha!

Found this via a friend of mine on facebook this morning.  Have yet to find the original source but word on the street is that it was published by The New Yorker Magazine back in the 70's.  Some humor for your Monday Funday...

... if only it really were that easy ;)

musical academia

Excellent article about life in the arts, post university education.  Excellent read for composers, performers, and teachers alike, particularly those who would contemplate a life of academia.

"Why Composers Should Drop Out of University, etc..."

TED talks

Click HERE for a phenomenal video about educating our children in the arts and how the public school system is killing their creativity... 

"Every child is an artist..." - Picasso

fall 2011 performance schedule

Below is a list of scheduled performance classes as well as the recital.  I ask that your student make it to at least three classes this semester, as well as the recital, which hopefully will be a date that works out for as many as possible... I really tried to avoid during-the-week school programs and weekend Christmas parties (fingers crossed!).

All performances will be at the Steinway Gallery at Dorsett and 270... this means both performance classes and the recital.  We are no longer at Central Presbyterian on Saturday mornings.

The performance classes are the keys to a smooth recital.  Even if your pianist has performed in front of an audience before, performing is just like everything else -- use it or lose it!  It's easy to get rusty or get your nerves up for no reason other than lack of practice opportunities.  Not to mention that since each student is constantly working on new rep, it's important to be able to perform each piece at least once or twice in a smaller setting before playing in front of a larger audience... each piece presents its own set of performance challenges.

Our first performance class is coming up soon.  If you plan on coming to this first one, your student and I will choose pieces to play in lesson this next week... 1 or 2 to get started.  This first one will be pretty low-key as we all get back into the swing of the routine :)  You can encourage them to pick a couple of pieces to play that they've worked on already, are comfortable with, and like well enough to play in front of the group.

Performance Class:  Saturday, Sept 3 @ Steinway, 10:30-11:30 am
Performance Class:  Saturday, Sept 24 @ Steinway, 10:30-11:30 am
Performance Class:  Saturday, Oct 8 @ Steinway, 10:30-11:30 am
Performance Class:  Saturday, Nov 12 @ Steinway, 10:30-11:30 am
Performance Class:  Saturday, Nov 26 @ Steinway, 10:30-11:30 am
Performance Class / Dress Rehearsal:  Tuesday, Dec 6 @ Steinway, 4-5 pm
RECITAL:  Sunday, Dec 11 @ Steinway, 7-8 pm

Let me know if you have any questions or concerns!

To quote one of my newer students from yesterday: "We get to do recitals?!? YES!!!" (complete with big fat hand motions haha)