In this poem consisting of a single sentence, Dan Howell draws on a lived experience to describe the sound of an older woman playing.
poetry
The Piano Speaks, a Poem
IWhen I read this poem for college audiences, I often ask who played in orchestra or band in earlier years.
Thanking My Mother for Piano Lessons
When I had been living in New York several years after I had graduated from Berkeley, I heard from my mother who lived in Southern California where I grew up. During the call (I hate telephones and almost never talk on them), she said, “All those years I paid for your piano lessons, and now you don’t even play the piano.”
Understanding Tempo Rubato
For several years after I reclaimed my passion for the piano, I struggled with the concept of tempo rubato.
Ode to the Piano, a Poem
Poet’s Introduction: I was stunned when I first saw GRAND PIANO PASSION™—it was beautiful the way it connected the arts, and I found it healing to read through the archives.
Prelude in E Minor, a Poem
Maybe because I was afraid at this first really important concert as a 10-year-old, felt the taste of fear, the piano so huge, it somehow came back—the drowning incident that took place when I was five.
Fantasy Impromptu, a Poem
The only way I could deal with the distance within my marriage, within myself, was to practice and practice. Fantasy Impromptu is a difficult piece to play well, and it took me out of myself.
The Minute Waltz, a Poem
The Minute Waltz (Opus 64 No. 1) by Chopin was my first experience of music as more than just pleasant sounds. I was spellbound by the piano playing this piece.