Technology and Classical Piano

Last weekend in Princeton, I had finished adjudicating a student and then took a break. I came out in the hallway, and she was there, texting. For whatever reason, I decided to joke and make small talk with her and told her if she gave me her number, I'd text her the results of the exam before her teacher found out.

She stopped dead in her thumb thumping tracks, looked at me dumbfounded and said, "You TEXT?"

(Oh, No, I thought momentarily, I must look really OLD!) I laughed and said, "yes, and I Twitter, I blog, and have a Facebook too. Why?"

No kidding, she dropped her phone! I was then told that I was definitely not from around her area, because the teachers around there don't even know what Facebook is. Her teacher doesn't have a cellphone or email.

Interesting. I'm really going to have to think about the ever growing generation gap that technology is making. Can you relate to a piano student at their level, in their world? In my opinion, and that is all it is, I can not expect them to want to know about my wonderful world of classical music, the history, literature, pianists, or the amazing sounds of it all, if I do not also expect myself to learn a part of their world.

Some of the piano teacher colleagues in my world will view this blog and shake their heads; they know of whom I speak. It is obviously not about you because you're reading this! Our state music newsletter will soon come via email only, unless you specifically request a paper copy. Many of our elder colleagues do not want email. I have a concern that we may lose millions more students who will see our antiquated ways as quaint, and from a different age.

I am ever a student, even if texting is the way to ask them if they've practiced yet today. Your opinions?

The Royalty Check Arrived!

You may not know that I composer under the name C. S. Wolf and I'm published by FJH Music Company. I have three piano pieces with them at the moment for which I receive "royalties". They are two piano solos-Monkey Business, Chestnut the Gerbil, and a piano duet, I Wanna Be a Spy.

Seeing if I could get published was an immensely fun project that spanned about 3 years of my life. I was in a writing whirlwind. Ideas flew from my pen. I tested them on students and other teachers. I was enthralled with the whole process. I submitted four that I thought were the best examples of my work, and they liked three of them. Only now do I realize how fortunate I was as a first timer. I have heard countless stories of unpublished writers and composers who are really good but have not gotten their foot in the door yet.

Once the publisher would like to purchase your piece, they send you a contract and you sign away all rights to your work. They now own this intellectual property and can change it and edit it freely. They also send your manuscript back to you as they are in the publishing stages for your editorial assistance. I've never scanned anything for details so hard in my life! And as I look back at their published forms, I still see small things I'd like to change. Such is life, I guess.

I receive 10% of sales. In case you ever thought about being a professional writer or composer, rethink 10% of $1.95 sheet music. In addition, the publishers don't always sell your music at $1.95. To the major music stores they sell it for half of that or less, so that the stores can make a profit too.

So, I was so excited that I received a royalty check in the mail yesterday-for about fifteen seconds. It was for $9.47. This is a quarterly payment for 68 copies of music. I'm not saying it's not fun to receive ongoing payments for something I did 3 years ago, but, really. I guess could buy you and myself a latte to celebrate!

Things I Thought While Judging

(Note to readers-the first sentences are what I thought; the second are what I wrote)

A half note is still two beats in length. It should not be however much you feel like, any less than two beats, or a staccato for one beat with a rest. Without a pulse, your piece is dead. Have you considered Mr. Metronome for this piece? A steady tempo is your next goal.

Imagination is a must. if you're performing a sneaky detective piece, be mysterious. If it's supposed to be cool, go for it. I have sometimes heard this bear as the biggest, meanest, nastiest bear in the woods. He walks heavily (pesante) and growls!

The damper pedal is not either on or off like a light switch. Changing your pedal with the harmonies will will enhance the effect of this piece.

Dynamics people. Bringing out loud and quiet moments of your echo song can really make it come alive.

There is an inverse relation between the number of times a measure is circled and the likelihood that the student will play it correctly. I see that you are still working on measures 7-8 where your teacher has marked it. Keep listening-it's worth it!

A chair can be a friend or an enemy.

Details make the difference. In everything.

I don't like fast food.

Princeton sites and sights

I'm back from two long days of judging over forty students and their end of the year piano exams. They are really called guild auditions; students are auditioned to become a member of the guild of pianists across the country. The national piano playing auditions are held around the world, usually in the spring and last year over 125,000 students participated. My audition site had everyone but one pass. That's another story.

The pianos left something to be desired. Both pianos should have been tuned before this event. The upright (ahem) was in very bad shape, and the littlest children couldn't reach the floor. The bench was loose and squeaked. One of the precious discovered this immediately and began rocking inbetween each piece while I was trying to write. Finally she asked me if I heard her. I said yes, wasn't it funny? And she replied, "You're a nice lady. This would drive my mother CRAZY".

Who should complain about a grand piano? Well, when the hammer action is loose, the pedals are not adjusted, and the middle is extremely bright from their praise band keyboard stints, I can't help be wonder if there's any good instrument in town? I'm sure there is, somewhere.

I had folding tables and hard chairs. I liberated a chair pew at around ten a.m. each day because I don't know if my back would have been very happy with me. It is a reminder to me to have a great seat for our judge.

Because of a wedding at church number one, we had to move to church number two. Across the street from church number one was this cute little "gingerbread" house; I guess everyone in Princeton refers to it that way. Not knowing that I asked the chair if the city owned the gingerbread house, and she wondered whether I knew it was really referenced that way? It does look like frosting doesn't it?

And "up north", as northern Minnesota is called, you'll see signs for wild rice dotting the landscape. They usually sell rice in pristine condition, plus bags for less money that are rice pieces, not whole. I don't mind either. After I soak it to get some of the wild flavor out of it, I usually mix it with long grain white rice or make soup. This sign was unusual because of its second option. I didn't stop to buy any, although I was curious. Would you try it?

Gone Judging instead of Just a-Wishin'...

I'm leaving early for a judging stint in northern Minnesota. In the event that there is not internet access (gasp), I'll post Friday's pictures early.

Many of my parents use the lesson time to walk around our pond. They tell me what they saw, or enjoy a little time to themselves all seasons of the year. Here is a virtual walk for you. Pond, meet the bloggers, bloggers, this is "the pond".
Peace and enjoy your weekend!

Keynote Address

Hey-cool news. I was asked to be the keynote speaker for a state conference in August. Here's the blurb I gave them for the marketing part. You all can help form this presentation in the next few months. Does this make you want to attend?


The Pleasure of Participation
Musicians and teachers are poised on the edge of a great new challenge-making more music makers in the 21st Century. Be renewed, invigorated and reclaim the
joy, fun, and inspiration of life's musical moments.

Theme Thursday - FIRE!

Known for his catch phrase "You're Fired!" from the apprentice, Donald Trump is our FIRE(d) element of Theme Thursday this week.

A few years ago, a colleague of mine had a student that just wouldn't practice. Talented, capable, but lazy, this student came week after week with nothing new prepared, nothing to say but a shrug of the shoulders, and wore down my friend.

Finally, she had HAD it! The lesson had just begun, the student sat there. So my friend asked if the student had ever seen the show The Apprentice. Oh yes, they replied.

Well, she said, "if I was the Donald, I would fire you. I would look you right in the eye from my desk, lean over with my finger pointed like this, and say, 'You're fired'! Now, I'm going up to read, you are going to spend your lesson practicing. And when you're finished, I'll follow you out to your mom's car.

Practice improved but the family quit after that school year. I don't think I could ever 'fire' a student like that. Could you?