Music is Indeed a Universal Language (thank you Professor Rolf Dieter Arens)

[emill]

Could not help but grin and chuckle at how animated and lively the teacher is.  Of course it is understandable as he is German and speaks only rudimentary English and Enzo (the student) just engages in sign language. YET they seem to understand each other perfectly with a lot of morse code di-di-di-di-da-da-da-dat coming from the professor. The teacher seems indefatigable and as energetic as ever despite being well into their 2nd hour tackling the whole Appassionata sonata. I found the exchange amusing but very educational.

Professor Arens was formerly a soloist for the Berlin Symphony Orchestra (1986-1991), playing with famous conductors like Kurt Masur, Herbert Blomstedt and Neville Marriner. He is currently the Chairman of the International FRANZ LISZT Piano Competition, Artistic Director of the Summer music Academy Schloss Hundisberg, and President of the Liszt School of Music Weimar.

[pianowolfi]

OHHH yes Prof. Ahrens is really wonderful! I have met him at a summer academy 11 years ago and I have attended some of his lessons with other students! He was always like this, here he seems even more lively and enthousiastic than back then!

[rachmaninoff_forever]

Haha lol

[db05]

Amazing.  It seems the prof. is used to teaching with little English. Enzo is terrific.

What I found funny was not the lesson, but the seats. That's two monoblocks piled on each other, if I am not mistaken. Are pianos too expensive now that Filipinos play without benches? 

_{He could always learn German, by the way, if he wants to.} 

[emill]

Hello (lost soul?)

I really missed you and your interesting posts!!
Thanks for that compliment on Enzo ...
and how are you?

You know what... I did not notice the seats...maybe i was just too engrossed
listening to the professor for my own education about the finer points of "APPASSIONATA"
and in other times trying to control myself from laughing....as there were really funny moments
with all the animated gesticulations!   my what an embarrassment to Prof. Arens ... 2 monoblock chairs...stacked one on top of the other...hehhee

My guess is .... the piano benches easily break down with all the obesity even among piano students... so that with fewer benches remaining it is highly possible that other students who come earlier pull out benches from other piano practice rooms for their use in the rooms they are assigned to.

Again... really NICE to hear from you after such a long time!

[emill]

OHHH yes Prof. Ahrens is really wonderful! I have met him at a summer academy 11 years ago and I have attended some of his lessons with other students! He was always like this, here he seems even more lively and enthousiastic than back then!

LUCKY YOU!!!  Prof. Arens seems to me a passionate and dedicated teacher aside from being an excellent piano performer! btw Wolfi ... did you study in Germany?  or perhaps you're German?