After a few very busy weeks, today I found I actually had some free time which was a real treat. After a quick spot of Christmas shopping for niknaks I was able to play through a few accompaniments in readiness for tomorrow when I'm meeting a friend to do some sax/piano pieces.

 

I had a wonderful time at the piano, and almost every note, it felt, had some particular meaning within the piece. i just love it when you slip into that 'other place' when you've totally gone with the music. It often happens when i'm at the piano or have gone off on an improvised sax solo, and if anyone doesn't realise you're in that 'other place' and interupts it's like a slap in the face, a real jolt back to the real world!

 

As a contrast, only a few days ago I sat at the piano (normally my haven) and felt nothing but emptiness as I attempted to play a favourite piece. I'd had a few stressful weeks (possibly my own causing, trying to take on too much!) and for the first time in my life the music felt like a chore and the power to be able to alter my mood through music seemed to have gone. Thankfully now the situation has changed, all the magic has once again returned, thank goodness, as I don't fancy being in that empty place again!

 

Sadly, practice can be a chore for many students which is such a shame. We are always  striving to 'find the music' within that piece of paper in front of us, which is, in effect, merely a starting point, the first step in the treasure hunt. I would always prefer students to aim for a performance with meaning, even if there are a few wrong notes, rather than a very mechanic yet more 'accurate' rendition with no feeling. I have heard many CD's of professional players which, although they must be highly praised for their technical mastery of their instrument, for me, often it seems that this will to make it 'perfect' is often detrimental to the emotional effectiveness.

 

I love it when i'm accompanying on the piano and a student, even for a moment, submits and trusts the music to take them where it wants  to. You get the goosebump effect, and you know that a special connection has been made somewhere. There are still certain pieces that have touched me very deeply, and even now i can't always trust myself to keep in control of the strong emotions created by these certain pieces; Amy Quate's 'Light of Sothis' (alto sax and piano) floored me totally when I heard the intro for the first time....I literally could not play a note, and it's still very touch and go now!

'Somewhere over the rainbow' usually chokes me up and i'm not sure why, I think it's to do with the lyrics maybe.

 

Anyway, waffle over. Happy music making, and Christmas blessings to you all,

Keri.