What Piece Would Tell YOUR Story?

I have a student who is currently working on Yann Tiersen’s “Comptine d’un Autre été” (in my mind one of the most beautiful pieces to teach!).  She was needing some assistance in developing heart-felt expression in her playing… so I went in search of a visual aid; rather than relying solely on telling her what to do, I wanted her to be able to visualize something while she played.  So, enter youtube (as usual!)

As I was searching through the different recordings that might “speak” to her, I found this video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ZJDNSp1QJA

And it got me thinking about how all music can tell a story.  About how each individual’s interpretation of a piece is different and wonderfully varied.  About how each of these interpretations are spurred by one’s own life experiences… one’s life story.  And also about what piece I would choose if I were to tell my life story (many days, my life’s story seems to be represented by Bon Jovi’s, Livin’ on a Prayer  😛 )

So we want to know… if you had to set your life story to music, which piece would you choose (piano music or otherwise).  Share in the comments below.

The best way for students to connect to music is to simply create music.  So many teachers have said to us – “I want to channel my student’s creativity into composing, but I just don’t know where to start!”  “The Curious Case of Muttzart and Ratmaninoff” is our answer.  Not only is it seriously engaging (and hilarious), but it also teaches your students exactly how to create a piece of music that actually “works”!