Janice Carissa | Sunday, October 9, 2022 · 4:00pm | Salon Piano Series | Masterclass in Madison, WI

Masterclass Review
Three Madison area piano students had the exquisite opportunity to perform in a masterclass
for Indonesian pianist, Janice Carissa. Janice stunned her captive audience the night before,
performing works by Brahms, Prokofiev, and ended with an encore piece by Jaya Suprana.
Janice, having completed her undergrad studies at Curtis, and now starting her graduate
studies at Juilliard, is as talented in her approach to young aspiring piano students, as she is to
the piano itself. Her flair for vivid vocabulary, imaginative analogies, and demonstrative
demeanor, made for many smiles and further implemented the motivation to practice, and
continue to improve. Janice’s energy is infectious and understanding of music is wise beyond
her years. Janice is outstanding as a performer, and pedagogue.

The masterclass was held at Farley’s House of Pianos on October 10th at 4:00. Students of
Kangwoo Jin, Bill Lutes, and Lana Robotewskyj performed pieces by Berkovich, Chopin, and
Mozart.
A summation of all three pianists can be made, and applied to anyone, working on any piece.
Masterclasses are a great way to learn and further improve your own teaching, as well as your
own playing, in addition to your students. Everyone learns at a masterclass! Notes from this
weekend include the below.

1. Be present with each note. Never stop listening. Each note is representative of a new
   harmony.
2. Resist the temptation to anticipate, because anticipation results in a rushed and hurried
   tempo. Finish out the idea or sentence, and with a small breadth, start the new.
3. Shape the octaves to allude more of a legato sound, and expressive quality.
4. Pay extreme attention to dynamics and pedal. As the composers put forth much effort into
   directives, the least we can do is study them, and realize them in our playing,
5. Always envision yourself in a concert hall and remember, your voicing needs to carry to the
   very back of the room. Project your melody over the harmony.
6. Always tell a vivd story in your playing.
7. PRACTICE SLOWLY.
8. Envision yourself climbing steps…apply this to evenly crescendo and diminuendo
9. Connect first without pedal…do not rely on the pedal to do the work of your fingers.
10. Experiment with all layers of the pedal. Pedal should be used, but with discretion.
11. Map out the dynamics. Make sure your forte is louder than your mf. Dynamics are all
    relative to one another.
12. Experiment with different wrist techniques to enable easier playing: rotation of the wrist is a
    great technique.
13. Know the definitions of words used throughout the score. For instance; cadenza. Cadenza
    should sound improvisatory.
14. Some phrases require larger arm gestures. Experiment with choreography at the piano to
    help bring out that, which needs to be heard.
15. Think of your music as voices having a dialogue; question and answer.
16. Experiment with fingerings for harder passages. Sometimes all it takes is the tweaking of
    finger choice,
17. HEAR it BEFORE you PLAY it.
18. Sing with your playing to sound as though your fingers are speaking.
19. Always focus on horizontal playing, not vertical.
    Thank-you Janice for sharing your talents with our students. We are all very lucky to have
    worked with you! Best wishes on furthering your career and we hope to see you back