Category: Piano

Mikhail Glinka’s “The Lark” exceeds the definition of a Romantic era composition. It is not defined by harmonies or styles, but rather by the symbolism of a skylark––a free, untamed creature that glides the pastel blue skies and sings through an arbitrary adventure. As you look on and listen to the birdsongs, you will begin […]

Franz Liszt’s Consolation No.3 In Db major is a simple but elegant masterpiece. To say Liszt and simple in the same sentence, when describing one of his piano works, almost sounds like an oxymoron as he is most known for his exceedingly difficult and challenging repertoire; yet here he has blessed us with this simple […]

When I started learning this piece, I was amazed by how Chopin created this beautiful melody. Several words that come to mind when playing this piece are elegant, expressive, flowing, and gentle. My favorite part about this piece is the dynamics mixed with the pedal.  In the beginning of learning this piece, my left hand […]

Canoeing in the Moonlight is a nice and peaceful piece. When I play it, it’s like I am in a canoe. The piece is going quickly but softly, like a drift in the water, which makes it very calming. I worked on playing softly because the whole purpose of this piece is to be quiet. […]

Chopin’s Ballade in G minor was my favorite piece to play. When I play a piece, I try to tell a story with it. The Ballade, split into many, incredibly contrasting sections, provided countless stories to tell. When I first became comfortable with playing the whole piece through by memory, my imagination went wild. One […]

Piano performance has always been a part of my life. For a while, I was disconnected with it due to the unexpected public health crisis and various other issues in my personal life. This “Notturno” by Edvard Grieg was the piece to get me back on a stage, after four years. As a result, it […]

I’ve played Beethoven, Glinka, lots of Chopin and other composers, but I’ve never played Haydn until now! One thing I noticed about playing Haydn was his attention to detail. When I was playing this b minor sonata, if I missed any notes, articulation, or dynamic changes I felt like I messed up the entire piece.  […]

When I think of Beethoven’s Pathetique Sonata, I think of a unique stormy masterpiece that utilizes all aspects of the piano perfectly. Its creative use of dynamics and articulation makes it an exciting piece to play and to hear, but not overwhelming to the audience. Learning the first movement was strenuous, but eventually rewarding. One […]