Here I sit with my warm milk (trying to fend off Milly) and writing a blog out on paper, using pencil (which I hate) and feeling very low tech. I have 2 piano-related library books on my dresser (thanks WLU!):
- Notes from the pianist's bench / Boris Berman
- Practicing perfection : memory and piano performance / Roger Chaffin, Gabriela Imreh, Mary Crawford
They're out on term loan, so hopefully the poor undergrad who may be pining for them will realize that they can simply do a recall and I'll be notified to return them.
The first one is a book about technique, practice, interpretation, performance etc. from a concert pianist and teacher. I find it interesting and useful in small doses because it is a bit dry. It's a good thing that I have this one until September because it may take awhile to absorb all of the information. The second one is a much easier read. It interests me because the authors are a combination of pianists and psychologists. It follows a concert pianist (Imreh) as she learns and memorizes a difficult piece for public performance. I have an interest in how people learn, including memorization, so I'm enjoying this book. The cognitive psychologist (Chaffin) is studying memory with the performer (Imreh) and then the social psychologist (Crawford) is helping the other 2 understand each other!
Reading is really meant to supplement/inform the playing, so what I really need to do now is get back to the piano! Perhaps I should get started on that Pink Panther piece for Helen. Clare is going to use her years in stage band to help me with the rhythm/timing.
Ok, warm milk is gone (including the drops on the bottom of the mug which have been cleaned out by Milly), so time to try and sleep once more.
