Posting Date: November 19, 2009
Pianist Simone Dinnerstein has master class with KSU musicians
By Jarmea L. Boone
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Simone Dinnerstein (center) with KSU student pianists Photo by Jarmea L. Boone |
A small, intimate audience of about 30 guests watched quietly as critically acclaimed pianist Simone Dinnerstein guided KSU music students in the practice of piano technique, expression and sound during a master class on Nov. 13. The grandness of the Performance Hall of the Dr. Bobbie Bailey & Family Performance Center swallowed the audience, but Dinnerstein’s comforting and informative tone gave onlookers what felt like an exclusive look into a private piano tutorial session.
First-year music education major Ariel Ginn performed Robert Schumann’s Auschwung, Op. 12, no. 2 from “Fantasy Pieces, Op. 12.” Sophomore music education major Calah Smith played Waltz in E minor, Op. post by Frederic Chopin. Sophomore Steven Melin performed Franz Joseph Haydn’s Sonata in E-flat major, Hob. XVI: 52/62 and Sophomore Steven Bicknell ended the evening with J.S. Bach’s Partita in C minor, BWV 826.
The students were granted the opportunity to play their pieces for Dinnerstein, who then offered suggestions and critiques for improvement. Most often, the critiques consisted of finger placement and making notes come alive with power and energy behind the hands and arms. Dinnerstein focused on the importance of the potency of the compositions, and she enforced the students’ responsibility to project the written music to awe the listening audience. “You create the palate of sound,” she told the students. “You control the character of the chords. The music should be in 3-D, up and off of the keys.”
On Nov. 14, Dinnerstein performed a concert as part of the KSU Premiere Series. Her performances included the music of Bach and Beethoven, as well as modern works by Phillip Lasser and George Crumb.