Jonathan Still, ballet pianist
Music, dance, IT, trivia. Not necessarily in that order.
Posts about the work of ballet pianists—including stuff that might not seem immediately related (like historical dance, character, musicology, and so on)
Some pianists have a misguided view about what is “suitable” for ballet class (e.g. that you have to improvise in a pastiche classical style with no dynamics and no rubato,…
It’s easy to ‘read’ a rhythm, metre or tempo when it’s shown in body movements (e.g. swinging, knee-bends, side-to-side movements of the torso or head and so on). To indicate…
Although it’s great to have music for class, be sure in your own mind what role it plays, so that you know when not to use it. Some examples: With…
Occasionally – once a term, perhaps – set aside time with your pianist when you will simply experiment with different ideas for using music in class. An hour spent talking,…
Don’t ask pianists for a given number of bars unless you are both working from a score in a repertoire rehearsal, or unless an examination procedure specifically requires you to.…
Teach by example and show your response to the music that is played. Think of class as a kind of ‘guided discovery’ of music for your students. Staying unmoved and…