Next week at the 6th Van Cliburn International Piano Competition for Outstanding Amateurs, I've submitted the following pieces to perform:
Preliminary: 10-12 min
S. Rachmaninoff, Moments Musicaux Op. 16 No. 2 (3')
I. Albeniz, El Albaicin from Iberia Vol. 3 (8')
Semifinal: 16-20 min.
J. S. Bach, Well-Tempered Clavier Vol. 1, No. 3, BWV848 C sharp major, Prelude and Fugue (5')
A. Scriabin, Sonata No. 10, Op. 70 (13')
Final: 25-30 min.
L. v. Beethoven, Piano Sonata No. 29, Op. 106, 4th movement (12')
F. Liszt, Reminiscences of Don Juan (16')
Among these six pieces, only two pieces are actually competition-ready ones, i.e. Albeniz and Scriabin, and other four not... nonetheless they are the pieces I cherish and at least I have the "view of the world" in each which are grandiose.
Critical is to what extent I can enjoy my own performance at a great stage set for us.
Showing posts with label Piano Life. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Piano Life. Show all posts
2011/05/21
2011/05/16
what jury want?
In performing at (or preparing for, for that matter) a competition stage, we all need to keep in mind what the jury want.
It is easier to identify what they hate in the first place.
They do not want to hear you play too tense.
They do not want to hear someone who obviously attempts to show off his ow her mechanic (not technique).
They do not want to hear something way out of what the composer specified, and that violates basic rules of music, unless you are absolutely confident that you intentionally constructed that piece and that sounds convincing.
They do not like colorless music.
On the contrary, they love to hear your love of the music, your love of the piece, your love of performing in public, your love of the instrument, and the sign that you cherish the moment.
It is easier to identify what they hate in the first place.
They do not want to hear you play too tense.
They do not want to hear someone who obviously attempts to show off his ow her mechanic (not technique).
They do not want to hear something way out of what the composer specified, and that violates basic rules of music, unless you are absolutely confident that you intentionally constructed that piece and that sounds convincing.
They do not like colorless music.
On the contrary, they love to hear your love of the music, your love of the piece, your love of performing in public, your love of the instrument, and the sign that you cherish the moment.
2011/05/04
They came to play
The DVD on the last (5th) van cluburn amateur documentary has just arrived and watched it!
It is very clear that participants are extremely talented and they very much dedicated themselves to piano, while many of them have day jobs and other commitments.
It is just wonderful to be able to join them later this month and share common interests and love of music. Surely it would be one of those unforgettable experiences!
It is very clear that participants are extremely talented and they very much dedicated themselves to piano, while many of them have day jobs and other commitments.
It is just wonderful to be able to join them later this month and share common interests and love of music. Surely it would be one of those unforgettable experiences!
IPCOA
Only three weeks to go to the upcoming IPCOA in Fort Worth...
Among the five pieces I've been preparing for this competition, I've not yet reached the public performance level for two short pieces, Bach and Rachmaninoff, and the long one by Beethoven.
Maybe I should focus more on the preliminary pieces...
Among the five pieces I've been preparing for this competition, I've not yet reached the public performance level for two short pieces, Bach and Rachmaninoff, and the long one by Beethoven.
Maybe I should focus more on the preliminary pieces...
2009/08/30
Won!
To my greatest surprise in years, I won the A2 category, Grand Muse division of the 33th PTNA piano competition!
This was my 3rd attempt of the competition itself, and 1st of the category, which allows participants who majored in piano at college, and not surprisingly, many of the competitors are piano instructors. Therefore, I did not even dream of making the national final, which was held on Aug. 22th, and thought it would be lucky if I make the regional finals. I was 2nd place at the 1st regional final, which meant that I did not make the national final. This made me at the brink of losing this year's competition, but at the same time, it wiped off my tension to focus on playing the piano at the 2nd regional final.
Actally, I have never practiced more seriously (though not for many hours) in the last one week before the national final than ever, and it brought me one notch up, I believe.
My performance is up (without prior notice to performers, though...)on the PTNA channel on YouTube as:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_htE3ahLew
Watching my own performance always makes me ashamed, and this one is no exception. Need more concentration and careful practice...
Anyway, it's clear that I need much more work on this Scriabin's masterpiece, and sincerely hope to give more life to it.
This was my 3rd attempt of the competition itself, and 1st of the category, which allows participants who majored in piano at college, and not surprisingly, many of the competitors are piano instructors. Therefore, I did not even dream of making the national final, which was held on Aug. 22th, and thought it would be lucky if I make the regional finals. I was 2nd place at the 1st regional final, which meant that I did not make the national final. This made me at the brink of losing this year's competition, but at the same time, it wiped off my tension to focus on playing the piano at the 2nd regional final.
Actally, I have never practiced more seriously (though not for many hours) in the last one week before the national final than ever, and it brought me one notch up, I believe.
My performance is up (without prior notice to performers, though...)on the PTNA channel on YouTube as:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_htE3ahLew
Watching my own performance always makes me ashamed, and this one is no exception. Need more concentration and careful practice...
Anyway, it's clear that I need much more work on this Scriabin's masterpiece, and sincerely hope to give more life to it.
2009/05/09
Int'l Amateur Piano Competition - Semifinal
Today the semifinal round of the 2009 Int'l Amateur Piano Competition was held at Koiwa Urban Plaza, Tokyo. Though I did not take part in this year, went to see and listen to the performances of the participants, many of them are either friends of mine or at least I got to know through various events since last year.
Per A division, any piece by J.S. Bach is mandatory, plus a piece of participant's choice is played. It appears that the primary criterion is how your play Bach, which I believe to be quite reasonable given the fact that any of his requires solid fundamentals, the very essence of how you create the sound, your takt, precision, because simply placing the notes as they are given does not appeal at all, and correctly playing J.S. Bach pieces test your mental strengths as well especially in the pressure-cooker situation on the stage of a competition.
There were many performances that I really enjoyed, and from every one of them I learned a lot, which was not possible if I participated in the competition myself. In hindsight, probably my decision not to participate was to the point, I guess. Above all, it was a great motivator.
Per A division, any piece by J.S. Bach is mandatory, plus a piece of participant's choice is played. It appears that the primary criterion is how your play Bach, which I believe to be quite reasonable given the fact that any of his requires solid fundamentals, the very essence of how you create the sound, your takt, precision, because simply placing the notes as they are given does not appeal at all, and correctly playing J.S. Bach pieces test your mental strengths as well especially in the pressure-cooker situation on the stage of a competition.
There were many performances that I really enjoyed, and from every one of them I learned a lot, which was not possible if I participated in the competition myself. In hindsight, probably my decision not to participate was to the point, I guess. Above all, it was a great motivator.
2009/04/28
accept your mediocrity
when it comes to music, there is no such thing as goal, perfection, or anything that is ultimate.
as a non-professional without years of formal training (though i started something close to it last year) and without brilliant talent, what you shoud do first and foremost is to accept that you and your performance (if it could be called one) is nothing more than mediocre.
as a non-professional without years of formal training (though i started something close to it last year) and without brilliant talent, what you shoud do first and foremost is to accept that you and your performance (if it could be called one) is nothing more than mediocre.
2009/04/21
correct mindset for piano playing
have found that many of the mistakes have a common root cause: my mindset for piano playing, be that in practice and that on the stage as well, particularly the latter..
what did i have in mind, consciously or unconsciously, when i was at the stage? if that primarily to prove myself, was that working for the better or worse? if worse, was that a wrong motive to have? if in itself it was not, how could i take advantage of that? need to nail down on it. The strong hypothesis is twofolds: (1) lack or shotage of understanding what exactly i should / want to do, and (2) attempting to do way more than i can do. if this is correct, the countermeasures would be extremely simple; to squarely face my weaknesses (and strengths) and mobilize my full brain potential to do the right things at every moment of practice with full concentration on well thought-out practice plan. There is no trick or shortcut. No room for wishful thinking. Never overestimate or underestimate your ability. Never be distracted by what others do. Never ever force things. Just be yourself, be natural and fluid.
what did i have in mind, consciously or unconsciously, when i was at the stage? if that primarily to prove myself, was that working for the better or worse? if worse, was that a wrong motive to have? if in itself it was not, how could i take advantage of that? need to nail down on it. The strong hypothesis is twofolds: (1) lack or shotage of understanding what exactly i should / want to do, and (2) attempting to do way more than i can do. if this is correct, the countermeasures would be extremely simple; to squarely face my weaknesses (and strengths) and mobilize my full brain potential to do the right things at every moment of practice with full concentration on well thought-out practice plan. There is no trick or shortcut. No room for wishful thinking. Never overestimate or underestimate your ability. Never be distracted by what others do. Never ever force things. Just be yourself, be natural and fluid.
2009/04/08
appeared in piano journal
The Apr 2009 issue of one of the piano journals in Japan (though hardly amajor one) contains the article on The 2nd Beten Piano Competition held last year.
My name with photo and a brief praise on my performance was up to my pleasant surprise! It says about my performance, Scriabin Piano Sonata op.70, that the trills sounded like bells and the stereophonic construction was articulated, which sounds very encouraging.
My name with photo and a brief praise on my performance was up to my pleasant surprise! It says about my performance, Scriabin Piano Sonata op.70, that the trills sounded like bells and the stereophonic construction was articulated, which sounds very encouraging.
2009/03/06
when not to set a target
For businesses or any activity, there should be a targets or targets set to achieve.
What about piano playing, for those who do it for living and those who do it for pleasure (amateur)? If a target to be set, what would it be? Thinking differently about this questions, should a target be set in the first place?
It is easy to say a target can be winning a competition, but would that be a "good" tagret to aim at? It can lead to make means an end, which we should carefully avoid.
Instead, what about "expressing yourself by exploiting the instrument's potential to the fullest"? Would that serve as a "good" target for us amateurs? I do not think so, because it might be acceptable (or maybe the ideal) goal for any piano lovers, chances are slim that it would be a target that we can clearly visualize and focus our daily thinking and exercises toward achieving it (in this sense it is not "good" as a target) because it is too conceptual as "what" and "how" to achieve it greatly varies by for whom it means.
Appropriate target setting is possible only if there is a set path for attaining that goal that can be defined by humanly efforts.
What about piano playing, for those who do it for living and those who do it for pleasure (amateur)? If a target to be set, what would it be? Thinking differently about this questions, should a target be set in the first place?
It is easy to say a target can be winning a competition, but would that be a "good" tagret to aim at? It can lead to make means an end, which we should carefully avoid.
Instead, what about "expressing yourself by exploiting the instrument's potential to the fullest"? Would that serve as a "good" target for us amateurs? I do not think so, because it might be acceptable (or maybe the ideal) goal for any piano lovers, chances are slim that it would be a target that we can clearly visualize and focus our daily thinking and exercises toward achieving it (in this sense it is not "good" as a target) because it is too conceptual as "what" and "how" to achieve it greatly varies by for whom it means.
Appropriate target setting is possible only if there is a set path for attaining that goal that can be defined by humanly efforts.
2009/02/13
requirements of a Master
One of the (rare) modern works that I value, "Laws of Mastering" collates five points that qualifies a Master and those who are not clearly and concisely.
Below are those five points with my interpretations:
1. Persistent yet is able to sustain concentration ... can demonstrate these otherwise conflicting qualities simultaneously
2. Manifests distingushed, unique abilities ... even without any intention to show them off, they stand out naturally, scintillatingly
3. Has very clear focal points ... it is often said that "God resides in details" but a Master
4. Dimensions are different in viewing others ... a Master does not normally outspeak his or her assessment of others
5. Able to accurately recognize oneself ... has full understanding of both strengths and shortcomings of oneself, no underestimate, no overestimate, no pessimism, no optimism; hard look at what really are about oneself
Below are those five points with my interpretations:
1. Persistent yet is able to sustain concentration ... can demonstrate these otherwise conflicting qualities simultaneously
2. Manifests distingushed, unique abilities ... even without any intention to show them off, they stand out naturally, scintillatingly
3. Has very clear focal points ... it is often said that "God resides in details" but a Master
4. Dimensions are different in viewing others ... a Master does not normally outspeak his or her assessment of others
5. Able to accurately recognize oneself ... has full understanding of both strengths and shortcomings of oneself, no underestimate, no overestimate, no pessimism, no optimism; hard look at what really are about oneself
2009/01/30
Performance that wins in competitions
Simply put, maybe too simplistic, it is a performance that is intricately built out and performed, not only on the stage, of course, but that construction began even before the performer even came to know that particular piece.
That is easier said than done, because there it requires passion, aspiration, yet also patience and persistence, and above all, the love of the game.
If you pursue to eliminate anything that is rough or unintelligent from every aspect of your performance, from every note, at any time, it would surely bring you a great enjoyment of performance, and anything beneficial for you might accompany that as well.
I do not say you can be number one because piano playing should not be monodimensional, but surely it would add great value to your life if you practice it over a sustained span of time, which I'm struggling to, and has just begun to, practice after a long years of wasteful practices, which, on looking back, may not be a loss after all...
That is easier said than done, because there it requires passion, aspiration, yet also patience and persistence, and above all, the love of the game.
If you pursue to eliminate anything that is rough or unintelligent from every aspect of your performance, from every note, at any time, it would surely bring you a great enjoyment of performance, and anything beneficial for you might accompany that as well.
I do not say you can be number one because piano playing should not be monodimensional, but surely it would add great value to your life if you practice it over a sustained span of time, which I'm struggling to, and has just begun to, practice after a long years of wasteful practices, which, on looking back, may not be a loss after all...
2009/01/19
listen, listen, and listen with blank slate of mind
Music has not limit in scale and depth in the first place.
Piano as an instrment has evolved successfully over time to expand and exploit its potential to the fullest.
What I want to do is simply to experience the performances without any preconceptions, biases, or any sense that inhibits the joy of the experience.
Piano as an instrment has evolved successfully over time to expand and exploit its potential to the fullest.
What I want to do is simply to experience the performances without any preconceptions, biases, or any sense that inhibits the joy of the experience.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)