This book is a collection of piano pieces by Chinese composers: He Luting (1903-), Ding Shande (1911-), Wang Lisan (1933-)& Shang Tong (1923-). The title "Chinese Piano Music for Children" can be rather vague or misleading. The pieces contained are suitable for an intermediate to early advanced student. They are not meant for beginners as it could suggest. The title alludes to the names of the compositions found within.
Contents:
He Luting, The Young Shepherd & His Flute (alt. Buffalo Boy & Flute)
Ding Shande, Suite for Children
Shang Tong, Seven Little Pieces after Folk Songs from Inner Mongolia
Wang Lisan, Sonatina
The book also contains valuable background information regarding the pieces and the composers in German & English. Titles of the pieces are given in three languages: Chinese, German & English. The book is published by Schott and is available here.
Wednesday, June 29, 2005
Saturday, June 25, 2005
Reality TV - For A Piano Competition?
Would they feature pianists fighting over pianos? Yes, definitely!
What would the challenges be?
How many pianists would it take to move a piano?
What would the little rewards be? Extra practice time? Extra hall time? Choice of piano? A massage & spa?
How would they handle the repertoire aspect? Since we play a piece over and over again.
What mean judges are they going to get? Who would be "Simon"? There are plenty of those around in the classical music world.
Would the dreaded "boardroom" be the concert hall?
Would the audience be able to swing the judges vote?
What would the grand price be? Maybe they'd get a little more creative than a Steinway and a recording contract. (Those are great, don't get me wrong)
Biggest question: Would anyone watch? LOL nah just the piano nerds. No offense
If you are like me, I dislike reality tv shows. I think they are taking up too much airtime and I'd just like an "old-fashioned" fiction anytime. Sorry this is silly but the idea came to me when the "Dancing With the Stars" commercial came on. If some producer takes up this idea, I want to be paid! Another Gloria-ism :)
Any thoughts or comments? Post them.
What would the challenges be?
How many pianists would it take to move a piano?
What would the little rewards be? Extra practice time? Extra hall time? Choice of piano? A massage & spa?
How would they handle the repertoire aspect? Since we play a piece over and over again.
What mean judges are they going to get? Who would be "Simon"? There are plenty of those around in the classical music world.
Would the dreaded "boardroom" be the concert hall?
Would the audience be able to swing the judges vote?
What would the grand price be? Maybe they'd get a little more creative than a Steinway and a recording contract. (Those are great, don't get me wrong)
Biggest question: Would anyone watch? LOL nah just the piano nerds. No offense
If you are like me, I dislike reality tv shows. I think they are taking up too much airtime and I'd just like an "old-fashioned" fiction anytime. Sorry this is silly but the idea came to me when the "Dancing With the Stars" commercial came on. If some producer takes up this idea, I want to be paid! Another Gloria-ism :)
Any thoughts or comments? Post them.
Thursday, June 23, 2005
Did I Really Do That?
I have had more feedback about my playing in Grace UMC in Winfield on Mother's Day. I recorded my ecstatic feelings that day in an earlier post. I don't think the performance was recorded but I will always remember the feeling.
A couple weekends ago, my godmother threw me a farewell party in Winfield as I'm going to leave pretty soon. I overheard that there were people that cried after I finished playing Beethoven's Rondo at church. It leaves me to wonder as to why they did.The pastor later told me he cried and there were a few teary eyes in the congregation. He said the music was so beautiful and it was almost unbelievable.
I am pleased that I communicated to my listeners. To me it is the most important thing in performing. But what was it that came across to them? I did wear my heart on my sleeve that day and I gave it all I had, since I thought it was the last I would play of that piece. However I wasn't going to throw my music out the window.. not that church anyway since there are really nice stained glass ;) I will always cherish that performance of the Rondo (which wasn't my favorite piece of my grad recital) as it was a spring board to a nice, secure audition. I think I gained a lot of confidence back in that 4 1/2 minutes.
So did someone else in the congregation... It happened that a gal is learning the Granados waltz that I chose to play. The 1st waltz from Valses Poeticos is a piece I like to play very late at night.. usually past midnight. It made her day that it was something I chose to program. Her mom said that she said.. Gloria played it so I must not be doing too bad. Ah put on a pedestal.. ah! I guess I must have hit more notes correctly than I thought.
I look forward to putting another program together and will anticipate my next "Winfield" experience.
A couple weekends ago, my godmother threw me a farewell party in Winfield as I'm going to leave pretty soon. I overheard that there were people that cried after I finished playing Beethoven's Rondo at church. It leaves me to wonder as to why they did.The pastor later told me he cried and there were a few teary eyes in the congregation. He said the music was so beautiful and it was almost unbelievable.
I am pleased that I communicated to my listeners. To me it is the most important thing in performing. But what was it that came across to them? I did wear my heart on my sleeve that day and I gave it all I had, since I thought it was the last I would play of that piece. However I wasn't going to throw my music out the window.. not that church anyway since there are really nice stained glass ;) I will always cherish that performance of the Rondo (which wasn't my favorite piece of my grad recital) as it was a spring board to a nice, secure audition. I think I gained a lot of confidence back in that 4 1/2 minutes.
So did someone else in the congregation... It happened that a gal is learning the Granados waltz that I chose to play. The 1st waltz from Valses Poeticos is a piece I like to play very late at night.. usually past midnight. It made her day that it was something I chose to program. Her mom said that she said.. Gloria played it so I must not be doing too bad. Ah put on a pedestal.. ah! I guess I must have hit more notes correctly than I thought.
I look forward to putting another program together and will anticipate my next "Winfield" experience.
Camp Allegro
Camp Allegro at Prairie Pines, Wichita KS June 20-24
Things I learned at camp:
1. You always need to have more activities than you think! I remember my music ed professor saying that all the time.
2. Kids always love games and stories.. no matter what age.
3. Any variant of tag works great.
4. They will always say they hate theory but then tell their parents it was their favorite class.
5. It is somewhat possible to teach beginning piano to 7-yr-olds and 14-yr-olds in the same class. (Basic Piano Course.. Martha Hilley & Lynn Freeman Olson)
6. It is good to laugh or scream sometimes. :) I've not played games in a long time!
7. It is easier to say goodbye at camp to people I know I won't see for a long time. It's hard to cry when you're taking care of a whole bunch of kids.
8. The combination of sunscreen and bugspray can smell pleasant.
9. It is better to break a tree branch than to keep running into it.. except when the kids don't succeed in breaking it off!
10. If a challenge was involved, kids would memorize Italian terms and even pronouce them correctly.
11. Pencils, stickers and candy always make good bribes ..other people call it rewards.
Things I learned at camp:
1. You always need to have more activities than you think! I remember my music ed professor saying that all the time.
2. Kids always love games and stories.. no matter what age.
3. Any variant of tag works great.
4. They will always say they hate theory but then tell their parents it was their favorite class.
5. It is somewhat possible to teach beginning piano to 7-yr-olds and 14-yr-olds in the same class. (Basic Piano Course.. Martha Hilley & Lynn Freeman Olson)
6. It is good to laugh or scream sometimes. :) I've not played games in a long time!
7. It is easier to say goodbye at camp to people I know I won't see for a long time. It's hard to cry when you're taking care of a whole bunch of kids.
8. The combination of sunscreen and bugspray can smell pleasant.
9. It is better to break a tree branch than to keep running into it.. except when the kids don't succeed in breaking it off!
10. If a challenge was involved, kids would memorize Italian terms and even pronouce them correctly.
11. Pencils, stickers and candy always make good bribes ..other people call it rewards.
Wednesday, June 22, 2005
30 Famous Chinese Piano Pieces
This book offers a good selection of Chinese piano music by current composers. The score for the pieces I chose for my senior and graduate recital are found here. The paper quality of the book is rather poor. It would be advisable to make photocopies when learning a new piece. Markings would easily damage the score. I'm sorry I don't know whether it is an acid-free edition since it is published in China.
I do intend to talk about each piece and composer in brief, with the hopes that this would be a source of information for pianists and teachers alike. In my research I have found that the little information is scattered in many different websites and references. And of course it would also help me keep track of the information I have found. There is just too much note paper scattered in my apartment too.
The only website that sells this book for a decent price is China Sprout. While you are at this site, check out some of their other offerings. I will be investing in a couple more books later this year.
I do intend to talk about each piece and composer in brief, with the hopes that this would be a source of information for pianists and teachers alike. In my research I have found that the little information is scattered in many different websites and references. And of course it would also help me keep track of the information I have found. There is just too much note paper scattered in my apartment too.
The only website that sells this book for a decent price is China Sprout. While you are at this site, check out some of their other offerings. I will be investing in a couple more books later this year.
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