Piano at Peabody

The summer camp at Peabody Conservatory of music more than exceeded all expectations

this year. Each morning started with a jazz workshop in a room with about thirty electric

pianos with headsets. Over the course of a week we took the basic music to a jazz standard

(Misty) and learned how to make jazz chord substitutions for all of the melody. By the end

of the week, all of us had created a jazz version of the basic melody! Next was a lecture each

day. These lectures included latin music, famous jazz pianist' styles, and what's it's like to be a

concert pianist. Workshops included playing duet piano, and latin music styles. In the

afternoon was a master class each day with a different teacher. My Chopin nocturne went well.

My teacher fussed at me about the way I sat at the piano and buried my head in the keyboard

instead of sitting up straight, This is something that I will work on! Each evening there was an

amazing recital by each teacher. These recitals motivated us so much that we all scrambled to

practice rooms afterwards (there were about thirty). On Thursday, there was the recital for two

pianos and on Friday there was a big dinner and then the main student recital. I gave a brief

talk on the life of Chevalier and then performed his sonata. This was the first time that I ever got

a standing ovation! It did wonders for my confidence! The week gave me an opportunity to rub

elbows with some of the most talented virtuostic piano teachers that I have ever been around.

I can't wait until next year. I did so well this year, I have decided to perform the third movement of Beethoven's 21st sonata!