Tag Archives: student

Video – Bach Minuet in G – Beginning Classical Piano Lessons

A video of a student playing Minuet in G, composed by Johann Sebastian Bach. Bach wrote this piece as one of 16 songs that he presented to his wife, Anna Magdalena Bach, as a gift.

Learning to play piano or keyboard begins with reading music. As beginning piano lessons expand from the basics, they will have a better idea what kind of music they enjoy playing. There are so many great styles of music to choose from. Classical music is one of the most popular, and Bach is a great composer to learn from. The Minuet in G is one of the pieces that students play when first learning to play classical music on the piano. There are 16 songs in this first Bach songbook.

Johann Sebastian Bach was one of the fathers of German Baroque music. In addition to composing and arranging hundreds of songs, Bach played organ, harpsichord, and stringed instruments. His multitude of compositions and arrangements for choir, orchestra, keyboards, strings, and horns are a library of the very best music from that era. Bach is known for his flawless composing technique and tremendous skill in complex voicings. In Europe, his reputation all as an organist contributed to his great success. Some of his well known works include; The Well-Tempered Clavier, the Partitas, The Art of Fugue, the English and French Suites, and the Sonatas and Partitas for solo violin.

Bach’s large collection of works stand today as a tribute to his masterful creativity. He is considered today a true musical genius, and one of the grandest composers ever.

Johann Sebastian Bach

 

Video Jazz Piano – Abdullah Ibrahim Plays Cape Town Flower (1999)

Here is a video of a beautiful and moving performance of “Cape Town Flower” recorded at the Lugano Jazz Festival in Switzerland in 1999. The trio playing here is one of Abdullah´s best ensembles ever. Abdullah Ibrahim is one of my favorite composers and pianists. His music is rich, innovative, and lovely to listen to. His style of playing includes many varied elements from Jazz and Blues Piano.

Abdullah Ibrahim was born in 1932 in Cape Town, South Africa. Ibrahim is a pianist and composer. His music reflects multicultural influences from his childhood. You can discern elements of Traditional African songs, Gospel, Church, Blues, Indian Ragas, and Contemporary Jazz. Some Jazz musicians influencing his music are Thelonious Monk and Duke Ellington.

Abdullah Ibrahim first took piano lessons at age seven. He was an avid listener of American Jazz records, brought to Cape Town by sailors. He began playing piano professionally in 1949. In 1962 he moved to Europe. Ibrahim has recorded many albums and has made his mark in the global Jazz community. His contribution to the Jazz curriculum has been prolific.

Here in Portland, when my piano students ask me to suggest some Jazz musicians to listen to, Abdullah Ibrahim is on the short list. His playing transcends the traditional western style of Jazz, with a fresh and eclectic feel.

Discography (partial)
1960: Jazz Epistle Verse 1
1964: Duke Ellington presents The Dollar Brand Trio
1965: The Dream
1965: Anatomy of a South African Village (Black Lion Records)
1965: This is Dollar Brand (Black Lion)
1969: African Sketchbook
1969: African Piano
1973: Good News from Africa
1973: African Space Program

read more about Abdullah Ibrahim

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Piano Lessons & Keyboard Lessons
Portland, Oregon

503-771-4611


Having fun is the best way to get students relaxed and ready to learn new things at the studio. There are so many wonderful pieces of music to learn, from Bach to Beatles to Ben Fold. Reading music, playing by ear, blues improvisation, learning about melodies and chords, recording a video animation with music; there’s always something exciting to work on. Playing piano is a great way to take time off from the busy world and do something for yourself. Kids have lots of fun; so do adults.