Wednesday, November 18
How to Listen
Below is a really cool link to an essay I read in my AP english class at school. It is written by Aaron Copland, and it was well written! He discusses the three different planes of listening to music. The last plane is exactly what I am doing in my aural skills class at school right now, so that was pretty cool too. :) enjoy!
How to Listen: "HOW WE LISTEN
Aaron Copland
How to Listen: "HOW WE LISTEN
Aaron Copland
Monday, October 19
Friday, October 9
Monday, October 5
Pianists are underestimated!
Wow, it's been awhile since I have posted something!
One of my good friends from music camp, Libby Roberts, posted something on facebook that brought some great discussions! I was very encouraged by this, so I thought I would also post it on my blog! Here are 10 reasons on how pianists are underestimated:
You know, people say piano isn’t all that hard to play compared to violin or oboe. I mean, you hit the keys right and it sounds fine - - no flat or sharp sounds to worry about - - no tuning issues - - no breath support, right?
Well, I am justified a small rant about how people take advantage of keyboardists and don’t realize it. So next time you go ordering around a pianist, how about taking this into thought:
1. You other instrumentalists have it easy. You can play YOUR instrument all the time. People expect pianists to sit down at a strange instrument with a completely different action, sound, quality, tone, build, and expect the same results as if it was their own instrument. Try finding an available organ. And the key to open the church. And the power switches for lights/blower/organ. And the key for the organ. Realize that no two organs have the same set of sounds. They are all drastically different because of this. Oh and nobody else can be using the entire sanctuary.
2. A number of instruments (especially reeds) require warming up as part of getting the reed ready. But people would look at a pianist funny if he or she decided to do a few finger powers or stretches before playing. Why? Same applies to organs. And organs themselves need to be warmed up. Any temperature/humidity difference can change the pitch/sound quality significantly.
3. Any instruments with a fret system use the same technique fingerings but with different positions. Pianists have to memorize unique fingerings for every single key! And for the organ, you have to add the knowledge of how to do it with your feet. Not to mention having to know which stops/couplers/pistons to pull and at what time.
4. Not to mention chord. On the organ, not only do you have to play each chord with your fingers, but you have to construct the sound of each chord by adding/removing stops.
5. If a violinist can get the nuance of one melody/supporting line down, they have played well. Pianists have to keep at least two -- normally more --voices in mind and play each one as musically as possible. Organists routinely play 5 or 6 voices, on multiple keyboards, with different sounds for each voice. You also have to use the expression pedals to manually change volume (if possible). And any mistakes you make are as loud as the right notes.
6. Brass, wind, and string players all have to play one note using two hands. Pianists have to play up to 10 notes using two hands. Pianists and organists have a MUCH more difficult time sight-reading than do most any other instrumentalists.
7. To sound good on a piano you naturally have to be better. For example, one can strum chords on a guitar and sound fine, but a person can’t just clonk out chords on a piano steadily and expect to sound good. A pianist has to be good enough to spice it up.
8. Pianists have the ability to be a whole orchestra at one time! We have a lot more responsibility than most people think.
9. Pianos are very important. Without them, what violinist, vocalist, or any other instrumentalist will do in a competition or an audition? Everybody needs good ole’ pianists to accompany them! And there is no sound more pleasant on earth than the piano.
10. Piano is one of the hardest instruments to play WELL.
THanks for reading! Comments are welcome!
One of my good friends from music camp, Libby Roberts, posted something on facebook that brought some great discussions! I was very encouraged by this, so I thought I would also post it on my blog! Here are 10 reasons on how pianists are underestimated:
You know, people say piano isn’t all that hard to play compared to violin or oboe. I mean, you hit the keys right and it sounds fine - - no flat or sharp sounds to worry about - - no tuning issues - - no breath support, right?
Well, I am justified a small rant about how people take advantage of keyboardists and don’t realize it. So next time you go ordering around a pianist, how about taking this into thought:
1. You other instrumentalists have it easy. You can play YOUR instrument all the time. People expect pianists to sit down at a strange instrument with a completely different action, sound, quality, tone, build, and expect the same results as if it was their own instrument. Try finding an available organ. And the key to open the church. And the power switches for lights/blower/organ. And the key for the organ. Realize that no two organs have the same set of sounds. They are all drastically different because of this. Oh and nobody else can be using the entire sanctuary.
2. A number of instruments (especially reeds) require warming up as part of getting the reed ready. But people would look at a pianist funny if he or she decided to do a few finger powers or stretches before playing. Why? Same applies to organs. And organs themselves need to be warmed up. Any temperature/humidity difference can change the pitch/sound quality significantly.
3. Any instruments with a fret system use the same technique fingerings but with different positions. Pianists have to memorize unique fingerings for every single key! And for the organ, you have to add the knowledge of how to do it with your feet. Not to mention having to know which stops/couplers/pistons to pull and at what time.
4. Not to mention chord. On the organ, not only do you have to play each chord with your fingers, but you have to construct the sound of each chord by adding/removing stops.
5. If a violinist can get the nuance of one melody/supporting line down, they have played well. Pianists have to keep at least two -- normally more --voices in mind and play each one as musically as possible. Organists routinely play 5 or 6 voices, on multiple keyboards, with different sounds for each voice. You also have to use the expression pedals to manually change volume (if possible). And any mistakes you make are as loud as the right notes.
6. Brass, wind, and string players all have to play one note using two hands. Pianists have to play up to 10 notes using two hands. Pianists and organists have a MUCH more difficult time sight-reading than do most any other instrumentalists.
7. To sound good on a piano you naturally have to be better. For example, one can strum chords on a guitar and sound fine, but a person can’t just clonk out chords on a piano steadily and expect to sound good. A pianist has to be good enough to spice it up.
8. Pianists have the ability to be a whole orchestra at one time! We have a lot more responsibility than most people think.
9. Pianos are very important. Without them, what violinist, vocalist, or any other instrumentalist will do in a competition or an audition? Everybody needs good ole’ pianists to accompany them! And there is no sound more pleasant on earth than the piano.
10. Piano is one of the hardest instruments to play WELL.
THanks for reading! Comments are welcome!
Saturday, September 12
There Will Be Rest
There Will Be Rest by Frank Ticheli.
Coppell TX High School A Cappella Choir's gold medal performance at the Heritage Festival in London. Choral Director Mrs. West did a great job preparing and leading these students in a wonderful performance in the historic Royal Academy of Music.
Coppell TX High School A Cappella Choir's gold medal performance at the Heritage Festival in London. Choral Director Mrs. West did a great job preparing and leading these students in a wonderful performance in the historic Royal Academy of Music.
Tuesday, July 7
Wednesday, June 24
Monday, June 1
Friday, May 22
David Helfgott
My family got a movie in Netflix this evening called, Shine. I usually question a movie if it is not very well-known and doesn't have a gripping title, but somehow my dad had already known that I was going to fall in love with this movie. And, I most certainly did!
This movie stars Geoffrey Rush as David Helfgott, an Australian Concert Pianist, and his hard life story. David Helfgott is still alive today, and performs as often as he can. He suffers from a schizoaffective disorder, but that doesn't stop him from playing piano!
Here is a link to a good, quick biography on him: http://www.musicianguide.com/biographies/1608000385/David-Helfgott.html
The movie Shine did an excellent job, and is a very emotional movie (of course, I cried a lot). The music is all played by David Helfgott, and the soundtrack has gotten very popular! =D
So, this is my discovery of the day!
This movie stars Geoffrey Rush as David Helfgott, an Australian Concert Pianist, and his hard life story. David Helfgott is still alive today, and performs as often as he can. He suffers from a schizoaffective disorder, but that doesn't stop him from playing piano!
Here is a link to a good, quick biography on him: http://www.musicianguide.com/biographies/1608000385/David-Helfgott.html
The movie Shine did an excellent job, and is a very emotional movie (of course, I cried a lot). The music is all played by David Helfgott, and the soundtrack has gotten very popular! =D
So, this is my discovery of the day!
Saturday, May 9
Concert Night!
This is my school, Mid Vermont Christian School's spring concert on May 5, 2009! It was probably our best concert yet! too bad the pictures don't have any sound... =D it was a lot of fun!
This is ME at the piano!! I accompianied the choir!
And that is me on the end with my mouth REAL big in Chamber Choir
That is my teacher, Adam Schwamb conducting....and me at the piano!
This is our Chamber Choir. I am the tall one with brown curly hair.
And a wide shot of our CHOIR!
This is ME at the piano!! I accompianied the choir! 
And that is me on the end with my mouth REAL big in Chamber Choir
That is my teacher, Adam Schwamb conducting....and me at the piano!
This is our Chamber Choir. I am the tall one with brown curly hair.
And a wide shot of our CHOIR!Sunday, April 19
How Can I Keep From Singing
My choir at school is singing this song, but, a different version. This one i found on YouTube, and it is officially my favorite arrangement.
Tuesday, March 24
one of THOSE days...
well. from the title of this post.
you can tell where i'm about to go with this.
but.
i just hit backspace on everything i had originally said.
so.
i'm not going to complain.
but, i will say,
I'm having one of THOSE days on the piano bench.
*those* meaning: very hard. struggling. frustrated. etc. you get the idea.
i really hate THOSE days.
=D
you can tell where i'm about to go with this.
but.
i just hit backspace on everything i had originally said.
so.
i'm not going to complain.
but, i will say,
I'm having one of THOSE days on the piano bench.
*those* meaning: very hard. struggling. frustrated. etc. you get the idea.
i really hate THOSE days.
=D
Friday, March 13
Alleluia - Thompson
I discovered this one all on my own. and i cried.
it's gorgeous.
This peice was written soon after the Nazi occupation of France when the future of the free world was in doubt. Thompson was moved so by these events that when he was commissioned by Koussevitzky to write a festival fanfare peice for voices for the new Berkshire Music Center at Tanglewood he instead wrote this sad, plaintive prayer saying that a fanfare was not appropriate for the times.
Hope you enjoy it because I definently did!
it's gorgeous.
This peice was written soon after the Nazi occupation of France when the future of the free world was in doubt. Thompson was moved so by these events that when he was commissioned by Koussevitzky to write a festival fanfare peice for voices for the new Berkshire Music Center at Tanglewood he instead wrote this sad, plaintive prayer saying that a fanfare was not appropriate for the times.
Hope you enjoy it because I definently did!
Monday, March 9
Why did God create music to have such a powerful sway?
So, I've been having a lot of arguements and/or debates with my friends about our musical tastes. People keep telling me that we just have different preferences and to leave it at that and not to argue over which is better. Man...I don't know if it's just me, but, it really gives me shivers when I hear the music that is being played today among people my age. People have told me that I'm weird, and even shunned me, because I hate that music, but, too bad. I LOVE IT and I LIVE FOR IT!
My teacher loaned me this book called the Music of Jesus: From Composistion to Koinonia by Mark Hijleh (his composition professor at Houghton College). I read chapter one last night. And, just chapter one has already dealt with most of this issue. Here are some quotes that I wrote down in my journal. I just couldn't reword this in my own words, it's so good. Remeber, this is just from chapter one!
"God wants music to be used as a tool to reflect the power of His nature."
"Nothing seems to speak to the power and majesty, the tenderness and sorrow, and the creative aspects of God as directly as musical sound does."
"Music better conveys the concepts which are outside the realm of linguistic meaning than words do."
"Music is here to remind us of and to reflect the eternal things of God that words cannot convey."
and my favorite:
"Music has the ability to corrupt as well as to edify."
Wow. I hope my good friends are reading this. I've been looking through some of the music I have and noticing that I even have some trash, that I probably should be getting rid of. Music was created by God....and as Christians we should be taking care of His creation (GENESIS!!).... by, trying our best to excell in our musical abilities, and to listen to the music that displays God's character! crazy.
I'll be sharing more on this topic, so, I'll keep you posted!
=D
Wednesday, February 18
Monday, February 16
Sunday, February 15
Scales.
hm.
so, i was doing my regular scales at the piano. starting with C major, then A minor, and around the circle of fifths i went. Now, sometimes i wonder if i have ADHD, or if i just get easily distracted. usually when i'm doing my scales, i'll stop at e flat major, and go tell mom something then come back to the piano, and start the scales again. or, i'll stop at b major, and go check facebook real quick, then head back to the piano. wow. that sounds worse and worse as i keep going.
Why is it important to do scales? Well, you either use them or forget them. My dream is to become a concert pianist. You can't become a concert pianist, if you can't even do all your scales all the way through without getting up and etertaining yourself with some random thing.
Wow. the word, dedication is running through my mind. I tell people that I'm dedicated to piano playing, but, am i just saying that, or is it true?
It all starts with the SCALES!
"Now, go practice piano Alisha!"
so, i was doing my regular scales at the piano. starting with C major, then A minor, and around the circle of fifths i went. Now, sometimes i wonder if i have ADHD, or if i just get easily distracted. usually when i'm doing my scales, i'll stop at e flat major, and go tell mom something then come back to the piano, and start the scales again. or, i'll stop at b major, and go check facebook real quick, then head back to the piano. wow. that sounds worse and worse as i keep going.
Why is it important to do scales? Well, you either use them or forget them. My dream is to become a concert pianist. You can't become a concert pianist, if you can't even do all your scales all the way through without getting up and etertaining yourself with some random thing.
Wow. the word, dedication is running through my mind. I tell people that I'm dedicated to piano playing, but, am i just saying that, or is it true?
It all starts with the SCALES!
"Now, go practice piano Alisha!"
Sunday, February 1
Gilel plays Rachmaninov!
His hair totally makes this!
Just kidding.
Ladies and gentlemen, I give you, the BEST of the BEST, Emil Gilels:
Just kidding.
Ladies and gentlemen, I give you, the BEST of the BEST, Emil Gilels:
Wednesday, January 28
Burn calories while practicing!
You want to lose weight, but can't seem to find time to excercise because you have to practice your instrument?
Well, burn calories while playing your instrument!
I just found out that playing piano for 3 hours you burn off 510 calories! Sweet!
Well, burn calories while playing your instrument!
I just found out that playing piano for 3 hours you burn off 510 calories! Sweet!
Saturday, January 24
Rick Wakeman
Richard Christopher Wakeman (born 18 May 1949 in Perivale, London) is an English keyboard player best known as the keyboardist for progressive rock group Yes. Originally a classically trained pianist, he was a pioneer in the use of electronic keyboards and in the use of a rock band in combination with orchestra and choir. He purchased his first electronic keyboard, a minimoog, from the actor Jack Wild. Wakeman was able to buy it for half the regular selling price because Wild thought it did not work as it only played one note at a time.
Sunday, January 18
Emily Bear - The Love In Us
Amazing.
Wow.
Goosebumps.
She's so cute.
Wow.
She's only seven years old!
WOW!
Wow.
Goosebumps.
She's so cute.
Wow.
She's only seven years old!
WOW!
Districts Winter Festival!
So, as I said before, I got accepted as an alto in the High School Choir for the Vermont Districts Winter Festival! The concert is on Feburary 7th at 4pm at the Hartford Highschool.
If you are planning on coming to the concert, than please do not watch the videos and wait and see in anticipation! If you are IN the concert, than go ahead and watch! =D
here are the pieces that we will be singing:
Beati Quorum Via by Charles Villiers Standford
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66EfWRLs5kw
I would recommend you go to youtube and watch this one. it wouldn't let me put it on my blog, so, click the link!
Famine Song by Vida and arranged by Matthew Culloton:
The Gondoliers for four-part chorus by Sir Arthur Seymour Sullivan
The Word Was God by Rosephanye Powell
O Whistle and I'll Come To Ye
I'll Ay Call In By Yon Town
My Love's in Germany
arranged by Mack Wilberg
Yup. So, that's pretty much it. Hope to see you there!
If you are planning on coming to the concert, than please do not watch the videos and wait and see in anticipation! If you are IN the concert, than go ahead and watch! =D
here are the pieces that we will be singing:
Beati Quorum Via by Charles Villiers Standford
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66EfWRLs5kw
I would recommend you go to youtube and watch this one. it wouldn't let me put it on my blog, so, click the link!
Famine Song by Vida and arranged by Matthew Culloton:
The Gondoliers for four-part chorus by Sir Arthur Seymour Sullivan
The Word Was God by Rosephanye Powell
O Whistle and I'll Come To Ye
I'll Ay Call In By Yon Town
My Love's in Germany
arranged by Mack Wilberg
Yup. So, that's pretty much it. Hope to see you there!
Wednesday, January 7
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