Posts Tagged ‘dr. jeannine jordan’
Last week, in the midst of our Bach and Sons concert tour, I wrote an article on the joy of music-making and music-sharing for my monthly organ studio newsletter. I was on a “high” doing what I love most—performing and sharing our 
“Music has always exerted powerful physical and psychological effects on humans, but scientists have only recently made the connection of different types of music with the production of endorphins. Although music affects each individual differently, research has shown that
Studies also conclude that it is the active performance of music that generates the endorphin high.”[2]
[2] Evolutionary Psychology 10(4): 688-702 R. I. M. Dunbar, University of Oxford
Let’s talk about the left side of a piece of music – i.e. the very very beginning of the piece.
Before playing a note on your instrument, take in every detail on the left side of the page. Don’t miss a detail. The following are all important to not only an informed performance but a successful practice session!!
The qualitative terms – mm quarter note = 120
The quantitative terms – allegretto
The clefs – treble, bass, other?
The key signature – what major or minor key?
The time signature – the basic pulse
Starting to practice or perform a piece of music without first checking the details on the “left side” of the piece is akin to putting your car in gear and shooting out of your driveway blindfolded. So, take off that blindfold, check the seat, check the mirror, look and look again, put your car in gear, relax and move forward.
You are now ready to look at those black spots we call the notes.
Dr. Jeannine Jordan is a piano and organ instructor and concert organist.
Plan, Prepare, and Present
Posted on: October 11, 2012
Whether you are a teacher, student, church musician, concert artist, or preparing for a competition, following the Plan, Prepare, Present process will lead to success in your musical endeavors.
Planning your performance
1. Determine the purpose of the performance.
Instruct and inform
Convince, persuade, influence or motivate,
amuse and entertain
2. Determine who the audience will be
3. Determine the venue and instrument you will be playing
4. Choose repertoire appropriate to purpose, audience, and venue
1. Create a realistic practice plan to learn the chosen
repertoire based on:
Performance date
Practice time available
Maximizing your strengths
Allotting time to overcome your weaknesses
2. Follow the plan in a careful, consistent manner
3. Know how to regain enthusiasm during those inevitable moments of self-doubt
4. Practice, practice and practice
To gain familiarity and ease with your
repertoire
To hear yourself by using a tape recorder
To gain feedback by practicing in front of family
or colleagues
To reduce nerves
To make sure your performance is within the
allocated time period
5. As the performance date approaches visit the venue
Discover how your instrument will sound in the
room
Determine the lighting
If you will be speaking, test the sound
equipment
Learn where the audience will be seated
Discover if there will be any distractions
Determine the temperature of the room
Presenting your performance
- Make a positive first impression
Confident body language
A relaxed demeanor
Appropriate dress for the
performance - Build rapport with your audience
Involve your audience - Hold the attention of the audience
“Own” your music
Exude enthusiasm about your performance
Play in a convincing manner
Share your joy - Close your performance to make a favorable and lasting impression
(Dr. Jeannine Jordan, concert organist and with David Jordan, creator and performer of the organ and media event, Bach and Sons.)
Themed Programming
Posted on: September 13, 2012
I recently returned from a concert tour to Austria and Germany where I played six unique concerts, each with distinctive repertoire chosen specifically for the concert venue, the organ on which I would play, or an event linked to the concert. Creating themed concert programs has always been one of my joys. I simply believe audiences connect more to the artist, the instrument, and the performance if there is an over-arching theme to the concert program.
The six unique concerts were:
Organ Music Based on the Chorales and Texts of Martin Luther — repertoire chosen from the Romantic and Contemporary eras–performed at the Schlosskirche in Lutherstadt Wittenberg, Germany. The theme was chosen because 2012 is the Reformation and Music Year of the Luther Decade Celebration.
Organ Music Based on the Chorales and Texts of Martin Luther — repertoire chosen from the Renaissance and Baroque eras–performed at the Stadtkirche in Lutherstadt Wittenberg, Germany. The concert was a continuation of the Schlosskirche theme.
A Journey Through the Life of JS Bach — a chronological journey through the greatest organ works of JS Bach–performed at the Bach Wedding Church in Dornheim, Germany. The locale dictated the theme.
The Organ Music of JS Bach and His Contemporaries — repertoire chosen to be played on a Silbermann organ of 1735 that was probably known by Bach and the composers whose works I performed.
This superbly restored historic instrument dictated the theme.
Be creative. Inspire your practice, your performance, and your audience.
Dr. Jeannine Jordan, concert organist
Ah, the two “P” words – “Practice and Performance!”
The “showers and flowers” of the art of playing the piano. As the Spring Recital nears, I find the analogy of glorious spring flowers and glorious recital performances fitting.
Seedlings chosen = repertoire chosen
Soil prepared = fingerings prepared, analysis started
Plants placed in the soil = slow practice begins with hands alone
Plants are watered = encouragement from Jeannine, colleagues, family and friends
Plants take root = understanding of the piece comes together, parts together practice begins, chordal and cadential analysis continues
Plants buffeted by April showers (or rain, heavy wind and hail) = frustration over the number of repetitions needed to learn a cadential phrase or a difficult fingering start to creep into the practice routine
Plants bask in the sun and start to bud = the slow repetitions with the metronome, the careful work to avoid making a mistake more than three times starts to bring success with what was a difficult piece
Plants send out more roots and buds start to open = the beauty of the notes now starting to sound like beautiful music
Buds become flowers = the diligent practice pays off and the full piece is played for Jeannine with success
Plant shows its full beauty and glory with every perfectly formed flower surrounded by beautiful foliage = the music chosen, carefully practiced, nurtured through storm and doubt, now comes to full bloom and is shared with family and friends
It has been several months since I have updated my Play Piano Today with Dr. J blog. The reason? The two “P” words. I have been focused on practice and performance! In the other part of my music career, I am a concert organist – and that means hours of daily practice leading to performances of great music in all parts of the world.
In the past few weeks I have performed an organ music and visual event called “From Sea to Shining Sea” in Pacific City, Oregon and had the privilege of dedicating a new organ at the Shepherd of the Sierra Lutheran Church in Carson City, Nevada. Yes, two totally different programs on two totally different organs. Both were exciting and great fun to perform. You can check out my other musical life at www.promotionmusic.org and read more on my Pro-Motion Music Blog.
So, keep up the practice! so the other “P” word – performance will be part of your musical vocabulary.
Play Piano Today With Dr. J 