Composer of the Month: Clara Schumann

Yes! there are women composers! So, why do the text/piano books not mention them? Well, they do mention them, but very briefly.

Clara Schumann lived during the 19th century and was called "the high priestess of music" giving her first complete piano recital at the age of 11 and enjoying 61 years of concert life.

"Throughout her life, Clara was well-known as a piano soloist, gaining fame for her technical proficiencies, sensitive interpretations of musical works and her ability to express the composer's intent in the music. During her lifetime, she premiered pieces by Frederic Chopin, Johannes Brahms and her husband, Robert Schumann. A composer herself, Clara wrote 66 pieces, including works for piano and orchestra, solo piano and even cadenzas for piano concertos already written by Beethoven and Mozart! Widely respected for her musical opinions, both Clara's husband and Brahms sought her advice and guidance when writing music." DSO

Enjoy a performance of her Romanza 1, Op. 11 found on YouTube.

Student Spotlight - Jasmin Jones

Jasmin Jones, age 11, grade 6 at KAES.
Years at Dorla's Piano Studio - 3
Group Class - Music Makers: At the Keyboard Book 5
Composition title - Happy Thunderstorm (C Major) by Jasmin Jones

What inspired you to compose Happy Thunderstorm?
"I was mad at my sister Veronica, so I went to the piano and started playing "Happy Thunderstorm" and it made me happy!"

Do you know any female composers?
None, except me!

Well, Jasmin, I promise to introduce you to a few more! Congratulations on your creativity and willingness to share! (Ms. Dorla)

Yundi Li playing Chopin

Remember the composer of the month? Frederic Chopin.
Here is a video of Yundi Li, the youngest piano to ever win the International Frederick Chopin Piano Competition at the age of 18 in the year 2000. He will be performing at the Bass Hall in Fort Worth on Tuesday night January 20, 2009. I'm debating if I should go...

Enjoy!

Bad Habits that slow down the student's progress ...

#1. Writing finger numbers or solfege/note names in the music (unless specifically assigned to do so.)
Why not?:
One of the most important tasks the student must learn is that of reading music by sight. Writing finger numbers or solfege/note names in is perhaps the most destructive thing a student or parent can do to prevent the student from learning to read music. It’s as harmful as taking a spelling test in school with the spelling book open. When it occurs, the books have to be replaced with clean copies that do not contain the numbers or note names.

What to do instead:
Be sure the student is faithful in completing written assignments in their book. Do the listening exercises as often as possible. Use the rhythmic and tonal cards when instructed. Follow the practice procedures presented in the lesson, including the five part song process used on the practice CD. When practicing the reading piece, use only the printed music without any “crutches.” If an unknown note is encountered, use the note reading strategies presented in the lesson.

Composer of the Month: FREDERIC CHOPIN

Frederic Chopin was a piano teacher and one of the greatest pianists of his time. He started playing the piano at age four, his first piano teacher being his older sister Louisa, who was seven.

Chopin was famous for his beautiful piano pieces and he enjoyed entertaining his friends at small dinner parties at home. It is said that one concert was played by moonlight because a moth had fallen into the lamp and extinguished the flame.

Chopin was born in Poland almost two hundred years ago and died at age 39, of tuberculosis. His piano music is still very popular today. Click on the video below to see and hear one sample of his compositions.

Text based on the book "Lives of the Musicians" by Kathleen Krull

Introducing: Composer of the Month

Do you understand classical music and its composers?
Do you like classical music?
Have you heard about Frederic Chopin?
Muzio Clementi?
Friedich Kuhlau?
Claude Debussy?

In order to increase your music history knowledge, Dorla's Pianoblog will share bite-sized pieces of information about a composer each month. You may use this to amuse yourself, share with your child or just to find out what was happening a few centuries ago in the music world.

I hope you enjoy this new feature and increase your knowledge and appreciation of the classical music world.