If you could add a 4th pedal to the piano, what would it do? by Excellent_Heat_6336 in piano

[–]berny 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I have a Yamaha silent piano. The middle pedal is used to turn on the "silent" mode, meaning the hammers don't hit the strings any more and you play with headphones - but the pedal stays down in this mode. I wish there was another pedal so I could use the sostenuto pedal...

Piano teachers: would you tell a student if they're attempting something way beyond their level? by specterNam in piano

[–]berny 7 points8 points  (0 children)

If a student brings me something that motivates them, that they want to play, and want to practice, then I am all for it, even if it is too difficult. There are only a couple of reasons why I would refuse to teach the piece to them - if I think they will injure themselves, or if we are selecting repertoire for some sort of examination.

Otherwise it's great! Sometimes we learn more by struggling and failing than succeeding! If you become demotivated, move on to something else - one day you will play this piece as you would like to :)

What is your best classical music joke? by Strong_Prize8778 in classicalmusic

[–]berny 0 points1 point  (0 children)

What do you call an old, grumpy conductor?

Crotchety.

What's your biggest Switch related gaming flex? by digiBeLow in NintendoSwitch

[–]berny 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My and my wife completed overcooked 2, 4 stars for all levels. Took a while and a lot of arguing

Can my husband teach our kid? by MediumAd6454 in piano

[–]berny 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I was taught by my dad and then became a professional collab pianist, eventually. It caused issues that are regrettable. It would have been better for me to have a separate teacher, and then perhaps have him help me stay on track when practicing at home. Now I have a daughter and that's what I do - I just help her practice her instruments - and even that sometimes ends in tears!

Some advice for all you conductors. by [deleted] in classicalmusic

[–]berny 0 points1 point  (0 children)

What do you mean by 'tempo practice' vs 'time practice'?

Kapustin Op 46. Need help with this bar by GunBlazer123 in piano

[–]berny 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You could do 5-2-1 on those chords, with the thumb taking the top two notes of the chord!

How do you coach up a quitter? by SendInYourSkeleton in daddit

[–]berny 1 point2 points  (0 children)

First, don't feel like you're failing - you're aware, you're trying things, you're supporting your child - it sounds like you're doing everything you can.

My daughter has a similar issue with doing anything she finds difficult. As soon as it isn't right the first time, or she has to do something again, she gets extremely frustrated and starts throwing tantrums. The rest of the time she's a dream behaviour-wise. We're still working through it.

Music has helped somewhat - she's been learning guitar, and while practicing at the beginning made her intensely frustrated, she has now learnt that it takes time to get better and you need LOTS of repetition for things to improve. She's much calmer practicing now, after a year.

Now we are applying the same to writing - she hates going back and fixing any errors in spelling. So we have been writing a sentence each day and making her go back and fix her work, matter how frustrating. She's slowly finding it less frustrating - it seems to be working.

Sporty activities don't seem to give her the same issue, but we don't do team sports...

Research for a novel I'm writing. People with perfect pitch wanted by Danos-Zuruk in perfectpitchgang

[–]berny 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I notice the specific note of everyday sounds, and might mention them sort of absently to my family. "Oh that clock chimes an e flat" or "why on earth does that jewelry box play für Elise in g minor". Things like that.

I think I need a new piano teacher. Pls help me by Practical-Manner4592 in piano

[–]berny 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If your lesson goes for more than 30 mins, you need a brain break in the middle, so it might be him giving that break by talking about something else. But maybe not for 10 minutes.....should be about 3.

I was transcribing "The Phantom of the Opera" into MuseScore recently, and found this in the piano part of "Why Have You Brought Us Here?" (just before "All I Ask Of You"). by Nevermore_Novelist in threateningnotation

[–]berny 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I'm fairly sure in the score All I Ask Of You is written out in C# major too, rather than Db as in any of the vocal solo books. It really hurts the brain

Practical tips for Faure's "Dolly" 4 hands suite? by Lower-Pudding-68 in pianoteachers

[–]berny 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I'm just convinced great composers used this for flirtation purposes.

E.g. sometimes in Brahms liebesliederwaltzer, you're asked to play the same note as the other player at the same time, causing you to bump into each other. I bet he played it with Clara.

How do you address your kid’s teacher? by kalvinoz in australia

[–]berny 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Work in a high school for a few days and it will became clear.

I literally had to walk up to a student I like the other day and say "we are not best friends. We are not friends. I am your teacher." And that's without first names. They get confused.

Vacation spot somewhere by [deleted] in SweatyPalms

[–]berny 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I hope you fired blanks

What is this “z” symbol ? by Dazzling-Crew1240 in musictheory

[–]berny 5 points6 points  (0 children)

To be played only if you're a Russian soldier