Robert Silverman Plays the Copland Piano Variations

One of the benefits of YouTube is that users can render complex scores much more accessible by cuing an audio recording with a score in order to combine the listening and reading experience. The rhetoric of Copland's abstract period definitely comes through in this superb recording of the Copland Piano Variations by Canadian pianist (and former UBC colleague!) Robert Silverman.

Welcome Hamilton-Halton ORMTA Members

Greetings to all visitors from the Hamilton-Halton ORMTA branch. I look forward to meeting all of you and hope that you enjoy my presentation at St. Christopher's in Burlington. Here are some past Collaborative Piano Blog posts that you might find interesting:

• Required and Preferred Skills for the Collaborative Pianist
• The One-Page Guide to Collaborative Piano Playing
• Career Options in Collaborative Piano
• What is Collaborative Piano?
• How To Get Work as a Freelance Collaborative Pianist

If you're interested in following Collaborative Piano Blog posts on a regular basis, you can either 1) become a fan on Facebook, 2) subscribe using an RSS reader, or 3) subscribe via email. Thanks for coming to the workshop and I hope that we can continue the conversation over the coming weeks and months!

This Month at Sheet Music Plus

If you're interested in building your library or stocking up on some sheet music in the next while, there are some great deals happening at Sheet Music Plus in the next month, including 20% off all Henle Urtext scores, Jamey Aebersold jazz publications, and all books in the Alfred's Premier Piano Course. And if that's not enough, don't forget the usual 40% off all Bargain Bin selections.

Workshop/Recital This Sunday in Burlington, Ontario - Collaboration: How to Breathe New Life Into Your Musical Activities

This Sunday, January 31st at 3pm in St. Christopher's Anglican Church (662 Guelph Line) in Burlington, I will be presenting Collaboration: How to Breathe New Life Into Your Musical Activities, a workshop/recital oresented in conjunction with Hamilton-Halton ORMTA. About the workshop:

Whether you're a student, professional musician, or teacher, it's never too late to expand the scope of your musical activities through collaboration. Royal Conservatory faculty member and Collaborative Piano Blog author Christopher Foley looks at the genres, skills, and possibilities of the piano in ensemble and how you can incorporate them into your musical life.

My wife (Wendy Hatala Foley) and I will be starting out with a mini-recital of various operatic and art song favorites. This will be special, as believe it or not, Wendy and I have performed together only a handful of times since moving to Toronto (hey, if you were a dramatic mezzo soprano in your vocal prime, wouldn't you rather perform with orchestra?). After that I will be giving a lecture on subjects such as repertoire, training, career options, and how to get projects and partnerships going at any stage of your studies or career. I also hope to have time for a Q+A session, and of course, I plan to tell the fascinating story of my blogging journey of the last four years.

Tickets are $10 advance/$12 at the door. Call (905) 634-9947 to reserve tickets before Sunday. Hope to see you there!


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Three Pianos Explode Winterreise at the Ontological Theater Feb. 25-March 20 in NYC

Here's a wild romp in NYC not to be missed: from February 25 to March 20 at the Ontological Theater, Rick Burkhardt, Alec Duffy and Dave Maloy will be presenting Three Pianos, an irreverent look at Schubert's Winterreise. More about the event:

Based on Schubert's "Winterreise," his classic song cycle on winter heartbreak, Three Pianos takes the form of a musical lecture/demo gone astray, with the three creators each at their own piano, leading the audience through their respective passions for the piece. Compositional mischief, shifting rivalries, freezing dances and some unfortunate butchery of the German language ensue.

Just to give you an idea of what Rick, Alec, and Dave are actually up to, watch their rendition of Die Kraehe:



Three Pianos also needs your help with funding, so if you want to assist in any way, you can check out their Kickstarter page.


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[Ask the Readers] How Do You Enable Collaborative Experiences for Young Pianists?

Earlier this morning, I received the following comment on The Young Collaborative Pianist Part II:

My daughter, 15, prefers playing in collaboration, dislikes much 19th century solo repertoire, and wants to work on piano with other musicians. Yet there are fewer and fewer opportunities to do so: the competition and honors recitals honor the kids who learn the solo stuff best, leaving my daughter trying to compete in piano skills she doesn't value. I see her losing piano interest weekly, as other opportunities for chamber at school and church present.

What should this parent do to find collaborative piano experiences for his/her daughter? What places or opportunities would you recommend?

As always, your comments are welcome, but this time the stakes are higher, as it may mean the difference between a young pianist continuing or quitting.

Update: Collaborative Piano Studies at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts

Dr. Allison Gagnon sends the following updated information about collaborative piano at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts:

The Graduate Program in Collaborative Piano allows pianists to develop their collaborative skills and learn the repertoire of their chosen discipline through studies shaped by the professional mentoring model of the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. Enrollment in the program is limited to four students. Students in the program study both instrumental and vocal repertoire, but may specialize in one of these in their second year. An annual degree recital comprises highlights of each year’s work, and a quick study examination is the final test in the graduate program. In addition to projects undertaken as part of their major study, students participate in chamber music, opera workshop and production, and other ensemble possibilities. Students in the program share two rehearsal studios allocated exclusively to the program, and have weekly master classes in both of the School's recital halls on Steinway concert grand pianos.

Coursework in the graduate program includes two seminars specific to collaborative piano: the literature seminar, which over two years focuses on the principal instrumental and vocal literature for collaborative pianists, and the support skills seminar, which allows development of a myriad of professional skills for collaborative pianists. These seminars are also open to students majoring in piano and organ at the graduate level.

For complete information on the graduate program, and its curriculum, please see:

http://www.uncsa.edu/music/gradprograms_collabpiano.htm

To learn more about the artist-faculty of the School of Music at UNCSA, please see:

http://www.uncsa.edu/music/faculty.htm

Auditions for the program are arranged individually with the program’s director. For more information and to schedule an audition, pelase contact Dr. Allison Gagnon at gagnona [at] uncsa.edu. For information on how to apply to UNCSA, and for audition requirements, please see:

http://www.uncsa.edu/music/gradadmissions.htm

Financial support includes assistantship and service award funds in Collaborative Piano, as well as graduate tuition waivers for out-of-state applicants. For current information, please contact Dr. Steven LaCosse, Assistant Dean of Graduate Studies, at lacosses [at] uncsa.edu.

UNCSA also offers collaborative training to students majoring in piano at the high school and undergraduate levels of study. As a result, the School of Music features a spectrum of piano support extending from introductory training for student pianists, to the work of trained professionals who are members of the staff and faculty.

Thank you for your interest in the Collaborative Piano Program at UNCSA!

Examining in Calgary

For the last week I've been examining piano students for RCM Examinations in Calgary. This is an exciting week, as I'm one of the beta testers of RCME's new online marking system. The students will definitely benefit from this new system of marking and adjudicating, as they'll be able to get their exam results mere days after playing their exams. Since the exam results are typed, students will be able to get a better sense of just how they did without having to wade through the examiner's handwriting (which in the case of my own, can be quite a chore). And while it's been a lot of fun working with the new RCME web app, each evening I get home to my hotel room in downtown Calgary and have no desire to do any blogging, since I've already been staring at a computer screen for over six hours.

Next week I'll be back to my regular blogging schedule, but this week it's been interesting to sit back and think about how the blogging process has changed. An article early today by Nick Bilton in the NY Times Bits blog looks at the way content curation has become one of the major blogging (and tweeting!) models of late. I can see that I've definitely moved in this direction over the last while. A quote from Bilton's interview with Maria Popova sums it up:

“I scour it all, hence the serendipity. It’s essentially ‘metacuration’ — curating the backbone, but letting its tentacles move freely. That’s the best formula for content discovery, I find.”

More interesting stuff to come in the next few weeks...

Carnegie Mellon University Launches Collaborative Piano Program

Update 1/1/2024: Rodrigo Ojeda, Director of Instrumental Collaborative Piano at CMU, has sent along an updated link for Carnegie Mellon's Collaborative Piano programs and faculty. The current faculty:

• Mark Carver
• Dr. Jocelyn Dueck
• Sung-In Kim
• Luz Manriquez
• Rodrigo Ojeda
• Ellen Risinger

About the program:

The Collaborative Piano curriculum gives specialized training to pianists pursuing a career working with vocalists and instrumentalists, providing the necessary skills and artistry required for a growing and vital field. Graduating collaborative pianists will never be without work, and CMU’s degree program gives students the tools and practical experience for their careers in the field of music. Graduating students will be prepared for work as recitalists, chamber musicians, orchestra pianists, continuo players, répétiteurs, coaches, music directors, lyric diction coaches, conductors and instructors.

I've just received word that Carnegie Mellon University will be offering a degree program in Collaborative Piano. The only information I could find so far was the following information on the School of Music's Admissions and Auditions page:

The School of Music is introducing the Masters in Collaborative Piano program in the Fall of 2010. Applicants to this program will be expected to demonstrate accompanying skills with both instrumentalists and with vocalists at the time of the audition. Please be sure to refer to the "Audition" section of this website for detailed instructions, requirements, and guidelines for the application and audition processes.

Complete list of Degree and Diploma Programs in Collaborative Piano

(Thanks, Lucas!)

Katherine Jenkins: The New Face of Vocal Pedagogy

Yes, you heard it right - Katherine Jenkins will be one of the vocal coaches on Popstar to Opera Star, a new British reality show about 8 celebrities who will be learning classical singing. Expressed as an equation:

Popstar to Opera Star = Bathroom Divas + Dancing With the Stars

There's more! Myleene Klass (previously featured here) will be one of the hosts! Here is KJ on today's T4 discussing physical contact, sexy positions for singing, and the experience of being targeted by a missile launcher in Iraq:



(Via Opera Chic)

Stephen Hough on Pedaling

If you've ever fussed and bothered over how to create those nine shades of pink that lie between red and white, you should definitely check out Stephen Hough's Depressed: the amazing world of the pedal in the Telegraph Culture Blog. An excerpt:

Actually, if I’m going to be a stickler for complete accuracy, Rubinstein probably should have said dampers instead of pedal, as the latter is merely the tool to activate the former – the sole connecting with the soul. Every note on a piano is a hammer striking strings, and every one of those strings (except the short ones in the far treble) has a damper on it. As the keys are depressed the dampers automatically rise to allow the strings to vibrate; then as the note is released the damper falls down again onto the strings to snuff out the vibration. The pedal (we always mean the right pedal when the word is singular) lifts up all of the dampers at once, making the whole instrument a box of resonance. It’s the opening of the curtains on a sunny day.

Stephen Hough's 2010 performance schedule can be found here.

The Collaborative Piano Blog Facebook Page Is Now an Open Forum for Members/Fans

One of the coolest things about writing the Collaborative Piano Blog over the last four and a half years is being able to connect with so many people in the musical world, hearing so many opinions, and having a lot of fun at the same time. I get lots of emails from people all over the world, many of them from people asking questions that I simply don't have answers to. Many of you still feel that there needs to be an open forum where people from the collaborative piano community can connect on a wide variety of matters. Therefore, as of now I would like to open up the Collaborative Piano Blog Facebook Page (which just broke the 600 fan mark!) to the community as a place where you can:

• ask questions to the readership about a wide variety of CP-related subjects, such as the best places to study, recommended teachers, suggested audition rep, and best business practices either in a discussion group or on the wall
  
• post information about upcoming events on the wall
• post concert programs, videos and pictures
• post links for programs
• ask questions about degree programs and summer festivals
• find a pianist in a given geographic area (after all, the membership is largely a who's who of capable pianists from around the globe)

I would like to keep the tone positive, so if you're looking to expose an unscrupulous employer, please use the People for the Ethical Treatment of Accompanists Group instead. For now, I would like to give fans a wide berth to talk about and post the things they feel are important.

However.

I would like the discussion to remain on topic, so I'll check the content of the page regularly, and if anyone posts anything in the least bit spammy, I won't hesitate to remove the content.

So if you haven't already become a member of the Collaborative Piano Blog Facebook Page, I invite you to become a fan right away and join the conversation!

The National Broadcast Orchestra Debuts in Vancouver on January 8

A few years back, the CBC Radio Orchestra was disbanded due to CBC funding cuts. Thanks to the hard work and dedication of a lot of people across Canada, the last radio orchestra on the continent has now been reborn as the National Broadcast Orchestra. This Friday at the University of British Columbia's Chan Centre, the NBO will be appearing in a gala fundraiser to support its inaugural season. Their first video:



Look for more NBO performances on the internet, which is replacing traditional radio outlets as a primary broadcast venue. Here's how to stay apprised of more National Broadcast Orchestra events:

NBO website
Facebook page
Twitter
YouTube channel
Make a donation to the National Broadcast Orchestra

The Collaborative Piano Blog Will Be an Official Partner for the MTNA Year of Collaborative Music

This March in Albuquerque, New Mexico, the Music Teachers National Association will be launching The Year of Collaborative Music, a year-long initiative to bring attention to the art of collaborative music-making. More about the YCM:

The Year of Collaborative Music will celebrate the importance of collaborative music making in society and in the profession worldwide. Begun by collaborative pianists within MTNA and led by significant national and international music associations, YCM will promote the diversity of ensemble playing opportunities available to musicians of all ages and skill levels.

I am now proud to announce that the Collaborative Piano Blog will be a partner organization with the MTNA for the Year of Collaborative Music. Starting in March 2010, stay tuned for listings, descriptions, and articles about events throughout North America that will be offered as part of this initiative.

Victor Borge Demonstrates How Not To Practice

From the Muppet Show, Victor Borge demonstrates the correct way NOT to practice...



For some advice on how you might better spend your time practicing in the New Year, take a look at 31 Days to Better Practicing: The Complete Series.

(Via @SchupbachPiano on Twitter)

Peter Longworth and Mark Johnston Play the Richard Strauss Violin Sonata

From Jon Terauds' list of 5 top Toronto musicians (he actually mentions 7), these two videos showcase the work of Toronto pianist Peter Longworth in recital with violinist Mark Johnston as they play the first movement of the Richard Strauss Violin Sonata in the Royal Conservatory's Mazzoleni Hall.  Also take a look at Peter's Facebook group (he is not a member) entitled Peter Longworth is always right (FB ID req'd).