Metronome...Check!!

Today is the first official day of the school year (post Labor Day) in the city and for many parents, along with purchasing school supplies, make sure your child has the appropriate metronome handy!

Metronomes have gone through little change through the years.  I am forever buying new ones just because a metronome not in use does absolutely no good and the updated Seiko metronomes have a volume wheel that makes a whole lot of difference!

http://www.amazon.com/Seiko-SQ50-V-Quartz-Metronome/dp/B000LFCXL8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1391705671&sr=8-1&keywords=metronome

The updated SQ50 (red wheel, far right), finally gives us volume control of the beeping sound without having to pay a fortune and resort to draining our iphone/ipad battery with a metronome app. The blue version, left side, carries a louder beep (2 different pitches) which is good for young kids and the one in the middle, though credit card size, has a higher pitch beep if you're into that short of thing. Finally, a metronome I can be happy turning on and playing along with!

What is the metronome for besides the obvious, keeping steady?  The metronome helps us diagnose the weaker areas of our playing so we can work for greater control.  It helps us iron out our kinks!  On a higher level, it fine tunes our listening and phrasing.  On a more basic level, it organizes our practice time more efficiently.

Happy practicing!!

Listening and Creating Your Own Personal Sound World

An inspiring, eye-opening lecture about how to listen given by Evelyn Glennie. This will transform your concert going experience and the way you respond to music. What every artistic teacher is trying to impart to their students...

Evelyn Glennie shows how to listen | Video on TED.com

Sound Principles and Principles of Sound

Today, I watched Sound Principles and Principles of Sound, a dvd lecture given by Phillip Kawin, one of the most insightful teachers out there and whom I also have the great pleasure of studying with at the Manhattan School of Music. The title proves a bit confusing. I would say that the heart of the DVD focuses on the Principles of Learning Music rather than Principles of Sound; but for this exact reason, the dvd is even more valuable. The second half (video comprises of 2 separate lectures) is especially helpful. One of the main concepts Mr. Kawin takes time to explain is skeletonizing, a method of study which aids both the physical and aural aspect of learning a piece of music. The DVD is addressed both to teachers as well as to intermediate and advanced pianists.

Photograph: Taken backstage after performing a Mozart Concerto with Phillipe Entremont~ Phillip Kawin, Phillipe Entremont, Alexis Zhu