I love making Shutterfly memory albums.  In an effort to preserve old photos, I utilize them in these albums to "keep them alive".  I just made this adorable one for each of my sons.  I hope they enjoy it as much as I did assembling it.

Click here to view this photo book larger

Photo Book Tip: Create an adventurous travel photo album at Shutterfly.com.

The Art of Practice

Researchers say it takes, on average, about 10,000 hours to fully acquire a new skill.  As I pursue my piano studies, I am continually amazed at the things I am learning, not only about playing the piano, but also about the human brain.  It is truly a fascinating process.  The intricacies of that human organ are (to use a pun) mind boggling, and exciting.  Once you've experienced the "sensation", you're hooked and want to go back for more.

Progress comes unannounced and in little breakthroughs, but it feels like a landslide to the person experiencing it.  All of a sudden, my fingers seem to take on a life of their own and will catch me by complete surprise as I am playing a passage, in total wonderment of what I've just executed.  It is, to be sure, a fleeting moment, much like wanting to relive a beautiful dream.  

The natural tendency is to ask oneself, "what did I do special that time", "what was different"?  Sometimes I can put my finger on it - I was more relaxed or my hands were in a better position, etc.  But many times, that fleeting moment seems to defy my ability to find an explanation.  Progress seems to have a mind and timetable of its own, but yet studies show we can enhance the process.  One of the tricks my piano teacher has shared with me is making sure that I give my brain a necessary moment of time to register what I have just played accurately on the keys.  This was an important observation, as I tended to repeat a passage too quickly in succession, thereby not allowing my brain to catch up, as it were, with my fingers.  Also, I risked imprinting errors in my brain that way.  It can lead to a most frustrating outcome.  Although we're not aware of it, while practicing a new skill, a lot is going on.  This excerpt is from Wikipedia ("Muscle Memory"):

Memorizing is done by muscles as a note is seen and recalled, its auditory pair is learned and is matched by fingers movements (a fine motor skill).^[22] When reproducing a motor action, you must have previous experience with it to memorize set actions. If there is no previous experience there will be no mental image of the motion, and therefore no actual movement.^[22]

Certain human behaviours, especially actions like the fingering in musical performances, are very complex and require many interconnected neural networks where information can be transmitted across multiple brain regions.^[23] It has been found that there are often functional differences in the brains of professional musicians, when compared to other individuals. This is thought to reflect the musician's innate ability, which may be fostered by an early exposure to musical training.^[23] An example of this is bimanual synchronized finger movements, which play an essential role in piano playing. It is suggested that bimanual coordination can come only from years of bimanual training, where such actions become adaptations of the motor areas.^[24] When comparing professional musicians to a control group in complex bimanual movements, professionals are found to use an extensive motor network much less than those non-professionals.^[24] This is because professionals rely on a motor system that has increased efficiency, and, therefore, those less trained have a network that is more strongly activated.^[24] It is implied that the untrained pianists have to invest more neuronal activity to have the same level of performance that is achieved by professionals.^[24] This, yet again, is said to be a consequence of many years of motor training and experience that helps form a fine motor memory skill of musical performance.

It is often reported that, when a pianist hears a well-trained piece of music, synonymous fingering can be involuntarily triggered.^[23] This implies that there is a coupling between the perception of music and the motor activity of those musically trained individuals.^[23] Therefore, one's muscle memory in the context of music can easily be triggered when one hears certain familiar pieces. Overall, long-term musical fine motor training allows for complex actions to be performed at a lower level of movement control, monitoring, selection, attention, and timing.^[24] This leaves room for musicians to focus attention synchronously elsewhere, such as on the artistic aspect of the performance, without having to consciously control one's fine motor actions.

My piano teacher assures me that the momentary and fleeting occasions, when it all clicks, will begin to happen more regularly as I progress through my studies and strengthen my physical capabilities.  It is a very exciting process.  I am always striving to play each piece as closely to what the composer intended.  I like to think that Mozart, Haydn or Chopin is hovering over me as I attempt to please them with the execution of their piece.  Of course, there are many other processes going on while my hands are reaching for the keys on the piano:  1) are my arms relaxed?  2) am I sitting in a good position?  3) looking ahead to prepare for the next phrase 4) am I tensing my jaw?  5) watching the indicators for the music's dynamics, and on and on.  That the human brain can juggle all these at once is quite impressive.  

I am in the process of putting the finishing touches on my playing of Mozart's Sonata "Semplice" in C major, and even though I've played it countless times from day one until now, it has never come out the same way twice.  This phenomenon is also a product of the human brain.  Musicians find fresh nuances, a new development, or a different emotional interpretation to each piece, each time, making it possible to play something over and over again with renewed enjoyment.  I will keep marveling at the brain and enjoying my love of music for years to come!

An Audible Feast

The last four days have been particularly joyful.  Why? Because I have been immersed in watching the live webcast of the 14th Van Cliburn International Piano Competition.  My piano teacher tipped me off and I am immensely grateful.  I am not only enjoying every note of gorgeous music, but I get the opportunity, as all viewers do, to watch these talented pianists up close, performing their keyboard "magic".  Ranging in ages from 19 - 30, each of them is bestowed with unique talents and personality.  It has been fun getting to know them, both through the competition's biographical vignettes as well as their expressing themselves through their music.

The Cliburn Foundation has done a marvelous job of managing and marketing this experience.  The fact that is has been made available through webcast means millions of music lovers around the world can watch.  My life seems to have come to a screeching halt as I put my daily routine on hold in order to keep up with this suspense-filled and awesome musical experience.  It will prove to be history-making for sure, as one competitor will ultimately rise to the top and will win a coveted tour management contract and large monetary prize. The process of whittling down the field must be overwhelming to my mind.  The esteemed judges from around the world began the preliminary round by whittling 30 competitors down to a semi-final round of 12. Those 12 were then reduced to a final round of 6.  That is the point at which I am now blogging.  After having spent approximately 6 hours each day, the culmination is nearly in sight.

I invited my piano teacher over tonight to watch the last round of the semi-finals, and we noshed on trout pate, smoked mussels, roasted corn salad accompanied by a white wine.  Good food to accompany the great music! By the conclusion of the evening, my nails were a little more ragged and we were each on the edge of our seats.  The moment of selection had come.  It wouldn't be easy saying goodbye to six of them but it's part of the competitive process. I noted from their biographies that each of them has had extensive performance opportunities as well as participation in other competitions around the world, so elimination is familiar to them all.  But, nonetheless, it's difficult to  say goodbye.  

Throughout this process, I've also greatly enjoyed participating in the Twitter feed that the Cliburn Competition established.  It has given viewers a chance to share their thoughts as they enjoy each recital.  Moment-to-moment tweets have ranged from serious critique to amusing observations to discerning questions for Jade Simmons, the competition's "break time" moderator.  An accomplished pianist in her own right, she is doing a standup job of keeping the commentary fascinating and fun.  She conducts wonderfully light-hearted mini-interviews with competitors and with behind-the-scenes operators that share stories of how the production comes together.  I particularly like the backstage moms - the two women that see to the needs of the performers before and after they go on stage.  Whether it be refreshments, snacks or just an encouraging hug, they are there to bolster and reassure the participants.  It lends a very human touch to what is otherwise a stressful environment.

The night went by quickly as we watched the last three competitors complete their semi-final round of competition. One of the new features of The Cliburn is having the competitors perform with a chamber ensemble.  They are extremely lucky to play with the renowned Brentano Quartet.  Competitors have a chance to show off their chamber music skills, which reveals another facet of their training and abilities.

Well, the moment arrived and the selection of six finalists was made.  I had accurately selected four of the six, but was thrilled overall with the judges' decision.  I now look forward to the final round with more nail biting to come! 

Fall 2011

It has been far too long since my last post. The fall season has had me wrapped up with much to do, but probably the most gratifying has been the time spent practicing at my piano. But first, let me review some of the wonderful things Peter and I have done this year.

As many of you know, we try to take two major trips each year. This year saw a long-awaited dream trip come true. We went to China in the spring with Tauck tours. It was truly an experience of a lifetime. Seeing that fascinating continent "up close and personal" made an indelible impression on us. One must see it firsthand to appreciate the enormous volume of people, which ultimately puts many issues into perspective.

We returned from China to await the imminent arrival of a new family member - Peter's younger niece had her first child. Little Henry Jay was welcomed into the family with open arms.

In September, I travelled on my own to Italy to attend a week-long course in bargello stitching and design.  The course was given by Joyce Petschek, a renowned bargello artist.  She lives in London, and keeps a summer home in the hills of Tuscany, outside of Pisa.  It was a rare opportunity that I hope will bring a new dimension to my needlework.

Our second trip was closer to home. We went to Maine and Canada. We had long wanted to drive up the coast of Maine, so we rented a car in Boston and hit the road. It was delightful and we caught some of the east coast Fall color, too. Our twelve day journey took us to Wiscasset, Bar Harbor and Eastport in Maine, then onto Moncton, Petit Rocher and Amqui, New Brunswick and finally Quebec and Montreal.




                   Taken in Acadia National Park

Peter and I greatly enjoyed our Maine/Canada trip, so much so, that we realized we want to do more of that type of touring to places which we have not been in the U.S.  Our international travels have been wonderful, but we would like to concentrate on seeing more our own country.  We are hoping to take several localized, "off-the-beaten-path" type trips where we will fly to the destination and rent a car and drive our route leisurely.  

The Blessings and Beauty of Technology

Many young people today are so immersed in high-end media technology that they don't have the appreciative perspective of those of us born as recently as just a generation ago. I have been astonished by the advancements in audio and visual digital transmission we now take for granted but that actually evolved only in the very recent past.

A couple weeks ago, I visited my son, who impressed me with his high-end Samsung 55" big screen television, which was further enhanced by his multi-speaker sound system. Only a couple years ago, this size television was not even produced, much less affordable. The rapid pace of technology has afforded families the option of watching movies in their home in a more theatre-like environment and with incomparable quality. I know I had never experienced a picture like the one I viewed on my son's TV. The picture was so real that I felt as if I could almost reach out and touch the people on the screen. And, tonight, I watched my first digital broadcast concert by the Berlin Philharmonic through their website, Digital Concert Hall. It seems that it wasn't all that long ago that transistor radios, cassette recorders, then, walkman devices were the order of the day. As my husband and I enjoyed viewing the magnificent concert on my 17" Apple desktop monitor, we marveled at the clarity of the recording. It was virtually flawless and afforded us such a uniquely convenient experience.

The very fact that the concert came to us is still a bit of a revelation. Due to the fine camera work in the recording process, our seat in the "house" as it were, was better than any we could have had in the concert hall itself. We got close-ups of the musicians and the conductor that would beat any pair of high-powered binoculars out there. We didn't have to get in our car, deal with traffic, use up gasoline, pay a valet, hope that our seat was a good one, frustrate over rude attendees, wait until intermission to race to the restroom and hope that the line isn't too long, and reverse the process coming home. If I felt the need for a break, stretch or snack, I simply hit the pause icon and took care of my needs. You can't do that at a live concert! Yes, it is indeed a glorious convenience and one that is quite affordable. With concert tickets becoming more and more expensive, the Digital Concert Hall pays for itself in 2 viewings. The site has three levels of subscription but the one that makes the most sense for any serious music lover is the 12-month plan, costing €139 which works out to about $200. At this price, I may view 30 live performances and unlimited archived concerts and interviews for one year. Tonight my husband and I watched an outstanding performance of Beethoven's Choral Fantasy (played by Maurizio Pollini and Mendelssohn's 2nd Symphony conducted by Claudio Abbado. Maestro Abbado retired from conducting in 2002, so it all the more special that these recordings are available for audiences to enjoy his skilled directing capabilities.

Yes, we live in amazing times and the ability to acknowledge this is a blessing indeed. As I began this entry, I said that the young people of today take the current technologies for granted, but they too, will experience developments in the future that will take their breath away, I imagine. None of us can envision what those future inventions and improvements will be, but I'm grateful that there are probing, talented and curious minds working on the next great innovations. The future will be here before we blink!

My First Year Back at the Piano

As I look back on my past entries on my site, it has been just over a year since I began documenting my thoughts and passions. Where does the time go? I am re-reading my entries with great fondness and they bring me joy now, just as they did when I wrote them. I also noticed that it will be exactly one year (on August 20th) from the date that I resumed my piano studies. I can't deny that having seen the fascinating DVD on the Steinway factory, and the production process of its magnificent pianos, probably had something to do with my decision. Thank goodness for that glorious catalyst.

The past year has truly been an amazing journey for me - not only in the development of my piano skills but also in the lessons it has taught me about myself as I go through the rigors of developing my keyboard technique and "finding my voice" as it were on the instrument I love so much. When I set out a year ago to pick up where I left off so many years ago, I had visions and expectations that were probably highly unrealistic. One should never give up their goals but I learned that my sense of ambition had to be tempered somewhat while I solidified my foundations at the piano. It was not easy to put a lid on my aspirations, albeit temporarily, but I realized that if I continued to mentally pound away at myself as I was, I'd burn out very quickly and lose all I'd worked for. Of course, this realization didn't come in a timely fashion - it's only been in the last month that I've gotten ahold of my emotions and learned to calm down and ease up on myself at the piano. On several occasions, my piano books were flung on the floor and many tears of disappointment were shed. I wanted so badly to regain my technical bearings and I now understand that I pushed myself too hard when I should have been enjoying the experience.

I am lucky to be studying with a supportive and encouraging teacher, Tsoliné Hajian, who has shown me patience throughout. This road of discovery has been one of emerging self-awareness. It is not easy making these critical assessments of oneself, coming to grips with your shortcomings and limitations. We all have dreams and goals but a skill such as this takes time to develop and ripen. There are so many aspects of which I am continuing to gain control - from finger dexterity & strength to my frame of mind (controlling my emotions, state of relaxation and concentration). I think I have finally begun to accept how very intricate playing the piano is. It is not simply hitting the right notes, but a far more complex task than that. In the past month I've worked hard to stay relaxed and to truly enjoy my practice sessions, always being conscious to pace myself. Sitting down and practicing has never been a chore for me. Oddly enough though, the real challenge is being aware of when to get up, walk away and take a break. It has been a real eye-opener for me in so many respects. But I am enjoying my playing much more now that I am taking it one note at a time, one day at a time.

My First Bach Invention

After a couple of months, I have finally gained control of my first Bach invention (his #1). The first of many to come, I hope. I have long been familiar with his beautiful array of music but I had not played Bach prior to this piece. At first attempt, I was sure I would never get it. Bach may have had no problem composing and playing his works but I felt like I needed three hands to achieve what probably was child's play for him. I spent many an hour grinding away at the piece only to dissolve into tears and know that I would never get it. But as with my ballet, I always returned to the challenge and faced it head on, not letting it get the better of me. As a result, in short time, I turned the corner (as I frequently do) and came to really fall in love with his music as a pianist. It's challenging in so many ways. I find the intricacy quite fascinating, that is when it isn't driving me up the wall. His compositions (as anyone who knows Bach's works) are a showcase of his indescribable musical brilliance. It's very much like patting your head and rubbing your tummy at the same time. He was a genius and to be able to master even a simple piece of his gives me a wonderful feeling of accomplishment.

There is more work to be done on this piece, to be sure. There is one unfortunate pause (break) in the play, which I attributed to nerves, as I recorded this. It loses some of its original aural quality as it is recorded digitally on my piano. All I can say is "thank God, I'm not aspiring to Carnegie Hall". My living room will do just fine.

Note:  The prior recording that was logged here is not available.  I will have to establish a new recording, to be posted as soon as possible.  Thank you.