Susan Merdinger, Pianist - Merdinger's Musings

New Website design coming soon; Resuming Merdinger's Musings and Steinway Sundays!

Dear Friends and Fans,

It is time for a long overdue website makeover! I would love to know what you like about my site and what you don't like about it. What colors and images and features you might like to see on a new site, and what existing content you would like me to preserve.

Your feedback and opinions matter to me! So, please respond and leave comments as you are able!

Thank you so much for your interest! And stay tuned for the resumption of my talkshow, Merdinger's Musings and Steinway Sundays!

In…

Reflection on Current State of our Country, and World.

The music-making, the flowers, a delicious and romantic dinner "at home" made for a romantic Anniversary. But, as soon as I turn on the news, there is a pit in my stomach. What is this country coming to? There are no words. Just sorrow, outrage and fear. Feeling sympathy for the victims of police brutality, and victims of rioters and the intentional looting and destruction of our cities; outrage at the escalation of violence to levels we have not seen in nearly 50 years; fear for our future- as if the…

To Cancel or Not to Cancel, THAT is the question! or "The Show Music Go On- or NOT?"

This past week I had a wonderful time attending the 125th Anniversary Celebration and Alumni Reunion of the Yale School of Music. As a Yale College alum as well, I happened to miss my 30th Reunion last Spring for the Class of 1984! (The George Orwell's Year!), so I was particularly eager to attend this special occasion with my husband, Steve Greene, YSM 1986, whom I met in September 1984, exactly 35 years ago! We were even more honored to have been invited to perform on the Alumni Reunion Concert on…

The Chicago Symphony Orchestra Strike- MY OPINION

As the CSO Strike continues to weigh on the musicians of the CSO, the Chicago Classical Music community and Classical Music lovers around the world, I have been reading with great interest a lot of commentary on the situation at hand. I have noted a gradual shifting away of support from the musicians towards the management. and a general lack of patience with this process.

I want to go on record as saying that I am 100% in support of the CSO Musicians, even as I can rationally agree with some of the points…

"The show must go on!"

Yesterday was a first-time ever experience for me of playing a concert and in the middle of it, the complete lyre and pedal assembly fell off the piano hitting the floor with a big thud! I mean, I have endured some broken strings, and keys falling off, and notes not repeating, and the like. But THIS??? The SOUL of the PIANO just GONE? In keeping with the tradition of "the show must go on" I still never imagined I could continue to perform the Finale movement of Mendelssohn's C minor Piano Trio with NO…

A lot is happening!

Looking forward to offering a Chopin Mazurka Masterclass to the Chicago Amateur Piano Guild this Saturday! I've been working on the Mazurka's and finding such joy in the creative spark that Chopin displayed in this stylized dance form native to his homeland- Poland. I cannot wait to listen to the passionately dedicated adult pianists who are in a quest for "piano perfection". Does this "perfection" ever exist? Not a chance...not for any true professional nor amateur. That is the fate of being a musician-…Read more

Reflections on making a violin and piano CD recording...

Yesterday was Day 1 of my recording session with the German-born violinist, David Yonan. This recording will be our first studio recording together, although we have performed together in so many concerts I have lost count. While I have made numerous duo piano recordings with my husband, Steven Greene, and have played many chamber music concerts which have been recorded live, this CD will represent the first recording of a piano and "other instrument" I have ever made. So I thought it would be interesting…Read more

Reflections on the future of Classical music...from a love, life and death perspective.

Being a professional musician requires a great deal of sensitivity and high emotional IQ, no doubt. No greater test of one's ability to control one's emotions in a performance occurs when one is called upon to play at a wedding, funeral or memorial service. Early in my career, I played a ton of wedding gigs. I didn't like it much, and resented often being simply "background" music. However, over the years I have come to realize that weddings and funerals present a similar intensity of emotion- from the…

Some thoughts on the subject of kindness....

" Not everyone will have the heart you do. Not everyone will appreciate you and what you do for them. Sometimes, it won't be easy having a kind heart in a cruel world."
Tony Gaskins, Life Coach and Motivational Speaker

To all my kind and sensitive friends- you're not alone. And yes, you are appreciated, just not by everyone! We must work hard not to take the vicissitudes of life too personally, and try to believe in the goodness that exists in people- obviously some more than others. It is only human nature…Read more

On the meaning of Freedom, Forgiveness, Responsibility and Respect

As the Springtime is upon us, a new sense of freedom and lightness and gaiety pervades. Hope, renewed energy, sunlight, and more! But what is the real meaning of Freedom? Is freedom simply the opposite of slavery in the most literal sense of the words? Or is there something more to freedom than that? I think true freedom means different things to different people. To me, freedom means being able to be who you are, being able to do what you were meant to do, being able to be truthful to oneself and to…Read more

The Making of a Musician...

It's been quite a week here in the Merdinger-Greene household! Our eldest daughter, mezzo-soprano Stefanie Greene, performed her Masters of Music Degree recital on March 19th at North Park University, performing works by Verdi, Strauss, Heggie, and Berlioz. Our middle daughter, Sarah Greene, appeared on the FOX TV show, Final series and season episode of Glee! and our son, Scott Greene, aka Megaphonix, has newly released tracks on Beatport! Husband Steve Greene did accompanying for young artists in solo and…Read more

Some like it hot, some like it cold...

At this point in my career, as a performer and teacher, I am trying to decide which is better or worse for performing musicians- extreme cold or extreme heat? I am also wondering what are the best solutions for dealing with either extreme condition? Even though we generally are sheltered from the outside elements, one cannot escape the feeling of coldness and drafts in the Winter or the excessive humidity and oppressive heat in the Summer. And there are the summer festivals which of course do require…Read more

On "winning" and "losing"... pre-reflections on the Grammy Awards!

So this is the weekend of the Grammy Awards. It was my second year as a voting member of NARAS, and I had two entries- my Soiree Solo Piano CD, and French Fantasy, A Piano Duet CD, recorded with my husband, Steven Greene. I cannot tell you how much I would have loved a nomination- as did so many other musicians like myself- both famous, and not-so-famous, signed with big labels, or indies.. All during this process of promotion and networking and hoping to garner votes and support for my entires yielded some…Read more

On learning new, contemporary music...

In about a month i will premiere a totally new work by Uruguayan-American, Chicago-based composer, Elbio Barilari. Elbio and I have have a wonderful working relationship- I premiered his Toccata Gaucha in 2012, and also performed hi Darwin's Dream Trio on the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Chamber Music Series in 2012. Last year, he invited me to perform a solo recital on his Latino Music Festival at the Pianoforte Salon in downtown Chicago, and numerous times at the University of Illinois-Chicago, where he is…Read more

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