Articulation C P E BACH wrote in his essay: ‘In general, the briskness of Allegros is expressed by detached notes and the tenderness of Adagios by broad slurred notes…There are many who play stickily, as if they had glue between their fingers. Their touch is lethargic; they hold notes too long. Others, in an attempt... Continue Reading →
Playing On the Modern Piano – Part I
The rapid change of keyboard instruments in the 18th century and early 19th centuries reflect a change in musical communication which had been described by the conductor and early music specialist Nikolaus Harnoncourt (In his Baroque Music Today, 1988): ‘Articulation is the technical process in producing speech, the way in which different vowel and consonants... Continue Reading →
Pianists of the Leschetizkians
Leschetizky died in 1915. Some of his famous students had careers extending past the middle of the twentieth century. Two of his earliest and most prominent male pupils were Mark Hambourg and Ossip Gabrilowitsch. Ossip Gabrilowitsch Mark Hambourg Hambourg was a Russian child prodigy who made his debut in Moscow at the age of nine... Continue Reading →
I Can’t Gain Speed
This frustration is all too familiar to many pianists, beginners and experienced alike. Perhaps Many believe that, as long as they persist with repetitions, the ability to play faster will eventually develop. Others become disheartened and consider giving up their lessons, convinced that they will never sufficiently improve! Those who persevere begin to understand that... Continue Reading →
Preparation for Artistic Interpretation
In my previous blog, I explained the approaches to preparing new repertoires, before tackling the very first bar. Conventionally, most students are taught to play hands separately first and, when all notations are learned, then to play hands together. This presents a challenge because often our muscles, motions and mental memory may not be sufficiently... Continue Reading →
A Paradigm Shift for the Music Exam Culture
I have encountered some interesting experiences when asked to prepare students for examinations. A classic example is the case of a student, a 10-year old girl who has been learning the piano since kindergarten, whose parents had wanted her to take the Level 1 Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM) exam but that her previous two... Continue Reading →
Kim Chang's Piano Studio 