In Musical Awe
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
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Tuesday, February 3, 2009
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My piano teacher, Alexander Djordjevic, just released a brand new cd of Franz Liszt pieces. These are what my teacher described to me as being almost like b-sides. Rather than describe what I've heard, I ask each of you to please check him out. Please help support such a rare and wonderful talent to the music community by purchasing a copy of this cd. I promise that you won't be disappointed.
http://www.alexanderdjordjevic.com/
Piano isn't something that I have written about in a while, so I would like to take a moment to describe what it is to me; what it means.
Being able to play is a release for me. While many people find their release in things like exercise, meditation, drinking, eating, raging... piano is my outlet. It helps me cope with life's challenges. It helps me express my emotions in a healthy fashion.
I never thought that there would come a time in my life when a situation would cause me to consider giving it up. I never thought that music could feel like the enemy. I am truly thankful, however, that I quickly recovered from such toxic thoughts, and have embraced it to be among my best friends. It has been, and always will be, the hand on my back urging me to just keep going in life.
My teacher has only made me feel even stronger about music over the years. He has helped me developed my abilities, and taught me things that I never knew were possible in music; things that I never knew or dreamed that I was capable of doing.
I am currently working on two pieces. The first is a lyric piece by Grieg (op 65 no 1). The second is an Etude Tableaux by Rachmaninoff (op 33 no 8). These pieces are rich, intricate, difficult, and make you feel accomplished when you are able to perform them. Perfection in playing is something that I struggle with. It is something that I have been trying to focus on more and more. It is one of several of the last pieces in my performing puzzles that I have to find.
While I still do have a long way to go in developing my playing abilities, I am so excited and eager to keep learning and keep playing. I feel so fortunate that I have such a treasure for a teacher to lead the way.
Thank you, Alex.
Being able to play is a release for me. While many people find their release in things like exercise, meditation, drinking, eating, raging... piano is my outlet. It helps me cope with life's challenges. It helps me express my emotions in a healthy fashion.
I never thought that there would come a time in my life when a situation would cause me to consider giving it up. I never thought that music could feel like the enemy. I am truly thankful, however, that I quickly recovered from such toxic thoughts, and have embraced it to be among my best friends. It has been, and always will be, the hand on my back urging me to just keep going in life.
My teacher has only made me feel even stronger about music over the years. He has helped me developed my abilities, and taught me things that I never knew were possible in music; things that I never knew or dreamed that I was capable of doing.
I am currently working on two pieces. The first is a lyric piece by Grieg (op 65 no 1). The second is an Etude Tableaux by Rachmaninoff (op 33 no 8). These pieces are rich, intricate, difficult, and make you feel accomplished when you are able to perform them. Perfection in playing is something that I struggle with. It is something that I have been trying to focus on more and more. It is one of several of the last pieces in my performing puzzles that I have to find.
While I still do have a long way to go in developing my playing abilities, I am so excited and eager to keep learning and keep playing. I feel so fortunate that I have such a treasure for a teacher to lead the way.
Thank you, Alex.
