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A blog about piano, practice, collaboration, injury prevention, and life as it happens.
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Gretchen Saathoff
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Gretchens Pianos

English - Piano, Music, Collaboration
http://gretchenspianos.wordpress.com
Gretchens Pianos · 13h ago

Q&A: How to improve your sight-reading

There are other posts on this blog about sight-reading, always a topic of interest. I have been watching tennis again! Nadal and Federer are both at the top of their game. What does watching tennis have to do with sight-reading? Well, I’m happy to say that I learned something from watching tennis th
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Gretchens Pianos · 4d ago

Q&A: Neck pain and the piano

Any type of pain associated with playing an instrument needs to be addressed. Let’s talk about neck pain in this post, though, to keep things manageable for readers. Onset When and how did your neck pain start? What were you doing at the time? What do you do when not playing the piano? For example,
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Gretchens Pianos · 1w ago

What is a “bad” practice day?

Yes, I do think “bad” practice days exist. Take today, for example. For reasons I won’t discuss here, today found me “off my game.” Has that happened to you? Why? Even while warming up with finger exercises I am completely used to, I couldn’t feel my hands or fingers in the usual way. That may [...]
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Gretchens Pianos · 1W ago

Q&A: How to practice “Figure humaine” by Francis Poulenc

An excellent question! The first thing that popped into my head was, “However you can!” Perhaps the rest of this post will be more helpful. The piece Poulenc‘s “Figure humaine” is an unaccompanied choral work for double chorus, scored SSATBB. The parts often divide, at times into 14 parts. There is
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Gretchens Pianos · 2W ago

Q&A, talking during organ prelude (cont.), this & that

Cover art for Potpourri by the artist P-Model ~ image via Wikipedia Welcome to my potpourri! Q&A 1.  How does one memorize bass lines? This is a foolproof way to memorize inner parts as well. Practice the bass line separately, musically, as you would a melody. Write in good fingerings. Can you sing
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Gretchens Pianos · 2W ago

First impressions

Auditions are a lot like job interviews. When job coaches write about interview preparation, they talk about how to make a good first impression: Sit toward the front of the couch or chair so you can stand easily. Have your resume in your left hand, ready to go. Stand immediately when the interviewe
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Gretchens Pianos · 3W ago

Announcing our new concert series!

Christ United Methodist Church 271 Rocky Hill Rd. (Rte. 66) Northampton, MA announces   Rocky Hill Concerts Sundays at 4:00 p.m. July 8, 15, 22, & 29 Reception to follow Artists Red Valley Fog folk music Bob Sparkman & Jerry Noble traditional jazz Gretchen Saathoff pianist Anna DeLoi harpist Suggest
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Gretchens Pianos · 3W ago

Presto changeo!

This post is about playing “catch up” at the end of the semester.  I’m sure you all know how that feels! Times and dates seemingly change at random, so “normal” is feeling like you’re in the wrong place. Practicing consists of jumping from one type of writing to another, never having enough time to
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Gretchens Pianos · 3W ago

New post coming soon!

Hello Everyone, I’m late again!  The end of the semester is always so busy.  Even running as fast as possible is never enough. There is a post cooking in my head, though, to be put into writing very soon. Thanks for your patience! ~ Gretchen
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Gretchens Pianos · 4W ago

Update to previous post

Wow. My student, who was nearly comatose last week (you know, end of semester…) played SO WELL today! She learned how to reliably produce the substantial variety of sounds required to play Debussy’s “Sunken Cathedral” ~ in ONE WEEK!
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