I'm still in the conceptual design phase of this website... so it doesn't make a lot of sense yet from the perspective of the visitor. However, it IS taking shape, gradually. In this header... labelled 001, I'll update the progress as I see it. You MAY have been referred here recently.. in which case there isn't too much to be expected other than noting the general layout... which is in my view, utterly fantastic. Note that when you click on an index item, the paragraph required appears instantly. It's a beautiful concept site... with it's own URL to boot. Many possibilities exist for all topics using this format.
How the online piano lesson program will work.
I don't know yet. (Sept. 2010). I'll work on this soon.
Tuesday, August 31
Monday, August 30
Significance of Mozart is higher than normally considered.
Here's a quote from Larouche on Mozart... with the pieces he's referring to...
Art & Science
Compare this with a comparable challenge from the domain of Classical musical composition. Take, as a sample, two specially related compositions of W.A. Mozart: first, his "Ave Verum Corpus," which was a relatively very late work in his life-time, a composition which is to be compared with his important, earlier song, "Abendempfindung."
This Present Century : The Secret Economy's Outlook by Lyndon H. LaRouche, Jr. (Jun 4, 2010)
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YouTube - Mozart Ave Verum Corpus por Leonard Bernstein
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YouTube - Mozart: Abendempfindung - Arianne Abela Senior Recital
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Art & Science
Compare this with a comparable challenge from the domain of Classical musical composition. Take, as a sample, two specially related compositions of W.A. Mozart: first, his "Ave Verum Corpus," which was a relatively very late work in his life-time, a composition which is to be compared with his important, earlier song, "Abendempfindung."
This Present Century : The Secret Economy's Outlook by Lyndon H. LaRouche, Jr. (Jun 4, 2010)
[+]
YouTube - Mozart Ave Verum Corpus por Leonard Bernstein
[+]
YouTube - Mozart: Abendempfindung - Arianne Abela Senior Recital
[+]
Saturday, August 28
The Glow Worm -- just for fun.
Here's a tune that was first composed in a serious music style... and then was later revamped as pop tune in the 1950's... Glow Worm. I've surfed the net for a few interesting links I'd like you to view now...
http://www.ajsmidi.com/alpcond/alpha_07/midi/glowworm_tjk.mid
http://www.ajsmidi.com/alpcond/alpha_07/midi/glowworm_tjk.mid
Glow Worm... midi file
YouTube - Mills Brothers - Glow Worm (live, 1957)
YouTube - Paul Lincke : Glühwürmchen Idyll (Glow Worm) For Orchestra From Lysistrata - Rare Recording
YouTube - [HD] ♥♥♫ "Glow Worm"
Paul Lincke - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
http://www.ajsmidi.com/alpcond/alpha_07/midi/glowworm_tjk.mid
http://www.ajsmidi.com/alpcond/alpha_07/midi/glowworm_tjk.mid
Glow Worm... midi file
YouTube - Mills Brothers - Glow Worm (live, 1957)
YouTube - Paul Lincke : Glühwürmchen Idyll (Glow Worm) For Orchestra From Lysistrata - Rare Recording
YouTube - [HD] ♥♥♫ "Glow Worm"
Paul Lincke - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Thursday, August 26
Broadway play CD and lesson book-- My Fair Lady
This week, we'll be looking at the 1963 broadway play My Fair Lady based on Pygmalion by that playright George Bernard Shaw... for which there is a theatre in Niagara-on-the-Lake where I attended a few plays travelling to and from on bicycle in my teens, from Niagara Falls. Anyway, enough about me. On with the show...I've put together my own Youtube playlist-- learning a few painful programming lessons along the way... and I can now present you with the lesson plan...
1. Listen to the playlist.
2. Get my booklet.
3. Learn the songs by singing and listening.
4. Learn to play them.
5. Write your own musical play and have it performed by a cast of actors in the theatre of your choice. Grade will be assigned based on New York Times reviews. Just kidding. But... maybe it's not such a bad idea anyway. What do you think?
Here's the playlist.. get started.. and have fun.
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1. Listen to the playlist.
2. Get my booklet.
3. Learn the songs by singing and listening.
4. Learn to play them.
5. Write your own musical play and have it performed by a cast of actors in the theatre of your choice. Grade will be assigned based on New York Times reviews. Just kidding. But... maybe it's not such a bad idea anyway. What do you think?
Here's the playlist.. get started.. and have fun.
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Tuesday, August 24
Homework links... listen, read and watch... Schiller, Rachmaninoff and more
Homework time... you have to view these if you're going to take lessons from me on the piano.. .some of them are directly related, some are not. If you're part of my high school extracurricular program... you're expected to go through all of them... younger students.. can take a few of them.
Elementary fingering
First of all, you will need to think of each finger (and your thumb) as numbered from one through five. Your thumb is "finger 1" and your pointer is "2" and so on. Of course, your left hand will begin with the thumb as "1" as well. Here is a diagram of your right hand with the finger numbers. See if you can count your own fingers like this right now...
Next, use the fingers of your hand to play 5 notes in a row. Those notes do NOT have to start with C. You can start on ANY note. For example, the following diagram shows the five notes you will play begin with D.
When you play the notes, make sure that your fingers are curved as follows... because it's important than each key be struck with the same amount of pressure. Only when your fingers are curved can you control your finger muscles properly to control how loud or soft the note will be. Learning to do this early is important. Notice in the picture below that the hand is holding tennis ball. By imagining your hand holding a tennis ball as you play, you will have the proper curve on your fingers.
Next, use the fingers of your hand to play 5 notes in a row. Those notes do NOT have to start with C. You can start on ANY note. For example, the following diagram shows the five notes you will play begin with D.
When you play the notes, make sure that your fingers are curved as follows... because it's important than each key be struck with the same amount of pressure. Only when your fingers are curved can you control your finger muscles properly to control how loud or soft the note will be. Learning to do this early is important. Notice in the picture below that the hand is holding tennis ball. By imagining your hand holding a tennis ball as you play, you will have the proper curve on your fingers.
Monday, August 23
Suggested viewing-- experimental learning / instruction process continues
This blog is only a prototype... of something I have a vague idea of... in other words, I'm not sure where I'm going with it... but I have elements such as... my recommendation to "students" to view these sites and videos I've picked out for you this afternoon... they're all rated ok for kids... and any adults too..
Basically, be prepared to consider a few of these with seriousness after you've enjoyed them... in particular, I have the music for The Swan... intermediate level... but I still need the chords and chord analysis for the very funny presentation of Up Up and Away... you can find them and post them here... As far as Weird Al goes... consider his articulate and very legible lyrics... and we'll talk about how high a rating he gets and why... finanally the collaborative piano blog from the RCM where I attended school for a time... is worth looking at.
Lessons are basically conversations of growth... where there is an exchange... I'd say about 80/20 in favor of my giving new ideas to the student-- that's why they're the student.. but the feedback I take (the 20%) is required for me to "hear" what that student wants... and to use it for my own growth... Read Grow or Die... to learn more about that... google it yourself... the Future of Education is online... like this I think... and this is still developing. If you are in high school and require extracurricular piano classes, give me a hoot.. at rick_potvin@yahoo.com...
Saturday, August 21
3 chord method book available for lending.
Ask me about the 3 chord method book... I have a few copies available for a one-month lending period...
Friday, August 20
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