Pianist Lee Jordan-Anders
TALKS AND LECTURES
Steps To Better Piano Technique: Building Body Awareness at the Ballet Barre
Technique - at the piano or the ballet barre - is a means to an end, not the end itself. Scales and plies are the stuff from which art derives, the tools the craftsman must possess in order to become an artist. This talk uses basic ballet exercises to demonstrate the progression of technical development at the piano, from basic hand and body position to advanced etudes. Participants see classical ballet exercises used to illustrate fundamental technical concepts applicable to both art forms.
Overcoming Memory Anxiety: A Left/Right-Brain Approach
Performing a composition from memory can result in more exciting and convincing musical performances--but only if memory is an ally, not a source of anxiety. This talk offers a synthesis of the work of scholars, artist/performers, and piano teachers on memory, then outlines practical strategies to make a memory a tool that will work for us, not against us. Learning how each brain hemisphere contributes to the memory process can lead to more efficient and secure memorization. Musical examples representing a wide range of levels of difficulty are used to demonstrate specific teaching methods that result in more complete and confident memorization. A discussion of memory retention exercises concludes this talk.
Telling Stories with Music
This interactive performance geared to children and families explores the narrative and expressive possibilities of program music. Listeners are encouraged to imagine the story Daquin's "Coucou" tells and compare it to the events recounted in Bartok's "From the Diary of a Fly." Beethoven's "Rage Over a Lost Penny" illustrates the function of music as a socially acceptable outlet for emotions of all kinds, while Chopin's "Ballade" invites the audience to create their own personal tale of romance. This presentation concludes with a performance of Francis Poulenc's "L'histoire de Babar, le petit elephant" for piano and narrator. Because the narration is not difficult, organizers may invite a local television or radio personality, favorite teacher, or special parent to perform this part. The performance of "Babar" is accompanied by a slide presentation of the wonderful drawings by Laurent de Brunhoff that illustrate his father's text.
Make an Impression!
Beginning with a performance of Ravel's "Jeux d'eau," this talk explores the very essence of Impressionism. A series of art images by French Impressionist painters accompanies the music of Claude Debussy and Maurice Ravel. The repertoire is demonstrated beginning with pieces at the intermediate level (Debussy's "Le Petit Negre," Ravel's "Prelude in a") and moving through the most difficult works of these composers. Special emphasis is given to creating genuine Impressionist tone colors with delicate pedal shading and elegant phrasing. A performance of Debussy's "Feux d'artifice" ends this talk with a bang!
Schumann's "Carnaval," Opus 9
Schumann's "Carnaval comes to life in this performance using art images to complement Schumann's musical scenes. Watteau's "Pierrot," Picasso's Harlequin series, Erte's "Dancing Letters," Calder's clowns, Canova's "Cupid and Psyche," and, or course, Michelangelo's "David" serve as the pictorial background for Schumann's music. A brief historical and biographical orientation precedes the performance.
To schedule a concert or lecture please contact Lee Jordan-Anders at :
- Virginia Wesleyan College
- 1584 Wesleyan Drive
- Norfolk, Virginia 23502
- (757) 455-3297
or send e-mail by clicking here ljordananders@vwc.edu