Carols were first sung in Europe thousands of years ago, but these were not Christmas Carols. They were pagan songs, sung at the Winter Solstice celebrations as people danced round stone circles (The word carol originally meant to dance to something). The Winter Solstice is the shortest day of the year, usually taking place around the 22nd December. The word Carol actually means dance or a song of praise and […]
There is nothing quite like gathering around the piano and singing carols. To ring in the holidays, we have found dozens of Christmas and Holiday songs for you to play for your friends and family. We hope you enjoy! 1. Holidaysheetmusic.net has dozens and dozens of free, printable PDFs of Christmas Carols and Hymns. 2. MusicNotes has an even larger library dedicated to Christmas and Holiday music. Their collection spans from […]
Since its inception, Baldwin has been a premier brand in American pianos, building a reputation on a deep, rich sound, and a durable design that make them the pinnacle of practicality, ideal for a church, school, or pragmatic musician’s home. The institutional design is a testament to the fact that this is a piano first; nothing has been compromised. That said, the walnut cabinet is easy on the eyes, but […]
George Winston (born 1949) is an American pianist who was born in Michigan, and grew up mainly in Miles City, Montana, as well as Mississippi and Florida. He attended Stetson University in Deland, Florida, and lives in Santa Cruz, California. Background George Winston was first recorded by John Fahey for Fahey’s Takoma Records. The album Ballads and Blues disappeared without much notice, although it was later reissued on Winston’s Dancing Cat Records. However, in 1979, William Ackerman talked with Winston about having Winston record for Ackerman’s new record label, Windham […]
17-year-old Marian Bechtel might live in Pennsylvania, where land mines are not a common occurrence, but she has still managed to invent the prototype for a brand-new minesweeper. Marian Bechtel was a finalist in the 2012 Intel Science Talent Search. The device, which cost far lower than current technology, uses sound waves to figure out where the deadly devices are. The combination of sensitive microphones and a seismic vibrator connected […]
Piano lesson myths are so ingrained into our culture and our consciousness that it almost seems silly to counter them. But on close examination, even the most “obvious” beliefs about piano study and piano practice are not only wrong, they are damaging to the individual who is bound by their chains. This piece aims to help pianists of all levels be liberated from such mental constraints and assumptions regarding piano […]
Welcome to part two of our piano myths and misconceptions. We’ll cover piano hand technique, questions about improvisation and effective practice strategies in this article. Be sure to check out part one of our piano myths to see common misconceptions about starting piano lessons and practice time. “I should never look at my hands when I play.” Reality: Concert pianists MEMORIZE the music and, of course, LOOK AT THEIR HANDS! It […]
Do you know how a young horse is “broke in” to the saddle? At first it seems to be impossible for him to become accustomed to those leather bands and buckles; they seem to bind and make him irritable. He is obviously out of control of his master. Yet, if you watch from time to time, as his master puts him into the harness, the young horse will become more […]
Nature XXVII, Autumn The morns are meeker than they were, The nuts are getting brown; The berry’s cheek is plumper, The rose is out of town. The maple wears a gayer scarf, The field a scarlet gown. Lest I should be old-fashioned, I’ll put a trinket on. – Emily Dickinson Nothing Gold Can Stay Nature’s first green is gold, Her hardest hue to hold, Her early leaf’s a flower; […]
