Summer Blockbusters!
Be sure to attend Jon Michael Iverson’s presentation at the Minnesota Music Teachers Association 2009 state convention in Brooklyn Center, MN. On Tuesday, June 9th at 2:45pm – immediately following the Maurice Hinson session in the Northland Ballroom – Iverson will present “Fostering the Musician’s Spirit: Developing and Nurturing Musicality in Students.” In the presentation, he discusses the facets of musicality and gives specific ideas to help teachers nurture the musicality innately found within students. This popular talk has been excitingly received by the Minnesota teaching community as it discusses the issues at the heart of musical performances. The handout for this session can be found by clicking here.
During the 2009-10 school year, Iverson will continue to give workshops throughout the Twin Cities. He will be presenting “Diamonds in the Rough” in September. This presentation – aptly subtitled Or, How to Get a 12-year old Boy to Practice – discusses high quality teaching pieces. A portion of the presentation will cover the ever elusive demographic category of the 12-year male, and will provide a repertoire list of pieces known to get ‘em hooked on playing.
Iverson is also preparing a workshop on the pedagogy of nationally renowned teacher Ingrid Jacobson Clarfield. This presentation – given by Jon Michael Iverson, a former Clarfield pedagogy student – will guide teachers through her contributions to the field on the topics of performance choreography, musical style and practice strategies. Aimed at turning a good performance into a stellar performance, Clarfield’s approach helps take a student’s artistry to the next level. More information about Iverson’s presentations can be found here.
Essays of Note
Found in the archives of the radio show "Essays of Note" – with host Dr. William 'Bill' Banfield – was this program entitled "Young Lions: Up and Coming Young Composers." This particular program featured five composers under the age of 30. Banfield hightlighted the third movement of Jon Michael Iverson's String Quartet, entitled "Sonic Illusions."
American. Popular. Piano. Students.
In January, Jon Michael Iverson was asked by the Associate Editor of the new American Popular Piano teaching series, Clarke MacIntosh, to put together a video testimonial about the new books by Christopher Norton and Scott McBride Smith. Jon thinks grown-ups talk too much anyway, so he prepared three installments of student performance videos – "Humor, Wit and Charm" [the outtakes and funny video!] is presented here. The other two videos – “Piano Playing” and “Don't Forget the Sticker” – have been viewed hundreds of times from all over the world, including Japan, England, Turkey, Canada, New Zealand, and Indonesia. Those videos can be found by clicking here. Enjoy!
From the Vault
Found deep within the recesses of Jon Michael Iverson's hard drive is this recording of his Prelude, Passacaglia, and Recitative for solo violin. First premiered in the fall of 2003 by Minnesota-based violinist James "Jimmy" Ricardo, this work has been performed throughout Europe by Englishman Peter Sheppard Skærved. The prelude - a soliliquy of sorts - opens the work with its quarter-step accidentals and portamento. Marked senza vibrato, the passacaglia starts with a dry and stoic statement; one by one, a new voice enters atop of the bassline, each with their own compositional device: one voice utilizes glissandi, another is marked sul ponticello, another is played jeté, and yet another is in artificial harmonics. The passacaglia culminates in a five voice texture of violinistic pyrotechnics only to be followed by the tranquil and peaceful recitative.
Question Marks Marx
No, this isn't a discussion of European intellectual history; it's a piece based on the Marx Brothers! This spring, composer Sarah Miller and Jon Michael Iverson premiered this piece that was co-written by Miller herself and composer Billy Fox. A piece for two pianos, "Question Marx" was comissioned by the MacPhail Center for Music in Minneapolis, MN, and is based on the colorful characters of the Marx Brothers movies: Groucho, Chico and Harpo. The dignified entrance of Margaret DuMont at the beginning is interrupted repeatedly by Groucho; Chico and Harpo make their respective appearances. It should be duly noted that Chico's appearance is particularly cool.
Web Exclusive Recording
Hear Jon Michael Iverson's recordings of four pieces by Japanese composer Takashi Yoshimatsu (b. 1953). These selections come from a collection of seven books of suites entitled Pleiades Dances. As Yoshimatsu describes them, "these new pieces, written on the subjects of the seven stars of the Pleiades, the seven colors of the rainbow, 
the seven tones of various modes, the seven rhythms from triple time to nonuple and so forth, are the results of my attempt to create 'a new form of preludes for the modern piano.' "
Recorded selections include:
1) "Apple Seed Dance," from Book 1, Op. 27 (1986)
2) "Fragmentary Dance," from Book 2, Op. 28 (1987)
3) "Dance Toward East," from Book 4, Op. 50 (1992)
4) "Season of Alleluia," from Book 4, Op. 50 (1992)
It takes two ...
The fabulous Julie Johnson, flute, and Jon Michael Iverson perform two tangos from “Etudés Tanguistiques" by Astor Piazzolla. This performance was given in Faculty Showcase Recital during April in the beautiful Antonello Hall at the MacPhail Center for Music. This set of six tangos was originally written for solo flute – someone other than Piazzolla wrote out a piano part. The extremely dark and somber first tango in this performance – which isn’t very tango-y at all – is followed up with the sixth tango in the collection. This last tango is more what you expect when you hear the words “Piazzolla” and “tango” in the same sentence. The first one, however, is not.
Oksana Bryn Legacy Recital
In March of 2008, the MacPhail Center for Music paid tribute to one of the longest tenured instructors, Oksana Bryn. Mrs. Bryn has a distinguished teaching career who has had students go on to perform internationally. This "Legacy Recital" invited current and former students to perform in honor of this notable figure in the Minnesota teaching community. Selections here include songs by Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninoff, and Kos-Anatolosky. Performed in Antonello Hall in the new MacPhail building in Minneapolis, MN. Jon Michael Iverson accompanies.
Beauty Incarnate
Buried deep in the vault was this performance of Rachmaninoff’s “Vocalise” by saxophonist Hiroshi Iwama and pianist Jon Michael Iverson. This recital was the last performance given by this remarkable saxophonist before he headed off to the Amsterdam Conservatory of Music for more schooling. Performed at the University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, MN in the summer of 2003.
Jon Michael Iverson is currently accepting students! If you or someone you know are interested in lessons with JMI at MacPhail, first read the Studio Policies, then e-mail him by clicking here to setup an audition and interview. If you would like to recommend or refer a student for lessons, e-mail him by following the same link.
Watch Jon’s brief introductory website video by clicking here and then explore the site. Be sure to check back often! Here’s an overview:
Learn more about Jon Michael Iverson and browse a watchable video collection of his public performances on the Biography page. See why he has been described as "virtuoso and poet."
The topics JMI is prepared to speak about at teachers' meetings, workshops, and professional development sessions can be found on the Presentation Synopses page. In addition to professional development sessions and presentations, he also gives master classes and clinics.
The Christopher Norton Project is a section of this website highlighting some of the music of pedagogical composer Christopher Norton. Follow this link to hear the complete Recording Library of American Popular Piano, recorded by Jon Michael Iverson.
The Memetic Evolution page offers a brief, yet penetrating look into the evolution of information and the underlying causal effect it has on culture; more specifically, on music. We have every reason to believe that we are not at the end of music history, we are creating it. Following this link takes readers to the abstract of an article currently being written by Jon Michael Iverson.
The Meet the Studio! page is currently hosting all the videos of Jon's students found on the Internet. It offers family, friends, guests and visitors a chance to watch student performances -- a guaranteed Internet oasis for proud grandpas and grandmas from all over the country!
The Viewing Room is chalked full of dozens and dozens of videos of great and masterful performances meant for everyone: students, teachers and music aficionados! Having been described as "nothing less than addicting," this page will tempt your likings and whet your musical palette again and again. It's tough to watch just one video! Highlights from each category include:
Great Piano Performances Watch Horowitz’ infamous performance of his “Carmen Variations;” experience child prodigies perform mind-boggling pianistic feats; see the performances of master pianists including Rubinstein, Brendel, Argerich, Volodos, Gould, Arrau, Kissin, et al.
Instrumental, Vocal and Orchestral Performances Anna Netrebko's performance of Puccini’s “O Mio Bambino Caro” will take your breath away; Bobby McFerrin not only makes you laugh, but sings Bach like an angel; Jacqueline De Pre’s performance of the Elgar Cello Concerto will make your heart swell; a college student expertly performs Joseph Schwantner’s masterfully written marimba piece “Velocities (1990);” and Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau and Andreas Scholl will simply captivate you.
Cool and Interesting Videos Watch the Science Channel’s “How It’s Made” feature on Mason and Hamelin pianos and the piano building process; see John Cage on “I’ve Got a Secret” from the 1960s; other highlights include a [non-traditional and unconventional – but really cool!] music performance by the Blue Man Group; Fazil Say per
forming Stravinsky’s “Rite of Spring” on one piano; an interview with genius Glenn Gould; Stomp performances; and a piano master class with Daniel Barenboim.
Comedy and Funny Videos Victor Borge; Dudley Moore; a “not-your-typical piano lesson;” and of course, Nora the piano playing cat!
The Studio Calendar lists event, recital and performance and all pertinent information for Jon’s students: locations, times, maps and driving directions can all be found here.
Studio Policies outline studio procedures and operations.
Have a question, comment, or great idea for the website? Interested having JMI for a teachers meeting, workshop or professional development session? Contact him by clicking here!