quote:

Originally posted by RealPlayer:
I'm sure everyone's learning more about me than they care to know!

We care to know...the life of a muscian is fascinating to us (maybe some dreamers here?)

Just don't ever make me the forumer of the month...the more hidden I am (with this avatar) the better!

quote:

Originally posted by apple:
Would you like to describe a typical day.. how many hours do you play.. what do you eat, when do you awake.. what do you listen to, read, watch????

What is this, Twitter?

I'm not good for much in the morning. Tea and Democracy Now! Granola / steel-cut oats / omelet for breakfast. Then some time frittered away here on the computer. Or maybe a short bike ride (1 hour), weather permitting.

If I don't have any rehearsals with others that day, I'll practice during the afternoon. (Today, for example, I was working here with a singer from 2 to 4.) I take breaks at the computer to see what you're all doing on WTF, etc. I'm at my best, most efficient, practicing in the evening though, around 7. Practice time is flexible. Tea in the afternoon is a must, too, around 3 or 4 but I don't just sit and drink tea, I sip it while practicing or doing other things.

If I'm on a deadline with difficult music, forget it. Everything is different, and I'm at the piano for the bulk of the day.

Often I make dinner for the family, starting around 6:30. I cook complicated stuff, so we may not eat till 7:30 or 8:30.

If I have a concert or evening meeting to go to, I probably won't be cooking. Otherwise after dinner, I can't practice because others get to bed early, so I'll read, watch some tube, or get back on the computer. I watch those news shows where they all scream at each other! or something more edifying. I don't listen to as much as I used to, though I'll put something on the victrola while I'm cooking.

People send me CD's of their work. I have some of those that I've never listened to. I have some CD's on which I'm performing that I've never listened to. I listened to recorded music constantly while in college...maybe I don't need to listen so much any more...or maybe I should force myself to anyway.

I subscribe to the local paper but often don't even read it. They pile up. No magazine subscriptions, though I enjoyed the New Yorker the years I got it.

Pretty exciting life, eh?

quote:

I'm not good for much in the morning. Tea and Democracy Now! Granola / steel-cut oats / omelet for breakfast. Then some time frittered away here on the computer. Or maybe a short bike ride (1 hour), weather permitting.

If I don't have any rehearsals with others that day, I'll practice during the afternoon. (Today, for example, I was working here with a singer from 2 to 4.) I take breaks at the computer to see what you're all doing on WTF, etc. I'm at my best, most efficient, practicing in the evening though, around 7. Practice time is flexible. Tea in the afternoon is a must, too, around 3 or 4 but I don't just sit and drink tea, I sip it while practicing or doing other things.

If I'm on a deadline with difficult music, forget it. Everything is different, and I'm at the piano for the bulk of the day.

Often I make dinner for the family, starting around 6:30. I cook complicated stuff, so we may not eat till 7:30 or 8:30.

If I have a concert or evening meeting to go to, I probably won't be cooking. Otherwise after dinner, I can't practice because others get to bed early, so I'll read, watch some tube, or get back on the computer. I watch those news shows where they all scream at each other! or something more edifying. I don't listen to as much as I used to, though I'll put something on the victrola while I'm cooking.

People send me CD's of their work. I have some of those that I've never listened to. I have some CD's on which I'm performing that I've never listened to. I listened to recorded music constantly while in college...maybe I don't need to listen so much any more...or maybe I should force myself to anyway.

I subscribe to the local paper but often don't even read it. They pile up. No magazine subscriptions, though I enjoyed the New Yorker the years I got it.

Other than a few details that are different (evening practice and bike rides), it is like reading my own schedule!!

Is there any "rock" music you like or listen to?

jf

How would I go about making a proper cup of tea?

Have you ever been stopped by the police with your baggies of dried green leaves??

quote:

Originally posted by Nina:
OK, my question-- who are your favorite composers to listen to? to play? (assuming they are different)

And to make it interesting, you have to include at least some from pre-1900ish.

I really have to think about how to answer this one. Usually I just name a few composers, but a more interesting question is WHY do I like these composers? So I will come back to this.

And yes, it will include pre-1900 composers.

quote:

Originally posted by RealPlayer:

quote:

Originally posted by apple:
Would you like to describe a typical day.. how many hours do you play.. what do you eat, when do you awake.. what do you listen to, read, watch????

What is this, Twitter?

quote:

Originally posted by Steve Miller:
How would I go about making a proper cup of tea?

And a follow up, please, how would a person go about serving it?

quote:

Originally posted by Daniel:

quote:

Originally posted by Steve Miller:
How would I go about making a proper cup of tea?

And a follow up, please, how would a person go about serving it?

The short and perhaps best answer is, make it the way you like it! If you're happy, that's all it's about.

If you want to go into it a little more deeply, there are lots of ways to prepare tea, and some depend on the type you're making. None are difficult, but some require attention. (And serving is even easier.)

Please don't think you have to adopt the Japanese Tea Ceremony or some nonsense. That is more of a semi-religious ritual in which tea has a part.

Quality of tea is important. Temperature of water is important. To note one tragedy, many people tried green tea for its health benefits and hated it, or assumed it needs to be gussied up with fruit flavors, etc. But they started with bad green tea and brewed it with boiling (much too hot) water. A recipe for tasteless bitterness!

I'll give y'all specific brewing ideas and expand on this more later...

Hey, Joe, it's been great, but it's time to pass the baton.

OK -- I realize I've left a couple of questions unanswered. When this thread migrates to the About Us section, I assume I can still add replies?

You never answered my question, you meanie!!

Sure you can, Joe. You can answer them even before it migrates.

quote:

Originally posted by EHpianist:
Any "worst concert piano ever" stories? How did you and Sarah meet and get together?

The squeaking wheel gets the grease.

You meant worst piano, right, not worst concert -- I assume. I don't remember any awful pianos specifically. There was one whose "brakes" weren't locked, and that rolled imperceptibly during playing! There was one really bad recording piano, too, just awful, with the tinniest treble. A Steinway B in a NY studio.

Sarah organized a festival in Berkeley around the Henry Cowell Centennial in 1997, and she invited a number of pianists from New York, myself included. While we were all there, a new piece arrived for 4 hands from Terry Riley, and Sarah wanted it performed at that festival on short notice. She asked a couple of other pianists who refused, but I took up the challenge.

So we've been performing together since then!