Monthly Muse: All About That Practice
Practicing Bach (again), Summer Open Score Intensive, and Practice Resources for Pianists
I hope you’re not getting tired of me talking about practicing!
(Perhaps my students are?!)
I love the diagnose—fix—master process of practicing, and in this month’s Muse I want to give you some resources for making your practice more effective, efficient, and fun! From my newest Practice Session to an upcoming Choral Accompanist Workshop on practicing open score, to recent articles on finding sheet music and practicing musical expression, to a few book recommendations, there is sure to be something that piques your interest! 🎶
J.S. Bach Can Be Funny
I had fun recording my latest Practice Session: the final movement of Bach’s Partita No.1, Gigue. In this brief clip, I reveal Bach’s comedic timing and explain why I think it is okay to take some liberties with expression.
This is the sixth of my Practice Sessions, which are 15-20 minute recordings of me at my piano, explaining why I make the choices I do and showing how I tackle different technical challenges in the music I am working on. I have always wanted to see this sort of thing from other pianists; we get a glimpse of how others work when we attend masterclasses, but it is something different altogether to see someone work in real time “behind the scenes.” This is what I hope to give you - not just a peek into what I am working on, but also real suggestions that can help you and your students interpret music and work more efficiently and effectively at the keyboard.
Paid subscribers get access to all of my Practice Sessions, as well as access to the full archive of posts, Mini Musikhaus virtual concerts, and special discounts to my shop.
Articles on My Substack This Month
If you missed them…
Free Piano Sheet Music Resources: Where Pianists at All Stages Can Find Free Sheet Music Online
Musical Literacy vs. Musical Artistry: How do we make the switch to “playing with expression”?
If you like my writing and want to support my work, like or comment and let me know what you think! Not only does this help me get to know you better, but it makes my content visible to more people who can benefit from it.
And…let me know if there is something else you would like to see! What are you wondering? What topics or resources would be helpful to you in your practicing or teaching?
In the Shop
COMING THIS SUMMER: The Open Score Summer Intensive. This LIVE virtual 3-day workshop combines three of my popular resources for choral accompanists.
June 18-20, 2026 10-11am PST, Live on Zoom!
Day One: The Well-Tempered Chorale Player
Dive into Bach’s chorales with a focus on analyzing harmonies and reading voice parts in various combinations. Practice at your own pace and “level up” as you are comfortable.
Day Two: How to Read Open Score
Look at multiple excerpts of scores, from a Bach chorale to a simple fugue, set for SATB voices, and learn strategies for efficient and effective score-reading.
Day Three: How to Read Open Score - Canons and Fugues
Learn how to scan for, and prioritize, what is most important when encountering canons and fugues in open score. Gain practical tips for challenging scenarios with dense passages, melismas, and voice crossings.
This is a practical, hands-on intensive where you will get to meet other choral accompanists, learn multiple strategies for open score reading, and practice what you learn using real choral scores. Each day comes with its own workbook that contains all the strategies and tools we’ll discuss, workshop exercises, and an appendix with music for more practice after the intensive is over.
From my last live workshop:
It was a GREAT workshop, well planned/paced, solid information, great examples, and taught in such a way that pianists of different experience/abilities could all benefit. Thanks again!
(The rest of you, if Cori offers this again, TAKE IT!!!) - Scott A.
Note: If you have taken one of these workshops with me before, you are eligible for a special discount on the intensive. Contact me for more details.
Also in the shop…
Find these resources and more in my shop.
Just for Fun
Listening to:
Piano Summer Camp Ideas for Teachers. This podcast episode shares highlights from a recent piano teacher meetup I had the privilege of presenting at. Joining me were host Jaclyn Mozrek, guest presenters Jennifer Foxx, Kay Lowry, and Elizabeth Swift. Learn what resources are available to you for putting together a summer camp for your piano studio!
Directions for Singing. Part of his Friday Five (minute) series, Jarrod Richey explains how hymnals are more than just collections of songs; they provide directions for singing!
Anne Katherine Davis on MLT, Audiation, and the Science of Musical Thought. Eric Branner’s Four Forty podcast is gold! This is a wonderful interview that he had recently with Anne (who used to live and teach in the Seattle area) about Music Learning Theory.
Reading:
Learn Faster, Perform Better: A Musician’s Guide to the Neuroscience of Practicing by Molly Gebrian.
The Practice Revolution by Philip Johnson
Happy music-making!
Cori