Wow! Tricky Stride Piano
"That was the best cultural arts program we've ever had," said one faculty member of the performance by world-renowned pianist Stephanie Trick, who played a blazin' stride piano for a full house of students and guests. Stride piano developed as a style during the early 1900's, around the same time Berkeley Hall got its start. So to help celebrate our Centenial, Stephanie shared with us her amazing talents. She's "The next rising star in the stride world..."
according to Dr. Mark Borowsky of the James P. Johnson Foundation (Johnson, the father of stride piano). To help mark Berkeley Hall's Centennial Stephanie played pieces that were composed during the time Berkeley Hall was founded. She blended information about stride's history with examples of music from the stride greats, James P. Johnson, Fats Waller, Willie “The Lion” Smith, Art Tatum, and Jelly Roll Morton. Stephanie is "one of the few female stride pianists to command mastery of this technically and physically demanding jazz piano style. She has been called one of 'only three or four people alive today' with the potential to recreate 'the magic' of stride legend masters." The concert culminated in a special 4-hand boogie when Stephanie invited to the stage Swiss boogie woogie virtuoso Chris Conz – a stunning performance.
Stride piano creates the sound of a whole orchestra with just the piano. The left hand handles the rhythm section while the right hand takes on the sounds of melody. The name "stride" comes from the left-hand movement "striding" up and down the keyboard.
Find out more about Stephanie Trick.
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Stride piano creates the sound of a whole orchestra with just the piano. The left hand handles the rhythm section while the right hand takes on the sounds of melody. The name "stride" comes from the left-hand movement "striding" up and down the keyboard.
Find out more about Stephanie Trick.
Located in Los Angeles, CA, Berkeley Hall School is a private, coeducational school for students in preschool through grade 8. Rigorous academics in a supportive atmosphere and grounded character development allow students to become fearless scholars and conscientious citizens - gain a love of learning, leadership with social responsibility, creativity with moral integrity, and self-esteem with compassion for others and the environment.