Archives for posts with tag: classical music

75: Back to Chopin

November 10, 2012 //

A report on how practicing Chopin helped me play Brahms last week; some quotes from Chopin (and one from Chuck Close); thinking through my next performance (with a request for your ideas); snippets of all 24 etudes (I’m ignoring the other three for now); an impromptu play-through, with some yelling, of 10/5; how I’m practicing 10/11 (and a couple of minutes of actual practicing).

Thanks so much to listeners who have written reviews on iTunes. Unless I get 100 reviews by December 20–and it doesn’t yet look like I will–there will be only five more episodes of this podcast. Thanks for being my practice buddy!

PIAS 75

Tags Artistic process, Burton Kaplan, Chopin, classical music, Etudes, how to practice, Opus 10, Opus 25, Piano, podcast, practicing

Categories 10/1, 10/10, 10/11, 10/12, 10/2, 10/3, 10/4, 10/5, 10/6, 10/7, 10/8, 10/9, 25/1, 25/10, 25/12, 25/4, 25/6, 25/7, 25/8, Chopin

73: Chopinless

October 13, 2012 //

This week I’ve been practicing chamber music, mostly the Brahms g minor piano quartet, but also some Mozart and a Piazzolla tango. A short tangent on Clara Schumann, making brave vs. safe choices in the Brahms, and some of the ways I’m practicing this music (including singing the string parts badly).

Sorry the piano audio is a little soft this time–I wasn’t careful when I set up the microphone.

PIAS 73

Tags Brahms, Chamber music, Clara Schumann, classical music, how to practice, Johannes Brahms, Piano quartet, podcast, practicing, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Categories Brahms

72: Getting better

October 4, 2012 //

Still mostly practicing right hand alone: small groups in 25/8 and bits of 10/1 and 10/2.

PIAS 72

Tags Artistic process, Chopin, classical music, Etudes, Frédéric Chopin, how to practice, Opus 10, Opus 25, Piano, podcast, practicing

Categories 10/1, 10/2, 25/8

70: Break

September 21, 2012 //

Podcast is back from hiatus!

Strategies for practicing with–gulp–a broken finger.

PIAS 70

Tags Chopin, classical music, Etudes, how to practice, injury, Opus 10, Opus 25, Piano, practicing

Categories Uncategorized

68: Time travel

June 22, 2012 //

A visit to the old stomping grounds leads to some thoughts on competition and motivation; some insights from playing an 1860s Broadwood piano; a danger of detail-oriented practice; the plan for next week. With bits of all of Op. 10.

PIAS 68

Tags Chopin, classical music, Etudes, Opus 10, Piano, Practice

Categories 10/1, 10/10, 10/11, 10/12, 10/2, 10/3, 10/4, 10/5, 10/6, 10/7, 10/8, 10/9, 25/8

67: ‘scope

June 9, 2012 //

Articulation and timing in 10/8; plugging away at 10/2 and 10/1; simplifying 25/10 and a theory geek moment; working on 25/8; a milestone in 10/7, organizing a practice session.

PIAS 67

Tags Chopin, classical music, Etudes, how to practice, Opus 10, Opus 25, Piano

Categories 10/1, 10/2, 10/7, 10/8, 25/10, 25/8

66: Heading Towards Possible

June 2, 2012 //

A simplified version of 25/8; the begging dog hand position for 25/8 and 10/7; resting points and some hope for 10/2; the left hand as helper in 10/; trying to play 10/8 in tempo (not necessarily at tempo) and with great articulation; organizing a practice session.

PIAS 66

Tags Artistic process, Chopin, classical music, Etudes, how to practice, Opus 10, Opus 25

Categories 10/1, 10/2, 10/7, 10/8, 25/7

63: Summer

May 12, 2012 //

A goal for the summer and some ways to stay accountable; bits of most of the etudes.

PIAS 63

Tags Artistic process, Chopin, classical music, Etudes, Opus 10, Opus 25, Piano, Practice, practicing

Categories Uncategorized

60: Play

April 27, 2012 //

Putting play into practice; two silly things I did this week, including putting words to 25/4 (with different versions for different editions); a new approach to 10/1 and 10/2.

PIAS 60

Tags Chopin, classical music, creative process, Etudes, Opus 10, Opus 25, Piano, Practice, practicing

Categories 10/1, 10/2, 25/4

59: Like It Is

April 21, 2012 //

Trying to concentrate with a toddler; a couple of tricks from backstage; wrestling with articulation and pedal markings in 25/4; permission from Chopin’s TA.

PIAS 59

Tags Artistic process, Chopin, classical music, Etudes, how to practice, Opus 25, performance, Piano

Categories 25/4