Having sat down to make a start on this blog, I was immediately presented with a problem – what to write about. The last thing I wanted was to assail potential readers with a mindless stream of whatever I happened to be thinking about that day. There should be a purpose, a theme, and so […]
Wow! Second post and I’m already behind schedule! I suddenly thought about three weeks ago that I’d like to record a Christmas album. Seeing as that decision came a bit late in the year, I’ve been madly finishing it and releasing it over the past few weeks, and I’ve had almost no time for anything […]
In this new series, I will run through all the common exercises that a pianist might encounter in a typical ballet class, and give some thoughts on finding suitable music for it. Warmup at the barre is usually the first exercise of class, unless the teacher feels they want to press on straight away with […]
Sometimes this will follow on from a warmup at the barre, sometimes it will be the first exercise, but either way, you can always count on this being the first proper exercise of class. The plié exercise is: “A bendingof the knee or knees. This is an exercise to render the joints and muscles soft […]
The order of exercises in a ballet class will often vary depending on the teacher and the time constraints. However, there will almost always be one or more tendu exercises, and they usually come directly after pliés. The full name of the exercise is Battement Tendu, which literally means ‘Stretched Beating’ in French, and involves […]
In this post, I’ll give you my 10 essential tips for working with a live pianist, inspired by my years of experience in the ballet studio. Tell the pianist what music you like – I think the best way to start off a good working relationship with a live musician is to tell them what […]
While recordings of ballet variations can offer great convenience for teachers and students alike, no one recording can cater to every individual’s preference for tempo. Younger or less experienced dancers may need it to be slower, or faster depending on the steps. Teachers may find that, although a recording is ideal for performance, they need […]
