Do you invest in your own musical growth and development, beyond what you do at the piano itself? I am still in the child-raising years, and time even for practicing is sometimes hard to manage! But it is important to invest in our own musical education when we can.
Maybe you are part of a local or state chapter of a music teacher’s association, where you can meet regularly with other teachers, attend conferences, and learn best practices. Or maybe you are part of a community choir where you meet with other music lovers on a weekly basis. Or maybe, you are so tied up with homeschooling, shuttling kids to sports practices, and managing the household that you don’t have the time to spare for “outside” groups. We are fortunate to live in a time where information is at our fingertips. Although the camaraderie of colleagues can be inspiring and life-giving as we exchange ideas and collaborate in real time, the reality is that sometimes we can’t make it happen. Where, then, can we turn to nurture our own musical growth? What kinds of things can we do “on the go” to keep up with our love for music and desire to learn and grow?
If you are a reader, there are some wonderful books written by pianists for pianists, both biographical and about the piano and its music. Susan Tomes is a Scottish pianist and writer, and she employs a wonderfully conversational tone in her books. She writes of collaborating with chamber groups on the road (Beyond the Notes), the process of learning and “what makes a pianist ‘tick’” (Speaking the Piano), and daily reflections of life on the road as a performer (Out of Silence: A Pianist’s Yearbook). She also has a book called The Piano: A History in 100 Pieces, in which she selects 100ish pieces that are representative of the piano repertoire (including chamber music, concerti, and art song), and tells the story of the piano and its music as she shares thoughts about each piece. I have been working through this last book over the past year or so, reading a selection at a time and listening to a corresponding recording via my own CD collection or on YouTube.
This last exercise in listening is wonderfully inspiring and instructive. To take it a step further, there are a number of masterclasses available for viewing on YouTube, and if you really wanted to dig in, you could grab some sheet music of your own or snag it off of IMSLP and follow along as you listen to the masterclass, making notes along the way. But again, if you are strapped for time, the second best bet would be to queue it up on your phone and listen as you walk, drive, or exercise, get ready in the morning, or wind down at night. I have often listened to a masterclass in short spurts over a span of days, or even taken music with me to a gymnastics practice to study with my phone and a pair of headphones.
Beyond Tome’s books, there are other possibilities for adventures in listening: Listen to This by Alex Ross covers a range of genres with a good representation from the classical repertoire. The book is a collection of essays varying from a history of classical music to a description of conductor Esa-Pekka Salonen’s appointment with the Los Angeles Philharmonic to a fascinating look at the Tanglewood music festival through the eyes of Mitsuko Uchida. While my favorite essays are focused on classical themes, Ross also explores the intersection of music and technology, Kurt Cobain’s success and personal demons, as well as music by Finn songwriter and singer Bjork, and the musical stories of Bob Dylan and Radiohead.
Aaron Copland’s classic, What to Listen for in Music, is more of an academic text, with a focus on form in classical music. He argues that we tend to listen to music on an emotional level, looking for meaning or a certain feeling that we can relate to personally. He challenges the reader to think more about the notes and how the composer manipulated them to create a work of art that can be appreciated on an emotional and intellectual level. If you are looking to stretch your thinking, this book will put you back in the college classroom and give you the opportunity to analyze music in its various forms.
One last book takes a look at the history of the piano through both emotional and intellectual lenses. It is both conversational and an easy read, and an opportunity to reflect on musical form: A Natural History of the Piano: The Instrument, the Music, the Musicians – from Mozart to Modern Jazz and Everything in Between by Stuart Isacoff. Don’t be fooled by its extensive title; it is a very accessible and exciting book! Isacoff includes all kinds of fascinating tidbits about composers and music in short soundbites, in and among his cohesive history of the piano. Read a page or two for entertainment before going to bed, or dive deep into a full chapter while listening to musical examples at your computer; either way, you will be rewarded with a fun look at the piano by way of The Combustibles, The Alchemists, The Rhythmtizers, and The Melodists.
If you would prefer to just read about the lives of pianists, there are several good books available: Leon Fleischer’s My Nine Lives: A Memoir of Many Careers in Music tells his story of overcoming physical challenges with his hand; Stephen Hough details his childhood and growth and development into a concert pianist in Rough Ideas: Reflections on Music and More, and Sviatoslav Richter: Notebooks and Conversations tells the fascinating story of the Russian pianist at the piano.
When reading isn’t possible, listening can be a good substitute! Finding a book on audio or discovering gems on YouTube or podcasts can be a wonderful way of staying in touch with the world of music and gathering inspiration and ideas. You can find Leonard Bernstein’s Young People’s Concerts on YouTube, which are suitable for all members of the family and wonderfully informative and entertaining. Living the Classical Life, also on YouTube, is a channel chock-ful of interviews of classical musicians from all over the world, hosted by Zsolt Bognár. The series has been around since 2011, but only recently has shown up on YouTube! If you love podcasts, Jennet Ingle’s “Crushing Classical” provides more snapshots of classical musicians’ “portfolio careers” as well as her own insights on teaching and performing. “Music Studio Startup” is more focused on the business side of music teaching as it relates to running your own music studio. “The Counterpoint Club” is hosted by local string quartet Skyros, and tells the stories of their own musical projects as well as highlighting the stories of other musicians.
For podcasts focusing more on piano teaching, you might check out The Piano Pantry, Field Notes, The Piano Parent Podcast, or Dynamic Piano Teaching.
As you can see, musical growth and learning does not have to stop once you leave undergraduate or graduate school! You are free to Choose Your Own Adventure of listening, reading, studying, and exploring among the many resources available on the internet and at your local library. I would encourage you to choose one resource to look into this month to inspire and challenge you in your own musical journey!
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