Yo-Yo Ma and Kathryn Stott
I had the amazing good fortune of hearing Yo-Yo Ma and Kathryn Stott in concert Wednesday evening November 18th, 2015 at the Palladium in Indianapolis, IN. The Palladium is an amazing concert venue, with near perfect acoustics. I learned from review of my program that the great pianist, Michael Feinstein is the Palladium's artistic director. Indianapolis is quite fortunate to have such an amazing concert hall. Truly a work of art!!
So what can I say about Yo-Yo Ma and Kathryn Stott? Well quite simply the concert was wonderful. Their concert tour culminates 30 years of playing together, and their partnership is as strong as ever. It was an honor to be in attendance, and frankly it was a present from my husband, celebrating my 60th birthday on December 1.
This is the fifth time I have seen Yo-Yo Ma. I never tire of his artistry. He "gives it up" for the crowd, and always amazes me. I continue to think about how he plays. In the midst of any piece he enters an almost trance like state, where he is simply one with his instrument. Yo-Yo Ma is fully present, or so it seems from an amateur audience member. I can always count on Mr. Ma to inspire, and to change how I view music, every time I go to his concert.
His partner ship with Kathryn Stott is so wonderful. You can sense their friendship, and the loyal support they give to each other while concertizing. I love the fact that they have never given up on each other or their friendship, through all of the peaks and valleys of life.
Kathryn Stott ( who I have blogged about previously) is also one with her instrument. She is playing the piano, but in a performance she is in fact the piano. She plays with such conviction, and her dynamics are amazing. Her interpretation of the selections was so beautiful. Again, it was simply an honor to be there.
Yo - Yo Ma who was born in Paris began the concert with Faure's After a Dream was a tribute to the recent victims of the Paris massacre. Then Mr. Ma and Ms. Stott played a suite of songs from their Arc of Life CD, including the Bach and the Schubert Ave Marias.
They also performed Shostakovich's Sonata in D minor and Franck's Sonata in A major.
They were both so beautifully performed. Time at a concert like this truly stands still It is still amazing to watch how Yo-Yo Ma uses his bow, completely masterful.
All in all, it was an incredible evening of music. The synergy of a great musical partnership like Yo-Yo Ma and Kathryn Stott is something every music lover should witness. For just a few short hours, you are transported away from the busy-ness of your week, to a place where you can find peace, and you can collect your thoughts about what is truly good in this world.
Music, so powerful and so able to change hearts and minds. Just as I am turning 60, Yo - Yo Ma turned 60 last October 7. I hope he can continue to make a difference through his performances and CDs, and bring his message of the power of music to everyone. So privileged to attend his concerts.
Friday, November 20, 2015
Monday, November 2, 2015
Barbara Kudirka
I always manage to find the pianists and/or musicians at a party. A couple of years ago, I had the pleasure of attending my cousin's daughter's graduation party in Wilmette, Illinois. Claire took piano lessons as a younger child and in high school, and she has always had an interest in music and particularly the piano.
I had the honor of meeting her piano teacher Barbara Kudirka. We spent some time chatting about my favorite instrument, and I told her a little bit about my past piano teachers.
Before I comment on Ms. Kudirka, I want to add that the quest to find the right piano teacher for your child can be a challenge. Today, it probably involves exploring various teachers' websites on the net, and perhaps speaking with family and friends who have a favorite piano teacher.
In the case of Claire, it was actually her Dad that found her teacher. I think that it says something about her Dad, in that he believed in his mind, that music should be a priority, and was determined to find a quality teacher for Claire. Often in family situations, it can be said often, it may be the parent who didn't have music lessons, who wants to pursue that activity for their child.
I add in the case of Claire, her mom's parents bought their family a beautiful spinet piano. When I would go to visit my cousin, I would always make it a point to look at the music Claire was working on, mostly out of curiosity. And music was a priority because the piano was in the living room, with no competition from the television!! Hooray!!
In any event, I only met Barbara Kudirka at that one event, but again, it was a real piano connection as I would like to say. She seemed generally interested in what I was saying, and I add that enthusiasm of amateurs may be exactly the thing to keep piano teachers going forward in life.
Now that Linked In is available, I had the opportunity to look at Barbara's credentials. She is the Director of Worship and Music at Our Saviour's Lutheran Church in Arlington Heights, Illinois and she has degrees in Piano Performance and Piano Pedagogy from Northwestern University - School of Music. Her credentials also reference her interest in the music of the Romantic Era. That is near and dear to my heart for sure.
Not only can Barbara play the piano, she is also an organist and a choir director at her church. The role of church musician is not an easy one. One has to please the pastor, as well as the congregation, which is a challenging task for the best of musicians. However, Barbara states on her Linked In profile that as a theologically trained lay minister in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, she is called to serve the church in the areas of music and faith formation.
I must add that some of the greatest musical experiences of my life have occurred in the church setting, so even though I didn't discuss Barbara's work at her church, I feel like I share some level of kinship as a contemporary choir member in my own church.
My cousin's daughter is soon to be 25, and if she plays I think it might be just for the fun of it all. So I don't know that my path will cross with Barbara Kudirka anytime soon. But I feel that in meeting her, again, it just establishes, quite concretely, that there is a place for the piano in anyone's life. Even if you end up forsaking a career as a musician, to play the piano in the evenings, or at the Christmas holidays, the piano is there to inspire you, and make the quality of your life better.
Again, I think it takes a special person to take the time to seek out a quality piano teacher. Claire's Dad did just that when he found Barbara Kudirka. What a gift!!
I always manage to find the pianists and/or musicians at a party. A couple of years ago, I had the pleasure of attending my cousin's daughter's graduation party in Wilmette, Illinois. Claire took piano lessons as a younger child and in high school, and she has always had an interest in music and particularly the piano.
I had the honor of meeting her piano teacher Barbara Kudirka. We spent some time chatting about my favorite instrument, and I told her a little bit about my past piano teachers.
Before I comment on Ms. Kudirka, I want to add that the quest to find the right piano teacher for your child can be a challenge. Today, it probably involves exploring various teachers' websites on the net, and perhaps speaking with family and friends who have a favorite piano teacher.
In the case of Claire, it was actually her Dad that found her teacher. I think that it says something about her Dad, in that he believed in his mind, that music should be a priority, and was determined to find a quality teacher for Claire. Often in family situations, it can be said often, it may be the parent who didn't have music lessons, who wants to pursue that activity for their child.
I add in the case of Claire, her mom's parents bought their family a beautiful spinet piano. When I would go to visit my cousin, I would always make it a point to look at the music Claire was working on, mostly out of curiosity. And music was a priority because the piano was in the living room, with no competition from the television!! Hooray!!
In any event, I only met Barbara Kudirka at that one event, but again, it was a real piano connection as I would like to say. She seemed generally interested in what I was saying, and I add that enthusiasm of amateurs may be exactly the thing to keep piano teachers going forward in life.
Now that Linked In is available, I had the opportunity to look at Barbara's credentials. She is the Director of Worship and Music at Our Saviour's Lutheran Church in Arlington Heights, Illinois and she has degrees in Piano Performance and Piano Pedagogy from Northwestern University - School of Music. Her credentials also reference her interest in the music of the Romantic Era. That is near and dear to my heart for sure.
Not only can Barbara play the piano, she is also an organist and a choir director at her church. The role of church musician is not an easy one. One has to please the pastor, as well as the congregation, which is a challenging task for the best of musicians. However, Barbara states on her Linked In profile that as a theologically trained lay minister in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, she is called to serve the church in the areas of music and faith formation.
I must add that some of the greatest musical experiences of my life have occurred in the church setting, so even though I didn't discuss Barbara's work at her church, I feel like I share some level of kinship as a contemporary choir member in my own church.
My cousin's daughter is soon to be 25, and if she plays I think it might be just for the fun of it all. So I don't know that my path will cross with Barbara Kudirka anytime soon. But I feel that in meeting her, again, it just establishes, quite concretely, that there is a place for the piano in anyone's life. Even if you end up forsaking a career as a musician, to play the piano in the evenings, or at the Christmas holidays, the piano is there to inspire you, and make the quality of your life better.
Again, I think it takes a special person to take the time to seek out a quality piano teacher. Claire's Dad did just that when he found Barbara Kudirka. What a gift!!
Sunday, November 1, 2015
My musical children
I've taken some time to talk about my musical children. Sarah is 25 now, and is quite an accomplished amateur pianist. More about her in another post.
My son Michael who is 22 is musical in his own right. He took piano lessons for a very short time, and then decided to take guitar. His teacher Mike Hagerty, is a local guitarist, who has quite a following from the catholic schools in central Ohio. He is a creative guitarist, and allows students to learn pieces they are interested in, as well as introducing them to the fundamentals of the guitar.
So, this is a blog about piano, so why do I digress about Michael and the guitar? I digress, because I believe that even if children or adults do not play the piano on your home front, they still hear the piano, and it has a profound effect on their musicality as a whole.
I often found Michael checking chords he had learned on the piano. Or he would come home from high school, and he would be humming a song, and I would find him "chording it out" on the piano.
The piano provided a musical place where he could verify what he was learning on the guitar.
And if nothing else, sometimes, he would hear his sister playing, and I would finding him humming the song she was breaking apart during a practice session.
Though the piano is often the go to instrument of choice for a lot of parents, in terms of an introduction to music, I don't believe it is ever the only way to go musically. Sometimes, for what ever reason, a child will see or hear someone playing a specific instrument, and decide that very day...."Mom I want to play oboe," or "Dad I must play the saxophone."
Also, I think that one sibling playing the piano, might result in friendly competition, and thus, another child wanting to learn to play the drums or cello. If the instrument of choice, gets one to a love of music, that is all I need to hear.
Michael went on to form his own rock band in high school, and looking back they were pretty good. They even played at a local concert venue, which takes "balls" at any age.
I am just glad that my children, now that they are adults love music. They both have a basic knowledge of theory and chord structure, and they both have an amazing sense of rhythm. I can count on Michael to always enlighten me about music he cares about, taking me out of my comfort zone of classical and top forty. The piano opened the door for both of them, and each of them are on their own distinct musical journey.
I've taken some time to talk about my musical children. Sarah is 25 now, and is quite an accomplished amateur pianist. More about her in another post.
My son Michael who is 22 is musical in his own right. He took piano lessons for a very short time, and then decided to take guitar. His teacher Mike Hagerty, is a local guitarist, who has quite a following from the catholic schools in central Ohio. He is a creative guitarist, and allows students to learn pieces they are interested in, as well as introducing them to the fundamentals of the guitar.
So, this is a blog about piano, so why do I digress about Michael and the guitar? I digress, because I believe that even if children or adults do not play the piano on your home front, they still hear the piano, and it has a profound effect on their musicality as a whole.
I often found Michael checking chords he had learned on the piano. Or he would come home from high school, and he would be humming a song, and I would find him "chording it out" on the piano.
The piano provided a musical place where he could verify what he was learning on the guitar.
And if nothing else, sometimes, he would hear his sister playing, and I would finding him humming the song she was breaking apart during a practice session.
Though the piano is often the go to instrument of choice for a lot of parents, in terms of an introduction to music, I don't believe it is ever the only way to go musically. Sometimes, for what ever reason, a child will see or hear someone playing a specific instrument, and decide that very day...."Mom I want to play oboe," or "Dad I must play the saxophone."
Also, I think that one sibling playing the piano, might result in friendly competition, and thus, another child wanting to learn to play the drums or cello. If the instrument of choice, gets one to a love of music, that is all I need to hear.
Michael went on to form his own rock band in high school, and looking back they were pretty good. They even played at a local concert venue, which takes "balls" at any age.
I am just glad that my children, now that they are adults love music. They both have a basic knowledge of theory and chord structure, and they both have an amazing sense of rhythm. I can count on Michael to always enlighten me about music he cares about, taking me out of my comfort zone of classical and top forty. The piano opened the door for both of them, and each of them are on their own distinct musical journey.
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