...a place to share your kid's talent with others.
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Lola Astanova, Virtuoso Pianist
Lola Astanova, Virtuoso Pianist, originally from Tashkent USSR now in New York City
Take a sparkling musical talent, infuse it with unyielding spirit, then add beauty, elegance and passion and the result can be called Lola Astanova. Born in Tashkent in the former USSR, Lola’s music career began at the age of six when her mother gave Lola her first music lesson. A few months later, Lola set on a professional music path, working with renowned professors Tamara Popovich, Mark Rusak and the "godfather” of the Russian piano school Lev Naumov whose pianistic lineage traced back to Franz Liszt. (See Source)
These are comments she posted in response to questions from her listeners:
Question:
I notice, when you are playing scales and/or arppegios at your tempo (fast -lol), how should I curl my fingers? Or should I? Especially, the 5th finger... Ive notice pianist like Keith Jarrett. When he plays, his 5th finger is curled up. No matter how much I practice trying to hold my fingers in those positions, they end up pointing straight out. What could I do to improve this (if it needs to be improved)...? Thank you so much!! PS - I LOVE your sense of fashion! You're the best!
Lola Astanova responded:
Thanks for the complements. As for your question, I'm not sure that curling any finger one way or another should be a concern or a goal. Everybody must find their own natural way around the keyboard. If you are struggling with one finger than the issue is, probably, broader, and you may need to go back to some basic hand positioning exercises.
Lola Astanova on learning a new piece:
Learning a new piece is a multi-step process. What I recommend doing first is learning the text in the score with great precision and without any emotional involvement, especially when it comes to well-known pieces or those that you are dying to play. Once you've done that, your intellectual and interpretational analysis will more come naturally and with greater depth.
Lola Astanova about curling fingers:
Never curl your fingers like a rainbow... It's a bad habit and it does nothing for your speed or delicate playing at fast tempos. When you curl your fingers you lose speed and consistent accurate motion. TEST 1: Curl your fingers like a rainbow and wiggle them up and down quickly. NOW: leave them un-curled, slightly arched being closer to being straightened and wiggle your fingers. THE DIFFERENCE in speed will be noticed instantly. Keep your hands straight when you play ;)
Take a sparkling musical talent, infuse it with unyielding spirit, then add beauty, elegance and passion and the result can be called Lola Astanova. Born in Tashkent in the former USSR, Lola’s music career began at the age of six when her mother gave Lola her first music lesson. A few months later, Lola set on a professional music path, working with renowned professors Tamara Popovich, Mark Rusak and the "godfather” of the Russian piano school Lev Naumov whose pianistic lineage traced back to Franz Liszt. (See Source)
These are comments she posted in response to questions from her listeners:
I notice, when you are playing scales and/or arppegios at your tempo (fast -lol), how should I curl my fingers? Or should I? Especially, the 5th finger... Ive notice pianist like Keith Jarrett. When he plays, his 5th finger is curled up. No matter how much I practice trying to hold my fingers in those positions, they end up pointing straight out. What could I do to improve this (if it needs to be improved)...? Thank you so much!! PS - I LOVE your sense of fashion! You're the best!
Lola Astanova responded:
Lola Astanova on learning a new piece:
Learning a new piece is a multi-step process. What I recommend doing first is learning the text in the score with great precision and without any emotional involvement, especially when it comes to well-known pieces or those that you are dying to play. Once you've done that, your intellectual and interpretational analysis will more come naturally and with greater depth.
Never curl your fingers like a rainbow... It's a bad habit and it does nothing for your speed or delicate playing at fast tempos. When you curl your fingers you lose speed and consistent accurate motion. TEST 1: Curl your fingers like a rainbow and wiggle them up and down quickly. NOW: leave them un-curled, slightly arched being closer to being straightened and wiggle your fingers. THE DIFFERENCE in speed will be noticed instantly. Keep your hands straight when you play ;)