I spoke to a former student today, who had attended both of my Bach concerts, and she made a remark about my performance: How do you get such a high level of note accuracy? I didn’t hear any wrong notes! Oh, I told her, there were a couple. Actually, at the time of the performance,… Read More The importance of note accuracy
When I read the Wikipedia entry for “perfectionism,” I knew right away that I’m guilty. Here’s what it says: Perfectionism, in psychology, is a personality trait characterized by a person’s striving for flawlessness and setting excessively high performance standards, accompanied by overly critical self-evaluations and concerns regarding others’ evaluations. So guess what I’m doing this afternoon? Yup, I’m meeting… Read More Perfectionism
Photo by Miguel Felipe Despite having another full house for Bach Master Works: The Great Eighteen Chorales, it was another opportunity for me to learn one of life’s hard lessons: All human beings are flawed and imperfect! As I wrote to my FaceBook friend, Wyatt Smith who asked me how the second concert went, some… Read More Life’s lessons learned
It is the day before my last Bach Masterworks: The Great Eighteen Chorales concert, and I am already wondering what my life will be like when I don’t have this wonderful music floating in my head every day. Oh, it is not that I won’t be playing it anymore–I can certainly use the individual works… Read More The man with the headphones
Maybe you have read that article which has been passed around FaceBook lately. It is written by Carolyn Gregoire and published in the Huffington Post, called “23 Signs You’re Secretly an Introvert,” Several of the signs described me exactly: 2. You go to parties, but not to meet people. 3. You often feel alone in… Read More The performer as introvert
Last week I had a comprehensive, annual checkup at my doctor’s, and one item on her checkoff list was to talk to me about my sleep habits. She said that I ought to be getting 8 hours of “bed time” per night. Now, that did not mean that I ought to have 8 hours of… Read More Insomnia
Out of the many compliments I received for my concert, I was especially honored to receive this one from Beebe Freitas, one of the most respected musicians in Honolulu, and one of the few to be designated a Living Treasure of Hawaii. I have known Beebe nearly all the 40 years I have lived in… Read More A mountaintop experience
It was Carl Crosier’s idea that I play Bach’s monumental six-voice chorale motet, Aus tiefer Not from the Clavierübung, Part III as the encore for my first Great Eighteen Chorales concert. In previous posts, I mentioned that this is one of my favorite pieces, and one that I wanted played at my funeral. “But Kathy,… Read More A cool encore
“I can’t believe this many people would come to an organ recital!” was a comment I heard over and over at yesterday’s first in a two-part mini-series featuring the Great Eighteen Chorales. “I guess people are just starved for Bach” was another comment. For whatever reason, there was absolutely a full house for Bach MasterWorks:… Read More SRO: A full house for Bach
Today was the one and only rehearsal with the Bach Chamber Choir, the ensemble which will sing the four-part chorales in front of each chorale setting of the Great Eighteen Chorales. Tomorrow is the Big Day! We will arrive at the church at noon to turn the church into a concert hall by turning the… Read More Ready for Bach