New piano group in Newcastle

A new Meetup group for pianists was set up recently in Newcastle. Further information is available at http://www.meetup.com/Lets-Play-The-Piano-Newcastle/.

Poetry for practice - 'Poco a poco'

Courtesy of a friend from the Ottawa Piano Group:

Poco a Poco  ~ Betsy Sholl

Yellow practice books with their stammer names,
Buxtehude, Beethoven. And clumped notes,
dense thickets, weeds stuck to a fence,

fingers or vines – burr-tangle of stop-start,
try harder, hack through, and always
at the same place: blocked,

as if somebody at a gate or just the gate
said, “No. Not you.” Some stupid password:
boy, blanket, battery, Bach. Stupid keys

stupid fingers bang till the strings tremble,
then toss the book. But the notes don't shake loose.
Notes or birds, flashing past, out of reach,

calling “So long, sucker.” Sucker
with stuck mouth, stuck piano. Or girl
making a splintery ruin. So much racket

there's a stillness after. A bird calls.
Not pretty, but it gets an answer.
So, there's try again – like tiptoe then,

finger by key, ear bent close, careful
not to disturb, like words whisper-sung,
slow, one at a time before a phrase comes,

notes before music, one hand before two,
till – poco a poco – finger peck
at seeds, first a few, then a flock

as outside sparrows back and forth
yard to yard don't hesitate a second
flying through holes in the neighbour's fence.

Piano groups in the media

The forthcoming issue of Pianist Magazine, issue 79, will include a feature article on amateur piano groups including how to start your own! Liz contributed information to the article regarding Durham Amateur Pianists and also Ottawa Piano Group. More information on the new issue is available here.

New season notes

A few notes for the new spring season:

 

Since its conception last autumn Durham Amateur Pianists has grown slowly with 5 successful meetings to date and our March event yet to come. We have also been featured on the excellent Music in Durham website, which is a fantastic resource for music events in and around the city.

 

Some of our members are also regulars at Gateshead Piano Workshop which is held monthly at Gateshead Central Library. Teacher Venera Bojkova offers this friendly masterclass-style event which is an excellent showcase and I always learn something!

Welcome to Durham Amateur Pianists

Durham Amateur Pianists is a new group based in Durham City, UK for adult amateur pianists of all ages and abilities.

The purpose of the group is to socialise and meet other adult pianists, and to play - to try out new pieces or old favourites and to hear what others are playing, as well as to practice performing in a non-judgemental environment.

Meetings are scheduled approximately every 4-6 weeks. For details on the next meeting please contact Liz.