Dudley Moore Plays and Sings Fauré and Schubert

I did not know that Dudley Moore had such a voice for the art song repertoire. On the program:

- Fauré's setting of Verlaine's "La nuit, c'est la nuit"
- Schubert's setting of Heine's "Die Flabbergast"

(YouTube link)

(Thanks Suzanne!)

A Huge List of Famous Music Students, Organized by Teacher

AfricanAmericanPianoLesson
via Wikimedia Commons.

Musicians are like Zen masters: it's all about the lineage. Wikipedia's List of music students by teacher is a useful way to understand the delicate strands that are interwoven between the bonds of teacher and pupil throughout the centuries.

It's also a great way to settle late-night bets about who studied where and with whom.

Live-In Opera Coach?

As seen on Craigslist:

Seeking live in Opera Coach to help soprano prepare music for auditions and concerts. Must be good with romance languages, especially french. Looking to put together a concert or production too. Play on a grand piano. Please send resume and samples of your work. Please include experience with specific operas and language ability. Must be willing to accompany/play some parties and events. Transportation to and from New York is possible and will be discussed. Interviewing now. Singer's goal is to perform at an international opera house so please let us know how you think you can help her reach that goal. In the old days...the singer lived with the teacher to bring about greatness so that is why we are looking for this type of arrangement.  

 Free room and board and food.

Is this for real?

(Via Jennifer Tung)

The Classic Looney Tunes Piano Gag

No matter how many times you've seen this one, it never loses its appeal...

10 Things That Should Never Be Said to a Collaborative Pianist (but still are)

Part of coming of age as a collaborative pianist includes dealing with the regular insensitivities that get said in the profession. These quasi-insults cause us much consternation, but in the interest of politics and expediency, we must bite our tongue.  So without further ado, here is a top list of 10 things that are unfortunately spoken in our presence:

1. "You should really wait for the singer to take their bow before taking yours."
2. "Some accompanists these days are calling themselves collaborative pianists. Who on earth would dream up a ridiculous name like that?"
3. "So you just do accompanying?"
4. "Who do you tour with?"
5. "Did you study accompanying in college? You mean they actually teach that shit these days?"
6. "You can find your own page turner. We do not cater to accompanists."
7. "Keep it down a bit. Singers don't like accompanists with strong personalities."
8. "Thanks for playing, bro. And by the way, my mom forgot her cheques at the cottage."
9. "I'm sorry, but we don't pay accompanists. We simply cannot put that in our budget for the concert season."
10. "Oh, yes, you played well too."

Got any other classics to share? Leave them in the comments.

Meme of the Day

What if the Ridiculously Photogenic Guy became a collaborative pianist?

Opera Cheats: La Voix Humaine and Bluebeard's Castle

These two irreverent mini-synopses are from Opera Five, a Toronto-based collective founded by Rachel Krehm and Aria Umezawa. You can check out Opera Five's Bluebeard's Castle on May 15, 16, and 18 at the Arts and Letters Club of Toronto.

Boromir on Sight Reading

For those of you who missed it on the Collaborative Piano Blog Facebook Page the first time around...

This meme comes in response to a student of mine who wished to put off practicing sight reading until closer to their exam...

Man Playing Cat Organ

One can only wonder what original compositions might be commissioned for such an instrument...



(Via Jason Robert Brown)

Meme of the Day

If you need to have the above statement explained, there's a chance it might be you depicted in the picture. Better yet, take a look at this video to see how it's done correctly.

Meme of the Day

Meme of the Day

Ever met someone like this? No matter how much you compliment them on their playing, they will always turn it back on you.

"Nice Hammerklavier, bro. That fugue was awesome."

"How on earth could you enjoy that feeble excuse for a performance that I attempted tonight? Did you not listen? Are you not familiar with Op. 106?"

Meme of the Day

Meme of the Day

Meme of the Day: Prepared Piano Edition

If you've ever played the John Cage Sonatas and Interludes for Prepared Piano and had to go through the arduous process of collecting all the screws, bolts, nuts, and rubber mutes and meticulously measured exactly where to put them, these sentiments will be familiar...

Meme of the Day

If you've ever had a studio teacher put the lid all the way down after you play the first chord, approach you a dress rehearsal saying "Please, a little bit less", or worse yet, put the dust cover on the piano while you play, this meme of the day is for you.

Meme of the Day

For those of you who are often a bit too eager to overbook and then end up having too much music to learn at the last minute...

Meme of the Day

Meme of the Day

For all you fans of Faerie's Aire and Death Waltz...

(Via Classical Music Humor on Facebook)

Meme of the Day

For all the repertoire-learning ninjas out there, this one's for you...