3 amazing opportunities for creativity in Autumn 2024
Creativity digest: 8th September 2024
Hello everyone,
I hope you’re all well. I’ve just emerged from 5 days of nightmarish lesson scheduling problems and while I’m overall fairly content with the result, I have a new understanding of why many teachers charge a registration fee.
There are three big things to share with you today, and one of them begins in about 4 hours, so without further ado, let’s get cracking:
EPTA UK webinar on creative piano exams — today at 3pm UK time
If, like me, you’re an EPTA UK member, today’s webinar with Maestro Online’s Robin Harrison will appeal. Robin generously took the time to Skype with me earlier this year and I’m impressed with what they’re offering.
Here’s the blurb:
“Do you have students who love to play pop songs and don’t want to necessarily stick to the sheet music? Perhaps it’s because they know the sheet music isn’t accurate, or perhaps it’s because they love to improvise. The new Maestro Online exam board with pop piano grades could be the answer: cheaper than all competitors, specialist examiners, play by ear or follow notation, results within a week. Let’s chat and see what it’s all about!”
It’s definitely worth checking out.
EPTA Germany Kongress: Werktreue und Improvisation
Speaking of EPTA, this Autumn’s EPTA Deutschland conference looks amazing. I have already booked tickets.
Even the title is brilliant. Werktreue means “fidelity to the original”, so the whole concept of the congress seems to be that fidelity to original classical works requires improvisation. Regular readers of Piano Creativity such as yourselves will already know this, but it’s so refreshing to have this neglected concept receive such a major focus from such an important body.
Talks include:
“With fantasy through the centuries: a short history of improvisation”
“Idiosyncracies and un-notated nuances: Chopin and the problem of notation”
“Book recommendations and suggestions for improvisation in beginner piano”
“Genre-appropriate improvising: Carl Czerny’s “Fantasy School”, Op. 200 and 300 as a mirror of the early rediscovery of historical music in 1830”
and many more…
It’s in German (those lecture titles were translated by me and may not therefore be perfect!) so it won’t appeal to all my readers but if, like me, your German is at least halbwegs in Ordnung, see you there!
Become a Young Composer for the National Youth Choir
This is an amazing opportunity for a young composer to work with a major national ensemble. It is a fully funded training programme that lasts for a full year and involves collaborating with both the choir and organisations like Dorico, Stainer & Bell, ABRSM, the Association of Teachers of Singing, the Association of British Choral Directors and NMC Recordings.
Let me just emphasise one thing again: it’s fully funded.
I am, of course, by now too old to apply for anything with “young” in the title. Sigh. But maybe you know a young composer. Tell them about it!
Other things I’ve enjoyed this week
Andrew Eales’ article about trust in piano lessons is fantastic
Rhonda Rizzo’s just posted her performance of some fantastic contemporary modal tangos by Alexander LaFollet with her duet partner Molly Wheeler at The Thinking Pianist. I was lucky enough to experience it live — it was awesome
Composer Tom Blankenberg’s new video for his latest track for solo piano, SLAS.
Inspired by that famous Bob Dylan video for Subterranean Homesick Blues, a cast of contemporary composers from around Europe (myself included — can you spot me?) hold up the chord symbols Tom’s playing.
What’s in the draft folder
5 more posts about how to make time for creativity in piano lessons
“Creative Introductions” activity posts about several great elementary pieces pieces, including something from Angeline Bell’s latest book
a review of the excellent Piano By Ear by Lucinda Mackworth-Young
a guide to the best creative Halloween resources for piano lessons (including an absolutely brilliant and hilarious book by Barbara Arens)
and much more…
Have a great Sunday!
Garreth
Excellent resources in this post, Garreth, and a million thanks for your mention of Molly and my performance of the Modal Tangos! They’re brand new pieces I hope find a home in pianists’ repertoire everywhere.