Shhh… I bought Carolyn’s birthday present today. I’m so excited and can hardly wait to give it to her!
Posted in Music
Carolyn has had eight weeks of piano lessons now, and today finished her Level 1 book! Her teacher has to postpone the fall schedule until late October, so I’m going to work with her in the beginning of the Level 2 book. So far she knows “C position”, and can play music that steps along [...]
Posted in Carolyn, Music
I am so proud of Carolyn! She had her second piano lesson today, and it’s really obvious that she’s been practicing daily (mostly without prompting). Her piano teacher was pretty pleased with her progress.
Posted in Carolyn, Music
Carolyn has been asking to learn how to play piano for a while, and I went out and bought a couple of beginner books, and tried to work through them with her. I’ve discovered that while I am very proficient at playing piano, I am absolutely terrible at teaching piano. A friend recommended her teacher, [...]
Posted in Carolyn, Firsts, Music
I’ve really enjoyed every show I’ve worked on, but I have to say, this is the first time I’ve ever wished we had a two week run. I think I can honestly say this is the best musical experience I’ve ever participated in. I am going to miss sitting at the Steinway, surrounded by the [...]
Posted in Music
Well, I guess technically it’s not summer yet, but we had our final concert of the season this evening. This is the one we always try to do in a local park, but usually it’s raining. Tonight, however, the weather was perfect. It was a great way to wrap up the season. I’m a little [...]
Posted in Music
West Side Story is finished. As usual, a happy and sad thing – as much as I really, truly hated the accompaniment in the beginning, it kind of grew on me, and I actually got pretty good at playing it, too. And it really seemed like a very large proportion of the cast and the [...]
Posted in Music
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat finished last night. I really loved playing in it, and as usual I’m a little sad to see it end. I’m not sad to see the double rehearsals go – I ate so many dinners in my car the past few weeks that I’ve forgotten what it’s like to [...]
Posted in Music
Because West Side Story isn’t enough of a challenge (you know I’m kidding, right?) I agreed to play in the orchestra for Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat for another school. I had never seen or heard this show before last week, so I got the soundtrack from the library and netflixed the movie. I [...]
Posted in Music
I’m fairly certain that Leonard Bernstein was under the influence of something when he wrote out the piano part to West Side Story. (To be fair, according to wikipedia he had assistants, so maybe it was one of them.) In the prologue, there is a piano solo. A solo which the orchestra director has assured [...]
Posted in Music
