Ephemeralities 21 Feb, 2012: What's wrong with education: "The systematic exposition of a textbook in mathematics is based on logical continuity and not on historical sequence; but the standard high-school course, or even the college course in mathematics fails to mention this fact, and therefore leaves the student under the impression that the historical evolution of number proceeded in the order in which the chapters of the textbook were written. This impression is largely responsible for the widespread opinion that mathematics has no human element." — Tobias Dantzig

Number: The Language of Science

16 Nov, 2010: A title for me: "Performance in private at home for the pleasure of the musicians is rarely considered an important facet of music making today, although of course it still takes place in the houses of eccentric amateurs and a few dedicated professionals." — Charles Rosen

Piano Notes

15 Feb, 2010: Why I practice: "This kind of fine-toothed comb practising, however, is by no means simply a matter of muscle building�such repetitious treatment of short portions of repertoire also have a character of musical contemplation: an apt comparison would be a long, attentive gaze concentrating on a small detail of a masterful painting. ... For a pianist to train the fingers to a mastery ... is not only to discipline the muscles of the hand in a highly specific function, it is also to engage the pianist's body physically in a masterwork by a great composer. Such practising is a sensual kind of contemplation, a meditative muscle training." — Henry Kingsbury

Music, Talent, & Performance: A Conservatory Cultural System