PrettyInScarlett

Something of a trend towards piano groups/similar for amateurs seems to be going on at the moment (excellent! definitely a more is more scenario!), with features on blogs such as Practising the Piano and The Cross-Eyed Pianist . The forthcoming issue of Pianist Magazine, issue 79, will feature an article on piano groups, for which I contributed some material regarding both Ottawa Piano Group and Durham Amateur Pianists . More information on the forthcoming magazine can be found here .

Catching up on my blog feeds after the break, I came across an interesting article on Bachtrack by Frances Wilson about amateur pianism. As a fellow piano lover and piano group organiser, I thought it offered an excellent insight into the world of amateur pianists. Read it here .

Durham Amateur Pianists was featured on Radio 3 Breakfast as part of their incredibly useful  Musical Map last Thursday 18th October. The Musical Map has information on musical groups, events, festivals and more right across the UK.   My compatriots with Ottawa Piano Group held a meeting with a difference last Sunday at Southminster United Church, performing on a 1904 Heintzman grand piano. What a treat! The event was attended and recorded by CBC Radio 91.5 FM. Edited highlights and interviews from the performers aired on CBC Ottawa Morning on Tuesday 22nd October, which is available to listen again online . The clip provides an excellent profile of how piano groups for amateurs function.     

Continuing my week of excellent piano music, last night I logged on to Skype to attend a special meeting of  Ottawa Piano Group , featuring a masterclass by performer and teacher Jenny Regehr . Jenny started the session with a short introduction on the themes of what one wants to say musically and how to say it, focusing on alignment and the importance of listening to what one is playing. She touched on the 'vibrancy' of the OPG - it seems the group has developed quite a reputation! The three brave students for the afternoon were: Christopher, playing Milonga del Angel by Piazzolla; Nick, playing Schubert's Impromptu Op 142 No 2 ; and Julie, playing the 2nd movement from Beethoven's Sonata Op 10 No 1 . All excellent performances, and the common themes from Jenny's analysis included comments on the melodic line and buoyancy in chordal playing - the emphasis being on constant movement and flow. It was certainly an entert...