Joe’s Blog
Welcome to my blog!
A reminder that these blog entries are not ‘timely.’ They do not address issues that relate to the present news of the world. They address perennial issues faced by most pianists when striving to excel in their playing. I encourage you to search through the posts to find the ones that will yield the greatest benefit to you.
You can also use this list of all blog posts in order of keyword, which you can also sort by title.
You are also welcome to contact me to suggest a topic that you would like to see appear on the site, or ask questions or comment below each entry. Enjoy!
A.B.’s Lesson 4/8/21
April 18, 2021
A.B.’s lesson 4/8/21
Some comments on Bach’s Prelude in C Major from the Second Book of the Well-Tempered Klavier.
Finger Evennes For A Younger Student In “Dr. Gradus… (Debussy)
April 16, 2021
L.I’s LESSON ON 4/10/21
I don’t usually focus on the fingers in my approach to piano playing, except to use them naturally without tension. I will focus on them today, but I hope the reader takes it in proportion with the importance of all the moving parts of the piano playing mechanism.
How I Wish Note Reading Could Be Taught
April 10, 2021
This morning, between 5 and 6 AM, I awoke from some pretty strong dreams, and just lay in bed, eyes open, but in a way, I was perhaps dreaming. I was getting, unbidden, scattered visions of how to teach my eight year old student C.P. who is having prolonged difficulties learning to read music notation.
It is now evening and I present these incomplete and disordered recollections of what came to me earlier in the day. The basic premise is that I imagined a video animation. During it, one sees a changing tapestry made up of the primitive ‘shapes’ that go into the making of standard music notation.
Thought and Sound
April 3, 2021
#1
Things that are to sound to ear as being simultaneous, do not have to be thought of or prepared for at the same time.