Presidential Piano: Presidents Richard Nixon, Harry Truman playing the piano!

President Nixon was very musical and could play 5 instruments!
Here's Richard Nixon's Concerto. Nixon's own composition, set to concerto form with "15 Democratic violinists." This was aired on Jack Parr's Tonight Show.
 

Harry Truman loved Mozart's A Major Sonata and always had a piano on 'tap' by his Presidential desk in the Oval Office.


Harry Truman in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA. Former President Harry Truman at piano, James Petrillo with Trumpet playing "We All go the same way Home".

Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata Guide - ARSM DIP ABRSM Diplomas masterclass resources and tutorials!

Finished your grade 8 piano and want to start learning the next level? If you're going the ABRSM (Associated Board, Royal Schools of Music Route) your options are to prepare for the ARSM - Associate Royal Schools of Music or the Dip ABRSM - Diploma.

Ludwig Van Beethoven Portrait

The Moonlight Sonata, is likely a popular choice.

So first of all - get a headstart.

Step 1: Listen to Daniel Barenboim's 5 minute introduction the sonata. The Sonata was not named thus by Beethoven himself, but more by those who felt the sonata is evocative of moonlight, dreamy, Barenboim adds. It's very interesting to note that Barenboim says the first movement theme is based on Mozart's Don Giovanni's opera where one  Don Giovanna stabs the Commandatore (military officer) to death. Barenboim also notes the "steady and martial rhythm" of the first movement motif has a funeral march quality. The second movement - scherzo and minute like (3/4 time). The last movement tempestuous.




Step 2:Listen to some great recordings and interpreters. So who are Beethoven's greatest interpreters?

Look (or listen) no further and let's go with Afred Brendel! Here's a one hour loop of the mighty Moonlight Sonata. So this is pure audio so close your eyes and listen, really listen. Then,
jot down your thoughts of images, emotions with each movement.


I would recommending downloading the free sheet music and listening to the music whilst following the score.

Here's Barenboim's performance of the Moonlight Sonata accompanied by Sheet Music.


Now get some free lessons from the masters, there are numerous masterclasses around to help you on your journey.

Andras Schiff - listen to the audio masterclass of the sonata.



 Josh Wright's Piano tips for the 3rd Movement
 

 Bach Scholar's tip's on the 3rd Movement Beethoven 

Virtual Sheet Music lesson on the 3rd Movement.
 

Keytar - Keyboard Guitar Hybrid of the 1980s

The Keytar - Keyboard Guitar Hybrid of the 1980s is making a comeback.


First let's hear one in action.
Rogerio Carvalho - a youtuber performs on the Keytar - in fact a
Roland AX-Synth, which came out in 2009. He performs the following hits:

Europe - The Final Countdown
A-Ha - Take On Me
Depeche Mode - Just Can't Get Enough
Ray Parker Jr - GhostBusters
OMD (Orchestral Manoevers in the Dark) - Enola Gay
Van Halen - Jump



So did you enjoy that? I certainly did, as someone who grew up in that decade. This year, there's a launch of a new Keytar - the Alesis Vortex Wireless 2. So Keytars will be back en vogue.
Let's hear a few demos.

What's also very cool, is that you can play 'lead guitar' on the keytar. And you can simulate the vibrato sound of bending those strings too!



Hope you enjoyed the blog!

The Piano Stomp - the Elephant Whisperer

Paul Barton, British ex-patriate living in Thailand has performed to blind elephants at one of their sanctuaries. Elephants are intelligent animals, with the largest brains of all animals, and  said to be able to distinguish the difference between languages, mourn their dead, and have long memories.

Here's Paul playing to an elephant and watch the reaction! 

Remember Saint-Saens? The Carnival of the Animals. The Swan is probably one your recognise. But little known is the Elephant:

For the Piano Duet music follow this link on IMSLP.

Fantasia on Greensleeves - piano transcription by Vaughan Williams

Greensleeves, is an Elizabethan period piece, that is sometimes attributed to King Henry VIII on his courtship of Anne Boleyn.  You may often hear the piece sing a Christmas Carol under the hymn "What Child is This?". In 1934, Vaughan Williams arranged a Fantasia on Greensleeves that is often performed in orchestral manner. However you can find piano transcriptions of this fantasia and
here is Paul Barton, an Internet sensation himself performing the piece on youtube:

 

You can download the sheet music free of copyright (depending on your location) from the
Petrucci Internet Sheet Music Library Project.

For more information on the background and for more recordings read the Classic FM article.