I don't know how to play the violin. In a master class in France, a violin prodigy played rather brilliantly for me -- while standing on one foot. "Try the beginning again, and be sure to keep both of your feet on the floor," I suggested. With string instruments, I notice that when the position of the fingerboard is not fairly stable spatially, playing is more difficult. It makes sense. The left hand finding pitches, and the bow contacting the … [Read more...]
Matter of opinion
After several master classes at the Ecole Normale de Musique in Paris, given by several of us pianists, a student asked me: "Isn't it all just a matter of opinion?" And after so many diverging ideas and approaches, strongly expressed, who could blame anyone for asking that question? With so many differences, perhaps opinions just seem like ... random thoughts? I told him what I believe. "In music -- or politics, or anything -- the 'best' … [Read more...]
Masterclass
"Masterclass" -- the term makes me queasy. We had masters and slaves! A French boss can still be referred to as "Maître," as he is in Denis Dercourt's sadistic, delightful film centering around the life of a pianist, La tourneuse de pages. There's pervasive overuse of "Maestro" in orchestra land ("Will Maestro be joining us?"). My aunt Charlene, in best 1960s style, addressed my childhood birthday cards to "Master Bruce Brubaker." At New … [Read more...]