The Collaborative Piano Blog

Congratulations, and keep up the good work!

2009-11-07T14:05:18.242-05:00

Congratulations, and keep up the good work!

Congratulations, Chris! Very well done!

2009-11-07T12:31:03.438-05:00

Congratulations, Chris! Very well done!

Thank YOU, Chris. I don't accompany much anymore,...

2009-11-07T12:10:01.818-05:00

Thank YOU, Chris. I don't accompany much anymore, but am devoted to teaching. Your blog has such a great variety of articles, links, quotes, etc. that are applicable to more than collaberative piano. I find it inspiring, amusing, helpful, a community... All the best for the next 4 years!

Congratulations! I always enjoy reading articles i...

2009-11-07T08:38:38.938-05:00

Congratulations! I always enjoy reading articles in this blog site as a serious collaborative pianist. That is great that the art of accompanying/collaboration is getting recognized as a real special profession, but unfortunately it did not work for me.... I got BM and MM in piano performance from "artist-in-residence" at this small University (there is no school providind accompanying degree in my area), and I was doing accompanying as much as I can within their small budget, because there was a huge need. The school has two full-time staff accompanists who do not even have a degree in piano, so I was hoping that I could be hired as the third accompanist once the position is approved. Now the position officially opened up and the school decided to hire a person with DMA in collaboration, and I was kicked out. I am trying to go as a freelance (I am reading a lot of articles in this blog to get ideas), but it won't be easy....

Anyways. Great blog, and please keep providing informations to us serious collaborative pianists.

Typo. I meant "different ways of framing".

2009-11-07T06:47:55.631-05:00

Typo. I meant "different ways of framing".

Anonymous commenters: First of all, I plead guilt...

2009-11-07T06:46:35.601-05:00

Anonymous commenters:

First of all, I plead guilty to excerpting the parts of the article that would make people bristle. I also admit that there are elements of the article that still ring true.

However, one of the things that feminism has taught us is that the language in which a message is wrapped can say as much as the message itself. In this case, the language that is used to describe both accompanists and women in the article is condescending. Partnership, team-playing, and collaboration are entirely different way of framing the experience compared to servitude and self-obliteration, and result in an entirely different dynamic of music-making.

And for the record, I often make more than the singers I play with, esp. on radio and television.

As an active collaborative pianist, I don't think ...

2009-11-06T22:38:05.071-05:00

As an active collaborative pianist, I don't think that this is entirely off base.

There exists repertoire when the accompanist is not an equal partner, like show pieces, or even many arias. There is repertoire which contains give and take, and repertoire where the pianist is primarily supporting the soloist. In such music, the accompaniment IS a secondary thing.

Furthermore, I think self-effacement is a necessary CAPABILITY of good accompanist/ collaborative artist (this includes other chamber musicians as well) and that sympathy is of the essence.

Disquieting when applied to sonata repertoire, perhaps, but certainly not egregious. Accompanist and collaborative pianist are not synonyms and it is important to make this distinction before dismissing this dated, but still relevant entry.

i am currently conducting a series of interviews w...

2009-11-06T15:21:04.767-05:00

i am currently conducting a series of interviews with some of my collaborative colleagues and i asked one of them why scholarship hasn't paid more attention to the accompanist. his reply was: if we are in the spotlight, then we are taking away from the person on whom the focus should be-- the singer who is delivering the text. i must say, i've never thought of it that way, and i can't help but agree. even my mother tells me to this day that she can't help but pay attention to the singer when she sees me perform. i think that's because i am doing a good job, i don't think of that as a slight.

further, when i'm performing at my best, i really feel like i am wrapped up in my singer's sound. i'm playing right along with the singer as s/he sings it. i do alter my playing to suit the person i'm performing with. maybe i think a phrase should pull back, but the singer moves forward on it. well, if i want that job, i'll move forward at that moment, convincingly with him or her. that's our life. take a listen to dieskau/horowitz dichterliebe if you want to hear two people who are brilliant musicians but not interested in making music together.

"it doesn't involve the strain," well, most of the piano parts i play are not as difficult as the rachmaninov concerto, although i certainly have played some really difficult pieces, but MOST aren't. i'm not memorizing whole pieces, just passages as needed. being able to see the score does make me SO much more calm.

i'm not saying i agree whole-heartedly with the self-obliteration and secondary thing. i'm completely necessary! nobody wants to hear an accapella singer for 90 minutes. but i think there is something to be said that the singer does get the most notice, the biggest fee, and is in the spotlight. that's how the entertainment industry works. i'm always struck at popular concerts at how loud the audience applauds for the band-- for the 30 seconds they are acknowledged. people appreciate all the parts that make the concert come together.

i read the whole article, and i'm struck by how relevant the advice is. good pianists are a dime a dozen. it may be dated, but much of it strikes me as still true. there are many aspects of the article that you have agreed with in your own blog over the years. sadly, it is more exciting to pick out the ones that make people's skin burn than to present a balanced assessment.

This could be the handbook to being a good wife an...

2009-11-06T08:33:37.239-05:00

This could be the handbook to being a good wife and mother too! Think only of others, sacrifice yourself for the sake of your kids, etc. Not only have CP's come far but WOMEN, too! And yet we all continue to work at shedding the cloak of inequality.

Great thoughts, Chris! I've been studying voice th...

2009-11-05T21:34:20.845-05:00

Great thoughts, Chris! I've been studying voice this semester and have found it to be incredibly beneficial (and challenging!). Sure helps me to relate better to my students as they experience frustrations. :-)

dear God that's not good. The Dresden Dolls wrote ...

2009-11-05T13:19:06.218-05:00

dear God that's not good. The Dresden Dolls wrote a song about it called Lonesome Organist Rapes Page Turner. I myself have been an accompanist a few times and it's been something I've really enjoyed.

I added a link on my blog to your blog, as I think it's a really useful resource for all things piano.

I often imagine myself as a lego piano player. It ...

2009-11-04T15:14:49.175-05:00

I often imagine myself as a lego piano player. It often ends with getting put back in a red lego box.

Thanks Chris!

HH

that is GREAT!

2009-11-04T14:03:19.240-05:00

that is GREAT!

Ooh! That would make a wonderful addition to my pi...

2009-11-04T11:22:30.282-05:00

Ooh! That would make a wonderful addition to my piano collection on my studio windowsill.

Wow, how fun! Is this for sale?

2009-11-03T23:27:25.575-05:00

Wow, how fun! Is this for sale?

This is so CUTE!!!

2009-11-03T22:51:07.208-05:00

This is so CUTE!!!

That guy has super posture!

2009-11-03T21:18:11.659-05:00

That guy has super posture!

Excellent article, Chris! What I've been finding ...

2009-11-03T00:44:15.505-05:00

Excellent article, Chris!

What I've been finding as of late is how energized I get from venturing out into new territory. Jazz piano has been sheer fun.

Jamming with other musicians gives such a high.

Singing solo is completely different from singing in a choir. It's scary! Thankfully, my instructor is very encouraging.

I find I'm a better teacher when I continue to be a student.

This is one of my favorite songs of all time :) I ...

2009-11-02T14:57:21.272-05:00

This is one of my favorite songs of all time :) I love it and this rendition is stunning.

so beautiful.

also beautiful by Hahn are his Chansons Grises and another of my favorite songs of all time: Si Mes Vers Avaient Des Ailes

How true Anonymous. We must lead by example. Vine...

2009-11-02T13:18:21.528-05:00

How true Anonymous. We must lead by example.

Vinegar works well when you have a sore throat. Here's one recipe: http://www.recipezaar.com/Sore-and-strep-throat-away-Gargle-106056

I've grown up on white vinegar mixed with salt and a bit of water. I wound up doing a science fair experiment on it too. Extremely effective.

That is indeed exquisite. I don't think I'd heard ...

2009-11-02T10:32:48.303-05:00

That is indeed exquisite. I don't think I'd heard of Reynaldo Hahn before. Can you tell me the CD? -- it's definitely going on my wish list!

Thanks for the vinegar tip, I'm sure it's easier o...

2009-11-02T10:15:15.576-05:00

Thanks for the vinegar tip, I'm sure it's easier on the piano than Lysol. Speaking of Lysol, I give everything in my studio a spritz after every lesson. I urge my students to wash their hands in the kitchen before even entering the studio, and I wash mine, too. Set a good example for your students- if you have to sneeze, don't touch the piano afterward. Sneeze into your elbow and then still wash your hands anyway.

.., helpful tips for the pianos and the children, ...

2009-11-02T04:09:27.031-05:00

.., helpful tips for the pianos and the children, this is my first time to heard about vinegar and water as cleanser for piano keys.. :)

online piano course

I'd like to add that Simone Luti and Tim Nelson wi...

2009-11-01T18:08:16.533-05:00

I'd like to add that Simone Luti and Tim Nelson will be giving masterclasses for the pianists as well.

I will be accepting applications throughout the week, but if you know yours will be late please email me.

Deanna Boychuck
Associate Artistic & General Administrator
Canadian Operatic Arts Academy

it must be audition season!!!! My blog has an audi...

2009-10-30T11:07:54.415-04:00

it must be audition season!!!! My blog has an audition pianist post too...