High Heels and the 'Gamba Position'
Buying performance shoes is fun, or is it? Shoes matter, they often are on eye level with the front rows of the audience, since most stages are elevated. So, yes, they matter
What's in a Signature
Score study is crucial. There is no way around it. Looking at a handwritten score is even better. The handwriting alone says so much about a person. A facsimile score looks like a picture created by the composer, a drawing full of energy, or elan, or full of frustration, or even full of doubt
Chocolate Chip Cookies and the Making of Venezia e Napoli
Thinking back to how it started takes me back to my high school friend Udo, with whom I shared an interest in listening to classical recordings. Fast forward to running into each other many years later, and to making plans to produce a recording together
Does the performer matter?
A piece of music is like a relationship. It starts with so much excitement, and can so easily flat-line after some time. New notes are very attractive. It is intoxicating to get to know a new work. The sounds linger hours after the last note of the day is played. It's like meeting a new person, like falling in love, it's so exciting
Studio Recording vs. Live Performance
Listening to my own studio recording is difficult for me. As I am preparing to release my next solo CD, I am in the middle of it all again
Liner Notes or Not?
The term liner note originated during the era of the 78 discs named for its 78 revolutions per minute. Those were fragile and often only contained one song per side
Hearing Yourself on the Radio
Why is it so hard to listen to yourself play? The ongoing evaluation of one's own performance is overpowering
Why I am a pianist
Connecting to the audience is vital to a memorable performance. And a memorable performance is one way to eternalize music
8 (small) things to survive your long haul flight
I have been lucky enough to get upgraded quite a bit, but I more often travel in economy class. For those long distance flights on the cheap, my secret weapon is my personal replica of the little fun pouch offered as a gift to business class travelers on long haul flights.
