Welcome to the tonebase Piano Community!

Hey everyone - this is Dominic from tonebase 🙂!

 

As the lead of tonebase PIANO it's such a pleasure to welcome you to the tonebase community. We would love to get to know you! Please introduce yourself in a post below with the following format: 

  • Where are you from and what's your favorite food from there? ;) 
  • What are you currently working on? 
  • What are you hoping to get out of this community? 

I'll go first: 

  • I was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri and you better believe that I love my barbecue! It is hard to pick my favorite food between ribs, brisket, or a beautiful grilled steak, but if I have to decide...nothing beats a juicy, fall-off-the-bone rack of baby back ribs!
  • Currently working on some old favorites of mine by Carl Vine (Piano Sonata No.1), Beethoven (Piano Concerto No.4) and Scriabin (Fantasy op.28) but also adding some great repertoire by H. Leslie Adams (Etude in A-flat minor Book 2), Laura Kaminsky (Alluvion), and Clara Schumann (Romanze in A minor Op.21 no.1)!
  • I am hoping to getting to know and helping all of you achieve your musical and artistic goals. Let's have some fun and get to work!

Now over to you (after some participation from our tonebase team members!) 

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    • Edmund
    • Edmund
    • 2 yrs ago
    • Reported - view

    A) Hi, my name is Edmund Heng and I'm from Singapore. 

    My friends call me a garbage bin because I love to eat everything and I'm eating almost all the time lol!! My favourite food would be a medium rare steak, lamb and barbecue chicken wings! I love grilled fish, squid, prawns, scallops as well. And CHEESE!!! Mmmmm. As you can see I really love eating lol!! It's 430am here and I'm having ice cream! =D

     

    B) Pieces I'm working on are 

    1) Ballet from Orpheus and Eurydice (also known as melodie de Gluck) - Gluck/Sgambati 

    2) Liebeslied - Kreisler/Rachmaninoff 

    3) Standchen - Schubert/Liszt 

    4) Intermezzo In A Major - Brahms 

    5) Chance Encounter - Kevin Kern 

    6) Blind Film - Yiruma 

     

    As you can tell, I'm a sucker for expressive and romantic music. 

    I am a massive fan of new age music and I used to transcribe them and share it on my YouTube channel for free. Because of that, I got to know many pianists from around the world and I still keep in touch with some of them via Facebook. It's amazing how music brings people from all around the world together. 

     

    3) As for why I'm here on tonebase, I did not get a proper education in music. I got my associate diploma in performance but my teachers weren't very good. 

     

    One was busy cooking for her dog during my lesson (my ATCL teacher) and my teacher for abrsm grade 1-8 didn't do anything except point at the sheet music while I played. Never have I once heard both my teachers demonstrate anything on the piano for me. It was only about playing the right notes. Thinking back, I wonder if both of them even know how to play the piano. 

     

    Little wonder my results for my piano exams were mediocre. And I got forced to learn pieces I didn't like. 

     

    I was a former stockbroker and decided to change my job to be a piano teacher 7 years ago and I've never looked back. I promised myself to not be the teacher my teachers were to me. 

     

    I'm extremely patient, I always perform to inspire my students. I tell them the importance of playing from the heart with feelings and expression. I tell them the importance of singing in your head when you play so that you can play and express yourself in the most natural manner. It's impossible to play something without first hearing it in your head.

     

    That performing a piece is like communicating with the audience and telling them your version of the story. I also tell them to use their imagination as much as possible to enhance their story. Also, sometimes having an image in your head when you perform can help you to focus.

     

    I am envious of my friends who have good teachers. They go to famous conservatories to learn, they get to attend masterclasses with world class musicians. Whereas my teachers were random housewives who never played a single piece for me. 

     

    And that's the reason why I'm on Tonebase. To learn from the best. To attend classes that I would have attended had I studied in a music conservatory instead of going to a business school and getting a degree in Economics. And I'm going to keep on learning. For the rest of my life! 

     

    Some of my students parents ask me 

    "Is my child still a beginner? When will they be advanced?" 

     

    And I'll reply 

    "Yes. They are still beginners. And I am a beginner too. Do not worry about the end goal of being advanced but rather to enjoy the journey of learning. In fact, the more I learn, the more I think I don't know about the piano. 

     

    Isn't it wonderful that you can learn the piano for a lifetime, yet discover so many things that you still can learn? That's the beauty of performance arts isn't it? There really isn't a point to learn something that you can master in a short time. There is no satisfaction in it."

     

    I'm here not only to study. But to learn how to be a wonderful teacher as well! 

     

    I'm so happy to be here on Tonebase. You guys have assembled a great team of musicians here! It's like The Avengers. And Seymour Bernstein is like Master Yoda! Lol!! 

    Like 2
      • Pauline
      • Pauline
      • 2 yrs ago
      • Reported - view

      Edmund Hello, Edmund! Welcome!

      Like 1
    • Gail Starr
    • Retired MBA
    • Gail_Starr
    • 2 yrs ago
    • Reported - view

    Hi Edmund!  I'm kind of like you...I have an MBA and worked in strategic planning.  But, now that I am semi-retired I re-started piano in March and try to practice often.  I'm sure you are an amazing teacher.  Once Covid is over, we hope to return to Singapore and enjoy some Hawker stalls.

    Like 2
      • Edmund
      • Edmund
      • 2 yrs ago
      • Reported - view

      Gail Starr I'll have an entire list of food for you to check out when you're here!!! =D

      Like 2
      • Gail Starr
      • Retired MBA
      • Gail_Starr
      • 2 yrs ago
      • Reported - view

      Edmund I can’t wait! 😊. Sadly, because of COVID and taking care of elderly relatives, we probably can’t return to Singapore until 2023.  But I will enjoy your list of yummy foods when we do come back!

      Like 1
    • NICOLAS
    • NICOLAS_IREGUI_R
    • 2 yrs ago
    • Reported - view

    Hi Everyone!


    Enjoying ToneBase a lot!

     

    I am Nicolás, from Bogotá, Colombia. I am a lawyer but been playing classical piano for 27 years. Currently working on Beethoven’s Pathetique and Moonlight Sonatas and Mozart Ah! Vous dirai-je Maman. Found these classes in Tonebase and were very useful for my practice. 
     

    .

    Like 2
    • NICOLAS Welcome! It's great here - you'll love it! :-) 

      Like 1
      • Gail Starr
      • Retired MBA
      • Gail_Starr
      • 2 yrs ago
      • Reported - view

      NICOLAS Welcome!  Can’t wait to hear you play. Try out the « community challenge » next month.  They are super fun!

      Like 1
      • Pauline
      • Pauline
      • 2 yrs ago
      • Reported - view

      NICOLAS Hello and Welcome, Nicolas!

      Like 1
    • NICOLAS Welcome! So happy you have found these classes useful :)

      Like
    • Joseph Gonzalez
    • Passionated: Piano, Golf, Business development, ...
    • Gonzalez
    • 2 yrs ago
    • Reported - view

    Hi,

    I am Joseph Gonzalez, was born 67 years ago and live in France, Paris area.
    I love French food (all traditional french receipts and there are so many), but also Spanish food (my grand parents were from Andalousia, Spain), Italian food (not only pizza), but also international food.
    I love Champagne, Wine (Bourgogne, Bordeaux, but also less known appellations), Scottish Pure Malt whiskies...

     

    Before Covid pandemic started, my wife and I used to travel a lot (Vietnam, India, Canada, USA, etc..) enjoying local food and habits.

     

    I started to learn piano when I was 10 years old, during around 8 years. Than I totally stopped playing piano as I was absorbed by my family life and my businesses.

    In February 2020, we (my wife also learned piano when she was young) bought a Yamaha P125 keyboard and started again playing piano. I took some lessons via Whatsapp with a french teacher during pandemic lockdowns. And replaced the P125 by a Yamaha CSP 170, close to a traditional piano.

     

    My current repertoire: (I play these pieces quite every day)

    - Jean-Sebastien Bach: Aria Suite pour orchestre n°3 (BWV 1068) 

    - Amadeus Mozart: Concerto n°23, Adagio

    - Arthur Hamilton Arr. Diana Krall: Cry me a river

    - Franz Schubert Arr. Horn: Ständchen (from Schwanengesang)

    - Robert Schumann: About Strange Lands and People (Scenes from Childhood)

    - Erik Satie: Gymnopedie n°1

    I am currently working (since end of November 2021) on Gabriel Fauré (Pavane op.50). I have memorized the 30 first bars (1 page and a half, on a total 5 pages). So I aim to master Pavane by April 2022.

     

    Next, I will look at Debussy (Clair de Lune) or Chopin or Ravel. Will see.

     

    I spend in average 2 hours per day practicing and playing piano. I enjoy it a lot lot.

    Other passions: Golf, Visiting new countries and people, Museums, Theatres, Concerts, ...

     

    Happy to join Tonebase community and platform, looking forward improving my piano technique and interpretation.

    Like 2
      • Gail Starr
      • Retired MBA
      • Gail_Starr
      • 2 yrs ago
      • Reported - view

      Joseph Gonzalez Bonjour,  Joseph!  Soyez le bienvenu chez Tonebase.  Nous tenons à vous écouter bientôt.  Je crois que vous aimeriez bien participer dans les « Community Challenges » chaque mois.  Nous sommes (au moins) 3 pianistes francophones déjà.

      Like 1
      • Pauline
      • Pauline
      • 2 yrs ago
      • Reported - view

      Joseph Gonzalez Hello! Welcome, Joseph!

      Like 1
      • Joseph Gonzalez
      • Passionated: Piano, Golf, Business development, ...
      • Gonzalez
      • 2 yrs ago
      • Reported - view

      Gail Starr bonjour Gail, merci pour votre accueil, et de plus en Français !. Effectivement, je vais planifier de participer aux Community Challenges. A très bientôt !

      Like
      • Joseph Gonzalez
      • Passionated: Piano, Golf, Business development, ...
      • Gonzalez
      • 2 yrs ago
      • Reported - view

      Pauline Hello Pauline. Thank you for,your welcome.

      Like
      • Pauline
      • Pauline
      • 2 yrs ago
      • Reported - view

      Joseph Gonzalez 🙂

      Like
      • Gail Starr
      • Retired MBA
      • Gail_Starr
      • 2 yrs ago
      • Reported - view

      Joseph Gonzalez How is your Pavane coming along?  I love that piece and can't wait to hear you!

      Like
    • Joseph Gonzalez Welcome! I absolutely love the diverse repertoire you play! Would love to hear you play sometime! Perhaps in one of our challenges (Next month we will focus on playing French music!)

      Like
    • Terrance
    • Terrance
    • 2 yrs ago
    • Reported - view

    Hello Everyone Terrance from Napa, CA wine country (so they say).  I grew up in Compton Ca and I love a variety of foods and French and southern cuisines are my absolute favorite.  

     

    I have been playing piano off and on for a few years but never to the extent where I can truly play an entire sound with passion and feeling.  I joined tone base to enhance my fundamentals and learn to play with passion and feeling.  I am not working on any pieces just trying to sure up my foundation.  


    Thanks for taking the time to read. 

    Like 2
      • Pauline
      • Pauline
      • 2 yrs ago
      • Reported - view

      Terrance Hello, and Welcome, Terrance!

      Like
      • Gail Starr
      • Retired MBA
      • Gail_Starr
      • 2 yrs ago
      • Reported - view

      Terrance Happy New Year!  So glad you are here.

      Like
    • Terrance Welcome! Any fundamentals you still need help on? Let me know!

      Like
    • Catherine
    • Catherine
    • 2 yrs ago
    • Reported - view

    Happy New Year Dominic!   

    • I live near St Louis and work as a teacher for the Forest Park campus!  Though I'm not a native, i agree with you on the BBQ...mmmm. My favorite food has got to be anything from the sea-trying out Thai coconut shrimp tomorrow and Barramundi this weekend.
    • I've enjoyed working on Saint-Saens Carnival of the Animals -solo piano and have a project to do it with another pianist living near me in the east metro area. Currently I'm working up the remaining few tunes in Liszt 'Weihnachtsbaum"  --I play as church pianist/organist, and am featuring this and other sacred works in a recital with my husband, a timpanist, at the end of January.
    • Hope to make great connections with other serious and/or professional pianists and learn from you and the materials here--get back into concert shape
    Like 2
      • Pauline
      • Pauline
      • 2 yrs ago
      • Reported - view

      Catherine Welcome, too!

      Like
      • Gail Starr
      • Retired MBA
      • Gail_Starr
      • 2 yrs ago
      • Reported - view

      Catherine Hi Catherine!  I went to Wash U a million years ago (although I was pre-med, not music).  So cool that your husband is a timpanist.  Where does he practice?  Does he have timpani at your house? 

      Like
    • Catherine Welcome! I grew up in St. Louis so I know the area well! Let me know if you have any questions!!

      Like
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