A Pianist's Dictionary: Reflections on a Life
- Author: Hersh, Alan
Hersh, in his gentle, unassuming way, has many insights and sensible things to say about the world of the classical pianist. Any student would benefit from the sage advice on offer
A Pianist's Dictionary: Reflections on a Life
- Author: Hersh, Alan
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Hersh, in his gentle, unassuming way, has many insights and sensible things to say about the world of the classical pianist. Any student would benefit from the sage advice on offer
About
A Pianist's Dictionary is an exploration of the world of the classical pianist and piano professor. The author deconstructs the many familiar words that help describe these worlds as well as their practitioners. Based upon a lifetime of experience as an active concert artist and college professor, this book will resonate with both past and current students of the piano and with music lovers with even a passing interest in these worlds. Written in an accessible style, A Pianist's Dictionary covers the piano world from accompanist to tone and voicing, and helps the reader understand the mysteries of practicing and the challenges of how to find a suitable piano teacher. Filled with amusing anecdotes and observations, this book is a welcome addition to the literature about pianos and pianists.
Contents
- Chapter 1 Introduction
- Chapter 2 1. Accompanist
- Chapter 3 2. Analysis
- Chapter 4 3. Authenticity
- Chapter 5 4. Competition
- Chapter 6 5. Concert Pianist
- Chapter 7 6. Concert
- Chapter 8 7. Dynamics
- Chapter 9 8. Expressiveness
- Chapter 10 9. Fingering
- Chapter 11 10. Improvisation
- Chapter 12 11. Lesson
- Chapter 13 12. Memorizing
- Chapter 14 13. Music Reading
- Chapter 15 14. Musical Structure
- Chapter 16 15. Notation
- Chapter 17 16. Pedal
- Chapter 18 17. Physicality and Relaxation
- Chapter 19 18. Piano
- Chapter 20 19. Posture
- Chapter 21 20. Practicing
- Chapter 22 21. Repertoire
- Chapter 23 22. Sound Image
- Chapter 24 23. Teachers: An Autobiography
- Chapter 25 24. Theory
- Chapter 26 25. Tone and Voicing
- Chapter 27 Coda
- Chapter 28 Bibliography
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Hersh, in his gentle, unassuming way, has many insights and sensible things to say about the world of the classical pianist. Any student would benefit from the sage advice on offer
