It has been a while since I have posted. Work has kept me busy, and I have spent some time sorting out what I want to do after I am done practicing law, in a few more years. I took a hiatus from piano lessons, and at least for a while just played my "lounge lizard music" I made the decision at least for the moment to return to Dr. Suzanne Newcomb, a couple of times of month. She has what is called adult student Fridays, and one can sign up through her genius sign up board. So I average 1 or 2 lessons a month depending on her schedule and mine. In the past I was taking lessons from Madeline Karn, who also taught my daughter for many years.
I decided I would change it up for a few months, just to do something different.. I can only say that Mrs. Katherine Lemon, Madeline and Suzanne make up the trifecta of my best teachers, Mrs. Lemon and Madeline are graduates of Oberlin, and Suzanne received her doctorate from Peabody, so I have always been in good hands literally. So that is my update on the piano lesson front.
I also add that I have been dealing with tendonitis the last few months, actually from repetitive needlepoint work. Interestingly it doesn't seem to bother me when I am playing the piano, so I guess that is a good thing.
But I digress and want to say that the post is really about my favorite pianist Emmanuel Ax. Of course I have had the good fortune to see Mr. Ax in concert, with Yo-Yo Ma and with his wife. He is an incredible pianist, and there is simply something warm and genuine about him. I truly think he is amazing.
The recent issue of Clavier Companion has an article entitled the Ax Files, and an interview with Mr. Ax. There are wonderful parts to the print and video interviews. The part of the article and video that truly hit home with me, was his kind words about amateurs.
He talks about the quality of pianists now studying at conservatories, of their great perseverance and talent. But he also talks about amateurs, and that anyone can learn to play the piano. He sort of implied and perhaps actually said that amateurs are part of the future of the piano.
There are so many of us, who dreamed of a career as a musician, whether it was for a day, a month or even over a number of years. Many of us went on to another profession, and some of us still felt that we must make the piano part of our lives. In his interview, Mr. Ax pointed out that anyone can learn the piano, and sit down at the piano and make some music happen.
It is so true. Even if one sits down with a book of music from their early child hood years, a person can perhaps plink out a Christmas carol, or something even a bit harder, and perhaps decide this: hey I really did enjoy this, and I want to bring it back into my life. All three of my trifecta teachers, have always encouraged playing the piano for the sheer enjoyment of it.
I always loved coming to my lessons in high school. I would find Mrs. Lemon playing her Chickering grand with the top up, often world war 2 big band music, that she claimed she danced to with Mr. Lemon. She knew loads of classical pieces, but she also played whatever simply for the sheer joy of playing it. That always made me happy.
Back to Mr. Ax's interview. He also spoke about the great patience that is required to teach piano. No truer words were spoken. It does take great patience, to help a student determine the correct fingering, correct someone's pedaling or lack thereof, or of course, point out for the umpteenth time, hey that is not a b flat.
The article simply affirmed how much Mr. Ax still loves the piano. He also reassured the interviewer, that he gets nervous before performances. I love to get a glimpse of someone's human side, again, it is so re assuring.
Pick up a copy of this magazine at any bookstore, or access it on line at Clavier Companion. It's puts Mr. Ax in a very human light, and that human quality is what attracted me to his artistry in the first place.
I am also such a huge fan of Yo-Yo Ma and of course he is so proud of his collaborative work with Mr. Ma and Jaime Laredo. Incredible interview in print and video.
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