IS PIANO EXAM REALLY NECESSARY?

"IS PIANO EXAM REALLY NECESSARY?"

by: Jelia Megawati Heru

PREPARING A PIANO EXAM
Studying music is not all about fun. In order to be the complete musician, a pianist has to pass through the challenging studying process: practicing, concert, and EXAMS. Talking about out of the comfort zone. When I was little, I used to think that the piano exam is like the most 'evil' thing in the world. The idea of repeating and practicing the same pieces for 8 months, just makes me tired and hate music.  

The piano exam is definitely not an absolute parameter of a successful pianist. Even though my student got perfect score for music theory and piano practical, doesn't mean that they love what they're doing. But piano exams are, or could be, a useful tool to compare one's technical level or factual knowledge of piano and music to some objective standard - and thus could be helpful in countries which do not have a long established western musical tradition.

"BABY, YOU GOT BACH!" - by: Jelia Megawati Heru (Staccato Mei 2014)

"BABY, YOU GOT BACH!"

by: Jelia Megawati Heru

Article Staccato, May 2014

Dalam dunia Musik Klasik, nama Johann Sebastian Bach (JS. BACH) terdengar tidak asing lagi. Setiap murid yang mempelajari piano, pasti pernah mendengar namanya dan memainkannya. Sebut saja Minuet in G Major, Invention, Well Tempered Klavier, Toccata in D minor - yang merupakan sebagian kecil dari komposisinya yang revolusioner di sepanjang peradaban manusia. 

Mengapa komposisi JS.Bach masih dimainkan hingga sekarang? Untuk apa sih kita memainkan, mendengarkan, dan mempelajari karya JS. Bach pada abad ke-21? Bukankah akan jauh lebih mudah untuk memahami musik, kalau kita memainkan karya komposer masa kini yang jauh lebih relevan? Bagaimana kita seharusnya memainkan karyanya? Simak artikel berikut ini!