Master Lessons with Art Peterson!

Master Lessons with Art Peterson, took place on Saturday, October 25. Students not only heard many useful tips for technique, but also stories about Stephen Hough, Rachmaninoff, Hoffman, Eugene Ormandy, and other famous musicians of the past!

Here are some of Mr. Peterson’s “Pro Tips”:

1. Practice ideas:

   1. do LH alone, and exaggerate movements, lift fingers high!

   2. Play in different octaves

   3. Play one hand legato and the other staccato/accented

   4. Practice without pedal

   5. Play SLOWLY with metronome

   6. Play with shoes on, so you can get the feel of the pedal

   7. Backwards practice, start from the end.

   8. Practice with rhythms, but SUPER exaggerate the dots

   9. In unison passages, try crossing hands!

   10. Block intervals

2. Engage your brain by:

   1. looking at your LH while playing

   2. Play LH while closing right eye; then play RH while closing left eye.

3. Use fingerings wisely - check if it’s working or not.

Gracie trying the “cross-hand” technique on a difficult technical passage!