The 1990 Pulitzer Prize winning play "The Piano Lesson" is an excellent look into African American life during the desegregation of America. ... For a piano?"... You can always get you another piano. ... Berniece wants her daughter to grow up playing the piano so that one day she can be a piano teacher. ... In conclusion, "The Piano Lesson" is an insightful look into the African American way of life during the de-segregation period in America. ...

• Word Count: 643
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

August Wilson titles his play, "The Piano Lesson", however, the play has nothing to do with piano lessons at all. The lesson learned in this play is one of African American history. ... The piano is the center of conflict. ... We can compare the piano to an orita meta. ... In her article, The History Lesson: Authenticity and Anachronism in August Wilson's Plays, Anne Fleche insists that the "universal lesson" to be learned from the piano is; no matter how hard we try, we cannot forget our past. ...

• Word Count: 732
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

In the informal essay "On Hating Piano Lessons" by Phyllis Theroux, this thesis is argued through the anecdote of the author's daughter disliking piano lessons. ... The stylistic devices such as contrast and cause and effect used in "On Hating Piano Lessons" help demonstrate the thesis of the essay. ... The mother knows that the daughter taking piano lessons will yield rich results, but the daughter hates taking them, saying they are too hard: My daughter thinks that I am cruel, that I don't understand her, that I am trying to force her to be something she is not...

• Word Count: 609
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School

In "The Piano Lesson" by August Wilson, controversy surrounds a household and it involves everyone who enters its doors. ... Doaker: Berniece ain't gonna sell that piano. ... Berniece ain't gonna sell that piano. ... Doaker: You know she won't touch that piano. ... August Wilson's playwright "The Piano Lesson," uses language in many ways to show his characters emotions, and how that character may feel about another, especially between Boy Willie and his sister Berniece. ...

• Word Count: 1565
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

Her beloved piano is her best way of communication. ... He clearly has no appreciation of the significance of the piano, so it is left on the beach. It is Baines who rescues the piano through a somewhat snaky route. Mesmerized by her beauty and talent, he proposes to sell her back the instrument one black key at a time, in exchange for music lessons. The lessons turn into erotic encounters, and Baines finds himself in a world of guilt. ...

• Word Count: 382
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School

In The Piano Lesson, August Wilson provides this exact situation when Boy Willie arrives in Philadelphia, where he hopes to sell the family piano in order to purchase Sutter's land. ... Boy Willie uses logos to support the argument that because Berniece doesn't use the piano and sees it as a burden, he should be able to sell the piano. ... "That's all I'm trying to do with that piano. ... You ain't even told her about that piano. ... Boy Willie's father, who died over the piano, gave Boy Willie that same piano. ...

• Word Count: 1083
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

When I was eight years old, I started playing the piano. It was during my piano playing lessons as a young child that I discovered the power of passion. ... It was his drive to live and play music, his only sole comfort and passion, that influenced me to ask my mom to enroll me in piano and music theory lessons. I still remember my first lesson. ... I also recalled his resilience and commitment to the piano. ...

• Word Count: 506
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School

The piano has long been a valuable member of American families. ... From the Dulcimer to the modern grand piano, we have the history of the forever stunning instrument: the piano. ... His piano was a four-octave instrument, with hammers striking the strings just as they do on a modern piano. ... "The Cristofori piano was wing-shaped like our grand pianos, with a curved body and a lid that could be raised" (Hamilton). ... The pyramid piano was the same design of the grand piano copied to vertical form. ...

• Word Count: 3032
• Approx Pages: 12
• Grade Level: High School

He had many jobs before his fame as a composer as a piano player for many popular people and nobles. ... Along with playing piano for von Meck, Debussy had many other duties including teaching piano lessons to her children and being an accompanist in vocal and instrumental recitals at the house. Debussy's piano experience exceeds any other composer or musician of his time. ... "His best-known composition is probably "Clair de lune" (Moonlight) from "Suite Bergamasque" (1890-1905) for piano- (Grolier 1). ... Through Opera music, Chamber music, orchestral music and mainly the Piano Debuss...

• Word Count: 1628
• Approx Pages: 7
• Grade Level: High School

Even though Jing-mei shows absolutely no interest in becoming a prodigy, her mother keeps on persisting, signing her up for piano lessons. ... Her plea to her mother to be a normal child comes after she is told the dates of her piano lessons. ... Jing-mei took the piano lesson every day despite what she wanted to do. She went through the motions at the piano lessons she never put any effort into it because she was being forced to be there. ... Jing-mei's built up frustration exploded in a comment that ended her mothers forced piano lessons, " I wish I wasn't your daughter. ...

• Word Count: 629
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

Known as the "Little Professor," he was a piano prodigy, blessed with perfect pitch. He took piano lessons from a local teacher in Neosho and was an accomplished pianist by the time his family moved to Ottawa, Kansas. ... At about the age of eight, he asked his older sisters to teach him the piano lessons they were taking. ...

• Word Count: 300
• Approx Pages: 1
• Grade Level: High School

The second phenomenon is probably best coined by the phrase "I have a piano", or put in a more original flavour, "I own a piano at home". ... The second reason is that people need a piano to practice. ... "Talent" is a magic word - if you can play the piano, it means you have talent. ... While it is good to have a piano at home, it is not common to have an organ. ... The above phenomena in fact give rise to a rivalry between piano and organ students. ...

• Word Count: 2674
• Approx Pages: 11
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

Chopin was often during the summer breake, in cause of his health, in the countryside at a farmer town called Szafarina, where Chopin got used to the Polish folklore. 1820: Chopin completed the piano lessons with Zywny and Chopin continue hisselves education. 1823: Chopin went with 13 years in the fourth grade of the Warsaw Lyseum. Chopin was teached in playing the piano as well as in singing and drawing. ... But Chopin had to earn more money so he gave piano lessons, specially for polish imigrants. ... Brahms went first to a private school and later to a gymnasium. 1840: Brahms got pia...

• Word Count: 1214
• Approx Pages: 5
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

Soon enough, her mother had scheduled her piano lessons with a man from the first floor who is nearly deaf. She hated playing the piano and soon figured out that she could be lazy and not play the right rhythms and notes because Mr. ... In the end of the short story, the mother returns the piano to Jing-mei for her thirtieth birthday. ... Chong in exchange for piano lessons. As well as when the mother saved up to buy Jing-mei a piano. ...

• Word Count: 813
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

While young, he started taking piano lessons, but these lessons dulled him. ... After this show, Duke began taking lessons from Henry Grant. After a concert one night, Willie The Lion' Smith gave Duke an impromptu lesson on harmony. ... One night at a tavern, the piano player had taken ill. ... Unfortunately for Duke, Fats Wallace was asked to play piano instead. ...

• Word Count: 1581
• Approx Pages: 6
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

George Gershwin's musical talent was noticed at an early age when the family bought a piano for Ira, the eldest child. ... From that moment on, George began taking piano lessons. He received lessons from American music greats such as Rubin Goldmark, Henry Cowell, and Wallingford Riegger (Encarta 1). ... This piano and clarinet piece opened the doors to concert halls everywhere for American composers. ... Then, George Gershwin strolled up to the piano, and the clarinet proceeded with the infamous first opening wale of Rhapsody in Blue. ...

• Word Count: 897
• Approx Pages: 4
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

"Cranes," revolves around Songsam, a young Korean man, whose activities and lessons of youth guide him to make important, mature decisions in his adult life. ... The main conflict between the mother and daughter is the encounter with the piano. Her mother is determined to make her into a piano prodigy in spite of Jing Mei's wants. ... From that moment, Jing Mei thinks the piano nightmare is over, but her mother continues to force her to take lessons. ... Years later, her mother gives her the old piano as a birthday present, and it is then that Jing Mei realizes that it is a sign of forgiv...

• Word Count: 860
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

Unlike some children who were brought into the world of music at that time period, Beethoven music lessons were not fun and games. "He was put through rigorous lessons with private tutors, sometimes resulting in physical abuse (Solomon 488-490)." ... Through his teachings Beethoven produced three piano sonatas by the young age of eleven. ... Not only by playing the piano but by composing as well. ... Even though the French Revolution was going on during this time, Haydn kept his word to Beethoven and gave him lessons. ...

• Word Count: 1204
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

Jing-Mei is forced to take piano lessons after her mother saw a Chinese girl, who resembled Jing-Mei, playing the piano on the Ed Sullivan Show. Since Jing-Mei had no interest in playing the piano, she lazily went about her lessons, and got away with it, because she had a deaf teacher. Jing-Mei did this despite the fact that her mother had traded housecleaning services for her lessons. ... By not practicing and being determined to disappoint her mother, Jing-Mei is humiliated one evening after she tried to play the piano at a talent show. ... Determined not to give up on her, Jing-Mei's m...

• Word Count: 1030
• Approx Pages: 4
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

He started piano studies at five and soon showed to have a remarkable gift. ... After hearing a piece by Mozart played on a music box, he asked his parents for piano lessons. The piano upset his nerves, though. ... While attending law school, Tchaikovsky also took singing and piano lessons. ... There he studied music theory, composition, flute, piano, and organ. ...

• Word Count: 900
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

She attended piano lessons, dancing school, studied Latin, and took art lessons. ... While walking to piano lessons, she "pushed to map's edges" by going farther and farther away from home (415). ... Finally, she took art lessons at the Carnegie Music Hall. ...

• Word Count: 831
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

Many believed he could not compare to his dad because he did not have a high-ranking job, instead his income was based on giving piano, singing, and violin lessons to the public (Kerman 354). Johann wanted his first son to be great, especially in the music field, so he pushed him to learn the piano and violin at a very early age. ... Beethoven continued to play at concerts, as well as taking music lessons with instructors other than his father. ... All of his works include nine symphonies, 11 overtures, incidental music to plays, a violin concerto, 5 piano concertos, 16 string quartets, 9...

• Word Count: 1132
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

Taking advantage of the deaf piano teacher was another act of defiance. ... Jing mei's mother was embarrassed when she was subjected to the disappointing piano recital. ... When she found out she was to start piano lessons, she threw a tantrum. ... In her mother's eyes, her ability to play and progress at the piano is very important. ... Chong was a retired piano teacher and my mother had traded housecleaning services for weekly lessons- (718). ...

• Word Count: 789
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

Throughout our lifetime, from growing up as a child and even as an adult, we are constantly taught life lessons. These life lessons are usually taught to us by older and educated people such as our school teachers, our parents, a mentor, older friends, or family members. ... Sylvia, the main character of The Lesson, is a very stubborn, strong, and an outspoken girl. ... Thirty five dollars could pay for rent and the piano bill too. ... With the lesson that she has learned from Miss Moore she will use it as motivation for her to move further in life. ...

• Word Count: 1241
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

When I was in elementary school, I wanted to play the piano. But the lesson was so expensive that I couldn't take the piano lesson. ... When my parents couldn't give piano lesson, their hearts must have been broken, too. ...

• Word Count: 913
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School