A talented professional teacher who specializes in helping children and adults who are new or returning to the piano to realize their goals whether discovering or rediscovering the instrument.
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
My intention with this program is to explore the idea of childhood through the piano works of four great composers. All four composers on this program maintained a
“wide-eyed” and “wide-eared” curiosity to the human condition in the essence of a child’s world. Like Robert Schumann when he wrote “Kinderscenen” at twenty-eight, at fifty-four I am remembering a joyful childhood.
As a little boy I would sit on the living room floor surrounded by records and listen for hours. I remember time spent with my grandmother on the swing set in our backyard. The two of us would hum and whistle familiar tunes or improvise new ones. These memories evoke a visceral experience of the timelessness of pure contentment. When allowed unstructured time to daydream and imagine, a child’s mind has the potential to delight, inspire, and offer new perspectives on the world we live in.
My goal as a pianist is to reach a level of “play” when working on a piece and ultimately when performing it. A great masterpiece is always fresh and inspiring, so long as the performer taps into their child’s mind. This state of mind can provide a sense of discovery, a sense of optimism, and ultimately, a sense of hope.
Chris Pouliot
RECENT PROJECT FROM CHRIS
LISTEN TO RECENT RECORDINGS FROM THE “SOUNDS OF CHILDHOOD” PROJECT
and view the concert program from the Sounds of Childhood performances here.