Notes on Schumann's Album for the Young No. 14 "Kleine Studie"

Here is a reference guide for those working on this piece. Images of the individual measures can be found in the gallery below.

Measure 3, 19, 51 - You need to be more inside to play the F# in the left hand comfortably.

Measures 4-5 & 20-21 - A redistribution of the line between the right and left hand make this easier to play. The 3rd note of the first triplet is played by the right hand instead of the left.

Measures 9-10 & 25-26 - Here a redistribution of the 2nd and 3rd note of the first triplet to the right hand allow for the thumbs to be uncrossed.

Measure 16 - Start the triplet figure more inside so that the left thumb can play the A# comfortably without twisting.

Measure 42 - Here both hands need to be inside causing a slight collision of the hands. If you move the left hand out of the way the right hand can play inside more comfortably.

Measure 44 - The right hand needs to move inside so that the right thumb can play C#. 

Mendelssohn Songs without Words Op 67 No 2 Practice Day 1

NEW PIECE ALERT!! We're on to the 2nd song in Op 67. Mendelssohn's Songs without Words Op 67 No 2 in F# minor. We going over fingering options and when to hold notes. Lots of great stuff to check out.

Mendelssohn Songs without Words Op 67 No 4 Spinning Song Trouble Shooting

We're taking a break from Op 67 No 1 and going back to Op 67 No 4 "Spinning Song". Today we trouble shoot memorization issues and soft fast playing. Enjoy!

Mendelssohn Songs without Words Op 67 No 1 Practice Day 14

We hit the 2 week mark and we're putting on the finishing touches!

Mendelssohn Songs without Words Op 67 No 1 Practice Day 13

Dynamics! Dynamics! Dynamics! We start pulling the nuances out of this piece. Check it out!

Mendelssohn Songs without Words Op 67 No 1 Practice Day 12

Here on day 12 we are starting really bring the music out. We start working on dynamics, phrasing, and bringing out the melody. Check it out!

Mendelssohn Songs without Words Op 67 No 1 Practice Day 11

More tricky passages in today's practice session. Check it out!

Mendelssohn Songs without Words Op 67 No 1 Practice Day 10

More tricky passage work on day 10! We explore a technique for playing leaps in both hands. 

Mendelssohn Songs without Words Op 67 No 1 Practice Day 9

We're on Day 9! We have most of the choreography together. Today we look at more specific passages that are giving us difficulty and try to problem solve. Enjoy!

Mendelssohn Songs without Words Op 67 No 1 Practice Day 8

Very cool right hand lick in today's practice session. Check it out and give it a try yourself.

Mendelssohn Songs without Words Op 67 No 1 Practice Day 7

1 week in and we've almost got most of the hands together. Check it out.

Mendelssohn Songs without Words Op 67 No 1 Practice Day 6

We are pressing on with our quest to learn Op 67 No 1. Today I give some tips on putting hands together. Enjoy!

Mendelssohn Songs without Words Op 67 No 1 Practice Day 5

More left hand work. I also block out the left hand harmonies to demonstrate how it helps learn a passage. Enjoy!

Mendelssohn Songs without Words Op 67 No 1 Practice Day 4

More really good left hand work in today's practice session. There are some interesting fingering choices that I go over. Specifically play 2 consecutive thumbs. Available for piano lessons in NYC or via skype. More information at www.jacobsilverpiano.com

Mendelssohn Songs without Words Op 67 No 1 Practice Day 3

Some interesting left hand passages in todays practice session. A lot of great stuff to check out!

Day 3 in our journey of learning Mendelssohn Songs Without Words Op 67 No 1. Lessons available in NYC or via skype. Book your lesson today.

Mendelssohn Songs without Words Op 67 No 1 Practice Day 2

Day 2 in the chronicles of learning Mendelssohn Songs Without Words Op 67 No 1

Mendelsohhn Songs without Words - Op 67 No 1 Practice Day 1

This will be an on going series documenting the learning of a piece from start to finish. We begin with day of of Mendelsohhn's Songs without Words Op 67 No 1. Enjoy!

Practice Log - Mendelssohn "Songs without Words" Op 67 No 4

I wanted to shed some light on the type of practicing I do. In todays video lesson I go over a passage in Mendelssohn's Songs without Words Op 67 No 4 "Spinning Song". Again I mention a lot of terms from the Taubman Approach. I dont explain each one in detail but hopefully the video is still helpful. If you'd like to take lessons that focus on the Taubman Approach or piano in general I am available for lessons on the UWS of NYC and vis skype.

Piano Basics Part II

We continue on with dropping into the key and combine that with the In and Out motion to start stringing notes together. The concepts that I am going over were developed by Dorthy Taubman. She called her piano technique The Taubman Approach. It is a revolutionary complete piano technique that allows for virtuosity and complete ease while playing the piano. The Taubman Approach is continued on by Edna Golandsky and the Golandsky Institute. 

I want to introduce you to the basic motions so that you can start to experience how comfortable this type of playing can be. 

Yesterday I went over dropping into the key with each finger individually. Today we combine that with the in out and motion. The key take aways are-

• The IN motion is towards the piano - The OUT motion is away from the piano. 
• The motion is initiated from the back of the forearm. 
• In and Out are motion need to be measured depending on the context of the passage

Again this is a basic introduction and you will need to work with an instructor in person to master the approach. I am available to coach you on the Taubman Approach and look forward to showing you more!

Piano Basics Part 1

In today's article I want to go over how to get started at the piano. I already covered how to determine the correct seat height which is a crucial first step in a complete piano technique. Now we can actually start playing notes. The video lesson is about dropping into the keys.  This is the first finger/hand/arm motion you need to master in order to start developing a complete technique.  The key take aways are:

• Make sure you finger hand and arm drop freely into the key with nothing impeding the motion. You can practice this motion by dropping your arm in your lap.
• When you land on the keys check your wrist? Is it flat to your hand arm and fingers?
• Do you feel like the weight of your arm in balanced over your fingertips. The finger should feel solid on the bottom of the key.
• Knuckles - is your hand collapsed and floppy or is there a pronounced knuckle at each join in your fingers. 

A lot of these things take time to develop and feel. It helps if you can be in person with me so I can check your hands and make sure the motions are correct but hopefully this video helps.