Dear Friends,

The registration deadline for Butler Piano Camp is TOMORROW, June 2, at 11:59 PM Eastern Time. If you or someone you know is thinking about joining us, there's still time to register here.​

We were busy hosting company this weekend, and so instead of a longer reflection I thought I’d share a few moments from this past week:

– Last Monday I officially signed a contract with Parma Recordings to record Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel’s cycle Das Jahr. I’ll be performing the piece in recital in several places throughout the 2025–26 season, and making the recording about a year from now, in May 2026. Now I'm in the process of learning it, and I have been enjoying practicing this beautiful music!

– A student I taught online for two years (and had never met in person!) happened to be driving through Indianapolis the other day. He stopped off, we had a lesson, and then grabbed coffee. It was so nice to finally connect face-to-face.

– One of my adult students is headed to the PianoTexas Festival tomorrow. PianoTexas is an intensive summer program with world-class faculty; they have sessions for various age ranges, including adult amateurs. My student has been working very hard to prepare and will be performing in two recitals, a competition, and a masterclass.

– This week I also heard from a Dutch journalist who had interviewed me last fall for a piece about Gerard Kop, a piano pedagogue who was quite influential in the Netherlands. The journalist quoted me in the article he's writing and sent me the final version for approval. I'll be excited to see it in print!

– I got an email from a pianist in Malta this week who found me through my videos and newsletter and wrote to share his piano journey with me. It reminded me just how global our piano community is. It's truly a privilege to be part of it and hear your stories!

Back to practicing..... I’ll see you next week! I hope it's a wonderful one for you.

👋 Happy practicing! 🎹

-Kate

Practice TIP of the week:

Here are the most recent practice tips I have covered:​
​🎵 April 27: Connecting Dynamics to Emotional Expression
​🎵 May 4: "Chunking" for Easier Memorization​
🎵 May 18: Memorize Jump Spots
​🎵 May 25: Analyze to Memorize​

Each month, I focus on a specific theme for practice tips. This month’s theme is Performance Mindset.

Today's Practice Tip: Performance Run-Throughs

Practicing performance run-throughs is the optimal way to prepare for performance, because it mimics the experience of playing in front of others.

In normal practice, you need to listen with a critical ear so you can stop to fix mistakes and work to improve your playing. However, during an actual performance, you can't listen with that same critical ear, because you have to keep the music moving forward, no matter what happens.

Run-throughs train your mind to practice continuity, and help you keep going even despite small slips that may occur. Run-throughs also teach you how to recover quickly (because, again: you have to keep going, no matter what).

During a performance run-through you will practice adopting a "performance mindset" and stop obsessing over every detail in order to focus on the bigger picture. After all, a performance is ultimately about sharing the music and communicating something meaningful to your listeners!

Here's how to practice run-throughs:

1. Plan your run-through time and piece ahead of time

• Choose your piece (or section) that you plan to practice performing.
• Schedule a specific time (even if it's tomorrow or even a few hours from now), so that you can anticipate it like you'd anticipate a performance.

2. Prepare the performance space

• Set up your space: clear the area, close extra books, tidy the piano.
• A few minutes before the planned time, set up and turn on your recording device, and leave the room.

3. Simulate the performance

• At the planned time, walk to the piano from outside the room and bow before sitting down at the piano.
• After you are seated at the piano, before you play, close your eyes and take three slow, centering breaths. Set an intention for the play-through you are about to do.

4. Run Through the Piece—No Stopping

• Play your piece from start to finish, no matter what happens.
• If you make a mistake, don’t stop or start over. Keep going and focus your mind on the next phrase.

5. Watch or Listen Back

• First, notice what went well: Congratulate yourself on your play-through and look for at least one specific thing you are doing well.
• Write down a few notes about what you want to practice or do differently next time.

6. Repeat Regularly

• Do this process regularly: once every week or two, or even more often as you get close to a real performance.
• Each run-through is practice for performing. You’re training your brain to stay focused and to recover from mistakes, just like in a concert!

If this is new to you, give this a try and let me know how it goes!!

💜 Some of My Favorite Things

1. 🎶 The Cliburn Competition: The 2025 Cliburn Competition is in the semifinal round! The full competition runs May 21-June 7. You can find the full schedule and stream it on the Cliburn website. ​
2. 📚Book: Boris Berman – Notes from the Pianist’s Bench. I have read this book several times and gotten something new from it each time I've read it. Drawing on a lifetime as both performer and teacher, Boris Berman offers practical insights on piano playing and interpretation. With advice on technique, sound, editions, practice, and performance anxiety, plus personal stories and psychological tips, this book is extremely helpful for pianists and teachers seeking more information on playing the piano! You can purchase it here.​
3. 🎧 Performance: Glinka/Balakirev "The Lark." Today (June 1) marks the birthday of Mikhail Glinka, known as the founder of the Russian nationalist school. “The Lark” began as a popular Russian song that Glinka composed. Balakirev transcribed this simple, melancholy melody into a virtuosic showpiece that is beloved by pianists and audiences alike. Here's a beautiful performance of "The Lark" by Olga Scheps.