In my mom’s recent passing, I find solace in reflecting on the profound impact she had on my life through our shared love for music. From my tender age of seven, mom introduced me to the enchanting world of piano music. I can still vividly recall the moment I first heard her play – it […]
When I was a student at Juilliard, I had a variety of part-time, interesting jobs involving music. They included admin work for a concert manager and archive help for The New York Philharmonic where I got paid to listen to old recordings! But, the most fascinating job? Babysitter for concert pianist Lorin Hollander’s boys. When the
Best Thing I Experienced at Juilliard? Babysitting! Read More »
I’ve been in the zone teaching 5 Free Days of Piano Ninja Tricks on Facebook Live daily. We started Day 1 with the question… What is your “Why”? Why do you play piano? What was your first memory of hearing a piano? What did it feel like as a child to play piano? What did
To Make Music With Your Heart, Remember Your Why! Read More »
https://youtu.be/ubBgmSfGM1I When I was a student at Juilliard, it was assumed you didn’t walk on stage unless you were prepared to perform perfectly. A piano professor gossiped about a performance he heard filled with wrong notes. From the way he spoke, you would have thought murder was committed. When entering international competitions, I listened
Practice Makes Progress Read More »
The classical world lost one of it’s finest this week. I cried when I first read about it in The New York Times: Leon Fleisher, 92, Dies; Spellbinding Pianist With One Hand or Two In my earlier years as a student at Juilliard, I had the honor of playing for Leon Fleisher in a masterclass and later
What Would Leon Fleisher Do? Read More »
I’m not sure if you ever get too old to miss your mom. Mine is 3,000 miles away, in Syracuse, NY, alone in her senior residence. I had hoped to be with her today, celebrating her 89th birthday. If it weren’t for her, I wouldn’t be the person I am or the musician I’ve
Happy 89th Birthday to My First Piano Teacher, My Mom Read More »
You could disinfect your piano by grabbing a clorox wipe and playing the Coronavirus Etude. (Because we all could use a little humor about now.) https://youtu.be/whNICyl_et0 In all seriousness, special care should be taken when using disinfectant products on a piano. My piano technician, David Love, sent me the following suggestions for taking care of pianos during
The Coronavirus Etude (or how to disinfect your piano) Read More »
Music has the ability to soothe like nothing else. Playing the piano is not only lowering my cortisol levels, but listening to calming music is keeping me sane during the pandemic. My gift to you is music, the universal language. I invite you to take a few deep breaths, close your eyes, and take in
Music that Soothes, Calms, and Comforts for Left Hand Only Read More »
Four to six hours daily at the piano, 100% devoted to my heart composer, Frédéric Chopin. Nirvana! It was an extraordinary love affair when I was 24-years-old. Chopin’s 210th birthday was March 1. I celebrated by enjoying the live-stream of the National Chopin Competition finals from Miami. It brought back heart-warming memories from my
Scherzos, Polonaises and Mazurkas… Oh My! Read More »
Groupmuse is like Airbnb for house classical concerts. They are intimate, casual, classical concerts shared in living rooms, performed by professional musicians. I’ve hosted house concerts for decades, so when I first heard about Groupmuse a couple years back, I jumped at the chance to participate. So far, I’ve performed at five in the San Francisco Bay Area, one in Boston, and I’ve attended 17 as a guest.
Groupmuse: The Best Thing That Ever Happened to Classical Music Read More »
Piano Ninja & Juilliard Alum
Piano Ninja & Juilliard Alum