The flowers that bloomed in April and May provide renewed hope and fresh delights. And the butterflies are here to sample the sweets! It’s tempting to chase them in order to admire their own special beauty. Just as a butterfly flits among flowers to “choose” a preferred nectar, students working in Piano Adventures Level 4 Technique & Artistry learn to choose how much arm weight to use, to create particular sounds and colors. A weighted touch on the down beats in Chasing Butterflies is how the left hand defines the meter and provides sonority at the climax. Weightless “empty” fingers in the right hand give an airy fleetness that, combined with delicate articulations shaped by wrist circles, suggests the movements of exploring butterflies. As you listen to Dr. Faber playing this graceful piece, you will agree with American poet James Russell Lowell, “What is so rare as a day in June?”
10 replies on “Chasing Butterflies”
Comments are closed
Love the weekly videos! I am an Adult Student, and can’t wait to get to this level in the series. Thank you for all you do to share the love of music!
Love the weekly videos! I am an Adult Student, and can’t wait to get to this level in the series. Thank you for all you do to share the love of music!
hI Randal, Such uplifting visual and spiritual beauty, in Nature, in Piano, in your words!!! We need this!! Sunshine to the heart and Being on a cloudy day!! Ci vediamo fra poco alla presentazione in Vancouver i Ottobre. (see you again at the presentation in Vancouver in October) hope your Italian books were published; I tried to write regarding translation, but did not get a reply, Warm regards, Marianna Ussner….hoping you and family are very well
Enjoy your clips. My students who have played this Butterfly piece enjoy it. It always makes my heart glad that the “technical” pieces sometimes get the best response from today’s student. I have used the Piano Adventures series ever since it was published and continue to find that it meets the needs of all ages. Thank you.
hI Randal, Such uplifting visual and spiritual beauty, in Nature, in Piano, in your words!!! We need this!! Sunshine to the heart and Being on a cloudy day!! Ci vediamo fra poco alla presentazione in Vancouver i Ottobre. (see you again at the presentation in Vancouver in October) hope your Italian books were published; I tried to write regarding translation, but did not get a reply, Warm regards, Marianna Ussner….hoping you and family are very well
Enjoy your clips. My students who have played this Butterfly piece enjoy it. It always makes my heart glad that the “technical” pieces sometimes get the best response from today’s student. I have used the Piano Adventures series ever since it was published and continue to find that it meets the needs of all ages. Thank you.
Thank you for the posts and videos. You have a been a great help to me in my development as a teacher.
Thank you for the posts and videos. You have a been a great help to me in my development as a teacher.
“Distributing the arm weight for clarity and evenness.”
Brilliant explanation of the technique as always!
“Distributing the arm weight for clarity and evenness.”
Brilliant explanation of the technique as always!