Flexibility is KEY (in performance and practice) with Rebecca Penneys
Professor Emeritus at the Eastman School of Music, Rebecca Penneys is a recitalist, chamber musician, orchestral soloist, educator, and adjudicator, known for her unique pianistic vision.
"From my perspective, flexibility is key in everything piano. Piano is a journey into yourself through sound, love, excitement, education, change, and enormous beauty. I try to bring imagination and creativity into all aspects of piano practice and performance."
- Rebecca
Check out some of Rebecca's Courses on Tonebase!
https://app.tonebase.co/piano/home?tbModal=artistProfileModal&tbModalSlug=RebeccaPenneys
Follow this event link to tune in!
https://app.tonebase.co/piano/live/player/pno-rebecca-penneys-flexibility
We are going to be using this thread to gather suggestions and questions!
- What questions do you have on this topic?
- Any particular area you would like me to focus on?
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Yes, I'm going to attend.
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It is important, this topic !! To remain flexible ... as everything shifts, translating us into new spaces with the message of the piece; allowing the message the freedom it deserves! Looking forward!!! xx
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Chopin鈥檚 study in thirds, though vastly improved over the years, still doesn鈥檛 quite come up to speed or fluidity that I would like. Any recommendations?
Also, I have difficulties with left hand octaves. In the right, it seems when playing with alternating fingers, things go very smoothly. Any tricks to making the left hand come to the same level? -
Dominic, you are right that Rebecca's positive energy is contagious. She loves so many aspects of music and conveys it with a joyful, soulful depth.
"When you look at Piano music...it is a combination of being: a Conductor, a Singer and a Dancer."
Rebecca Penneys
Speaking in terms of warming up, staying close to the keys to stay loose "...opens the lungs of the instrument"...R.P. What an interesting way to state it.
"The whole idea is to fire up that person's imagination...I try my best to show them another way to do something physically, another way to do something interpretively...another sound wave...sound cloud of emotion...so that their tools...expand." R.P.
"If you don't move, you get constricted." R.P.
"Melody is attached to breath." R.P.
Rebecca has a very wholistic approach to music. She speaks of music and it's ability to provide joy, health, beauty . . . fulfillment. Indeed!
And, as always, thank you for displaying the score so efficiently in the lessons, Dominic!
Wonderful questions!
"Don't expect to feel the same from day to day...pianos change from day to day...I change from day to day...the piano...It's a Living, breathing experience...". R.P.
Rebecca has such a healthy, inspiring perspective!
Thank you also, Dominic, for highlighting some key phrases Rebecca stated. It reinforced her valuable messages.
Thank you, Rebecca! Thank you, Dominic! Thank you, everyone!
