Valentina Jotovic 3 min read

Conducting from the Piano (By Piano Teacher Lynda Saponara)

 
 Pianists can perform in many different musical settings. The operapiano lesson girl flemington world is a lesser known niche in which a pianist can work. Somewhere along the way, I fell into this area, and it has led me into many different types of situations.  Sometimes, my job is to follow a conductor in a rehearsal situation.  At other times, I work privately with singers to make sure they are musically prepared to sing an opera before they perform it with an orchestra.  Currently, I'm working on a production of Barber of Seville at The College of New Jersey. This job in particular is unique in that I'm responsible for all the musical aspects of the production.  I am the musical director, so I work privately with all the singers and prepare the chorus for the opera.  In rehearsals and performance, I not only have to play the piano, but also conduct from the piano.  This is not something I ever thought I would have to do, and coincidentally, it's not something anyone prepared me to do.  It requires making decisions about what is most necessary at any given time (giving a cue with that hand or playing a chord with that hand!?).

I started my collegiate studies as a Music Education major, hoping to become a high school choir director.  Life took me in a very different direction, and I've had many exciting and varied opportunities. I never imagined being where I am when I started my piano studies at the age of 8. You never know where your studies will take you!

Dr. Lynada Saponara, Piano Teacher at Hunterdon Academy of the Arts in Flemington, NJ

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