-
Some years ago (2005?), I performed Schumann's Kreisleriana at the public library during a piano festival in Colorado Springs, CO. There was a requirement that we say something about the piece before we performed it. So I had made a lot of notes and explained Schumann's inspiration for the piece. After I played, many fine fellow pianists came up to me and said they had always hated the piece. But after hearing the backstory to it, they understood it more and really enjoyed it. It made me realize what a gift it is to share what I love about the music I play.
-
The only feedback I remember from a piano exam was the comment that I played one of the pieces with "old-world charm". I am still tickled by the comment to this day as I cannot imagine how as a 12 or 13 year old, I would know what old world charm should sound like. I can only give my teacher at that time credit for her very thorough coaching :D
-
When I was in college I accompanied a flautist for her senior recital. One of the pieces was a set of Beethoven variations on a folk tune. As I recall, the pianist had a busy part, doing most of the "varying" on the theme. After the recital, one of the graduate students came up to me and said "Gerry, you and I should discuss the Beethoven. There were some important subtleties that you missed". I thanked him. Not two seconds later, my musicology professor came up to me with a big smile and said, "Great job on the Beethoven!"
-
The most memorable feedback that I have received about my playing started in 2020, when a little girl was visiting us in Portugal with her mother,
Sophie (6 years old) who lives in USA, fell in love with the Chopin's Noturne Op, 9 n. 2, that I had played for her,
Afterwards, she asked her Mom to have piano classes when they came back to USA,
Two years later she sent me a video with her first piano presentation in her school.
It was one of the greatest emotiond of my life.
-
In 2022 I attended a five-day summer school with Graham Fitch at Finchcocks, a wonderful, magical old manor house in Southern England. Over the years I had learnt so much through his website, so going there to work with him was the logical step. I played some Bach, Schubert, Liszt and Brahms during the week, and when we parted, Graham said "Your playing is fantastic." I had not worked with a teacher in nearly 30 years, and I was full of joy and pride!
Of course I told my wife; soon after my birthday came up, and she had a mug, a t-shirt and some stickers designed and produced for me saying "Your playing is fantastic." One more reminder why I love her so much.