You run into odd things in the performing arts, especially from non-performers. People thinking—

-Musicians are stupid. Read More »

On Santa Monica Boulevard in Hollywood long ago, a little square building was home to ERNA Chocolates, named for the late wife of the owner, Naftali Blumenau. Mr. Blumenau and his lady companion made the best chocolates ever. I went and bought some pretty often. Read More »

Funny we want to be described as “gifted,” which we can’t take credit for, and not as “hard-working,” which we can take credit for.

Miserable Music-Making: If I can’t do something, that means I must deserve not to be able to do it. Read More »

Ten seconds – Hands off keys; stand up; take deep breath; yell at piano, composer or self; laugh; sit; play. Read More »

Our fingers press keys down to play notes; and without realizing it, we may be imagining pulling the fingers up to end the notes, as though the fingers were glued to the keys. But we needn’t lift the fingers; the keys will do that for us. All we need do is stop holding them down. Read More »

Our fingers press keys down to play notes; and without realizing it, we may be imagining pulling the fingers up to end the notes, as though the fingers were glued to the keys. But we needn’t lift the fingers; the keys will do that for us. All we need do is stop holding them down. Read More »

The first time I went to Dr. A., an acupuncturist, she used the needles and said that she’d then show me a useful exercise. Twenty minutes later I was off the table, sitting in a chair and wondering if she’d forgotten about the exercise. When I asked, she surprised me by saying, “You’re not ready yet.” I was more surprised when I looked inside myself and realized she was right. Read More »

As teachers, we want our students eventually to work on their own—learning repertoire, acquiring technique, forming interpretations, giving performances, deciding what to do next—and teaching their own students. Our job is thus to make ourselves unnecessary; Read More »

I learned in school that “grip” involved fingers and (opposable) thumb; never thought about how one finger by itself has a kind of grip on a key—until 21 years ago, when I lost some sensation in my right hand. This makes me work harder; in big lateral shifts, I use Read More »