Ola Gjeilo (pronounced Yay-lo) (b. 1978) is a 21st-century pianist and composer who has changed the face of contemporary choir music. His compositions whisk the listener away on a journey full of emotion and beauty. Gjeilo is one of my favorite modern choir composers, so let’s learn more about him and his music. About Ola […]
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Today’s post is so exciting because I will be discussing my latest piano composition and my first album! Let’s talk about the piano piece first. The Girl with the Fire A few months ago, my sister and I were talking about music during the intermission of this choir concert. She half-jokingly suggested I compose a […]
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I had the pleasure of hearing Lyric Fantasy (Lyrisk fantasi) for Orchestra, Op. 54 by Swedish composer Lars-Erik Larsson (1908-1986) for the first time on my local classical radio station the other day. I was immediately struck by its beauty: Background Even though Larsson was born to a nurse and a factory worker, he showed musical talent […]
Read MorePlease enjoy my latest music vlog, a series of 3 YouTube videos that offers tips on practicing the piano. Included you will find discussions on injury prevention, how to stay motivated to practice, dealing with stage fright, getting better at dynamics, teaching yourself how to play the piano, and more.
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The Romantic era is one of the most popular periods in Western music history. And it’s easy to see why! Lasting from 1820-1910 (or so), music from this time is known for its shift away from the balanced and light Classical era characteristics and towards more emotive and descriptive sounds. Romantic Era Ideals A Shift […]
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I’m so excited to share my latest piano composition with you, entitled Heartbeat: Heartbeat is a piece for solo piano that uses modern-day minimalism combined with beautiful melodies, lush harmonies, and driving rhythms. If you want to play it, download the sheet music here! Background A few months ago, I first heard the piece The Runner by […]
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As July is coming to an end and the days are long and hot, please enjoy these classical pieces inspired by summer: Overture to A Midsummer Night’s Dream by Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847) Mendelssohn was just 17 years old when he composed his famous Midsummer Overture. This emotive piece tells the story of Shakespeare’s play through […]
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There is a lot going on in the world today that makes me question whether us humans know how to be, well, human anymore. And as I’ve been thinking about the world, I’ve been turning to music to help ease the stress and the anxiety surrounding all of the difficult things we go through. While […]
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Hello readers! Sorry for not posting consistently over the last few weeks; I was working as a pianist at a music summer camp for middle and high schoolers, but now I’m home and ready to get back into my own music-making! This week on the blog, I want to share some of my favorite pieces […]
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Have you ever been handed a difficult piece of music and been expected to play it immediately? If you have, you know that it’s not the easiest thing to do. If not, well then you’d best prepare yourself for when it will (eventually) happen. Here are 5 ways you can incorporate sight reading into your […]
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