drtobin – Adam's Music House

How do I learn a new piece?

This week I introduce the idea of reading and learning piano music. How do we approach a piece of music, how do we read the symbols known as notes? Next Monday, August 10th at 7PM, I am starting a Zoom meeting where we students, teachers, and music aficionados alike can discuss topics relating to playing the piano. Next week we will discuss how to learn a piece. In subsequent weeks we may discuss memorization, stage fright, or stylistic differences among composers. One day we might do Chopin Mazurkas, another a topic of someone’s suggestion?

Topic: Adam’s Music House’s Zoom Discussion Time: Aug 10, 2020 07:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting https://zoom.us/j/93665797699?pwd=NzNuS2UxbG12R0hKeDVjV2F6eWZXdz09

Meeting ID: 936 6579 7699 Passcode: 834687

Debussy Presentation Series

What the West Wind Saw

This week Dr. Tobin discusses possible literary inspirations for one of Debussy’s stormiest pieces!

Blog, Pedagogy

Für Alina: Arvo Pärt

Dr. Tobin first encountered this Estonian composer while on tour in Europe. Known for his vocal works, Pärt has also written the beautiful Fratres for violin and piano and a set of piano pieces, including Für Alina.

Dr. Tobin discusses how to approach this work of tone painting and concludes with a performance at Kulturplatz, Wetzikon, Switzerland.

Pedagogy

Rachmaninoff via Pollack

Dr. Tobin discusses ideas Daniel Pollack imparted for the iconic Rachmaninoff Prelude in g# minor, Opus 32#12.

Finger and hand technique based on the score and emotion are explored. The discussion ends with a performance on the piece from Davos, Switzerland.

Blog, Pedagogy

Mozart Twinkle Variations

This episode of the Monday Pedagogy series features a look at how to approach variations. Dr. Tobin discusses how Mozart used texture to spin a rather magical set of pieces!

To hear a full performance of these variations, performed in concert by Dr. Tobin on a Walter Fortepiano Replica, listen to this: