Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Adult Beginners Forum Liberace...Remember him?

...These were the Liberace days when the critics were so cruel to him as he was improv with his classic pieces on his TV show...He laughed at them and we his fans loved his piano playing so much...We are talking back to the 1960's for my classical studies and the 1950's for Liberace...I am 67 years old and of the old classical piano school... I always kept an open mind and I imrov classical often with much fun in my heart ...The concert level teachers are very strict even to this day with classical music...Sandy B

I remember Liberace very well from when I was a kid since my grandmother adored him, costumes and all. I liked him pretty well myself. I remember being totally fascinated by the idea of a piano shaped swinning pool. I'm 53.

Liberace at the Pleyel museum in Paris. A more conservatively dressed Chopin supposedly played this piano at Versailles. BTW Liberace got his trademark candelabra on the piano from a scene in that corny Chopin biopic "A Song to Remember" starring Cornel Wilde.

50 here Frycek...OMG, I think I had a pair of pants that looked like that jacket...

...but how did he play with all those huge rings on his hands?

He was my mother's favorite. I don't think we ever missed his television show in the 50's. He was probably one of the reasons that my mom sent me to piano lessons.

And the platform shoes that went with them? :p

You bet I remember Liberace!! I'm almost 67.

At that time (when television was considered a vast wasteland), his show was quite unique.

Not only did he introduce many to classical music. He had style (albeit a little carried away at times!), and he seemed quite genuine in his respect and gratitude toward his audience.

Actually, he was trained in classical music and thought to play quite well.

And, yes, I often did wonder how he played with all those massive rings. But then I often wonder how women can type with those long, phoney fingernails.

I loved his show.

Thanks, Frycek, for that great picture. You never cease to amaze me with all your resources.

That piano...wow. That's all I can say. What a thrill for Liberace to actually sit at the same piano on which Chopin played.

Kathleen

..... and his brother George on violin....

My dad never missed his show. He never got the "acceptance" as a classical player, and it bothered him all the way to and from the bank.

Back in the days of 1 or 2 channels, and only one television, I got exposed.

Kathleen made a statement in another thread about TSO exposing people to classical and was "corrected", but she is right. Any exposure is better than none... and here I am 50 years later learning to play some of the pieces I first heard on his show.....

gmm1: I don't remember the reference you made about "TSO"? What is that? Sorry, I'm dense.

And I feel as you. Anything is better than nothing. I have to admit that Liberace helped encourage me.

And I do remember his brother George and also the statement about laughing all the way to the bank,

Now...for a question on your wonderful advice about practicing. I am somewhat confused (my natural state). Here's how I have interpreted it and please correct me where I am wrong.

1. LH 5 on the C1
2. Play CDEFG
3. RH 1 on middle C
5. RH plays up to G then G down to C
6. LH plays G up to G and then down again
7. Remember to keep saying "relax.'
8. LH plays C to G
9, RH plays C to G
10. LH moves down to G2 with thumb

Now this is where I get confused.

If you have the time to "unconfuse" me, I would appreciate it. Take your time thought. No rush.

Thanks,
Kathleen

Kathleen said: "That piano...wow. That's all I can say. What a thrill for Liberace to actually sit at the same piano on which Chopin played"...

here's a web site link that shows the Chopin piano and some of his other 39 pianos, etc...

http://www.bobsliberace.com/museum/museum.1.html

Whooooaaaa!

Thanks, Mr. Upright!! My daughter and I were in Las Vegas recently. Should have visited his museum instead of losing $50 at the slots.

Kathleen

yeah, Liberace was the "King (Queen?) of Bling" way before 'bling' existed...

Thanks Frycek for that great picture. Wow, what a piano, with jacket to match.
His playing was fantastic. He was quite a showman, and the best thing was that he inspired many people to get interested in playing the piano. I remember one piece that was very popular. I am not sure of its name, I believe it was called "September Song," I recall something about autumn or falling leaves. His fingers would just cascade down the keyboard.
The critics were cruel to him, but the public loved him. My mother never missed a program. Gaby Tu

Blue Suede.....coool man....cooool

Merv Griffin once asked him the same thing on the Merv Griffin Show, to which Liberace grinned and replied: "Very well!"

I had the opportunity to see Liberace in 1984 live in the Boston area and must say he was the ultimate showman.He was a very talented pianist and held the audience in the palm of his hand . When asked how he played the piano with all those rings on, his reply was..."Very well!!!"

I actually studied with David Lomascola, who is a "Liberace Scholar". He has a website: www.lomascola.com

article:

"From April 25-30, pianist and Liberace scholar, David Lomascola will play on Liberace's famed million dollar mirror and rhinestone piano. There will be celebrity hosts signing autographs, etc., etc.,"

He was a tough teacher, a great pianist, he wanted perfection from the beginning, and for someone who started studying early in age, I can understand, but for me who began as an adult, I needed a different approach, so I stopped lessons with him. He now plays in Vegas and he recently played at Liberace's home this past year with a ton of celebrities to celebrate Liberace's birthday. I got an invitation, but couldn't go. I heard it was an awesome concert though.

If you ever get to Vegas, go see him perform at the Bellagio. He's pretty fantastic.

Kathleen:

Am I bad - the TSO reference was Monica, not you. Opps....

The pattern - LH 54321 RH 12345 54321
LH down an octave 12345 54321 RH 12345 54321
LH Back to home row 12345 54321 RH up an octave 12345 54321
LH ditto RH back an octave ditto
LH down an octave ditto Rh ditto

So - lh down and back (2 cycles) then rh up and back (2 cycles) etc.....

It's a lot harder to say then do, at least for me....

The Liberace Museum website has many videos for sale with Liberace performing on piano...I ordered his Liberace Bio and another video with my favorite classical piece that Liberace performs ...an excellent arrangement... I play this often here at Assisted Living, I live here too...I had a stroke and a brain operation 5 years ago and have short term memory damage ...{Please be patient with me as I do have memory issues and trouble with words sometimes too writing and speaking...Thank you in advance} residents love this one, "Rhapsody On A Theme By Paganni the 18th Variation..." Which I play often...Also there is an old Christmas video I have of Liberace, his mother, his poodle,relatives, staff,etc... George and Rudy Liberace, the three Liberace brothers, also playing violin... Rudy Liberace who died in a motel back in the 70's I think ...He had too much to drink...Sad...
Sometimes I foget the forum I am in and write the beginners as though they are in a more advanced Piano World Forum ...sorry...Just say,"That is young senior citizen Sandy and her memory problems again...strokes you know..." I love this interaction as I so love your good musical company here.. The other residents ....They love "Name That Tune." Usually I play the song not just one note as the average age here is 85 years old, and, hearing and memory too problems,etc...I am happy here as they treat me as a musical star much to my surprise and happiness...I feel wanted, needed and loved as a result of the other residents great treatment of me...I am blessed for certain...Thank you again...Sandy B

That's great Sandra! My mother-in-law also resides in an assisted living facility. My husband and I are the only family she has here and if it wasn't for that facility, we don't know what we would do. They love her and she loves them. She plays dominos, goes on field trips (mostly gambling), they take her to the store, feed her in a full service cafeteria, etc., etc., She is 81 years old and gets around very well on her own. She is cute and you couldn't help but love her as she always has a warm hug for everyone. She's from Texas you know, Texans are friendly as can be. I'm glad to have my husband from there. I think Texans are quite the gentlemen for sure!

I'm glad you're happy with your situation. I wish you continued success as I'm sure your contribution there is very welcomed.

Sandy. We love your posts. Several of us go back an forth between the different forums, and it is always a pleasure to read your special posts. So glad that you have found a place to live where your music talents are appreciated.

Short term memory lost????Haven't seen any evidence of that in any of your posts. They are always well written, and appropriate to the subject being discussed. I for one, learn a lot from what you have contributed. Gaby Tu

Hi. Me again. Wrote Sandy--meant Sandra. Gaby Tu

Dear Sandra:

I am about your age, and, thank God, in relatively good health, except for back problems (who doesn't have back problems?).

I was so pleased to read your note about how your playing the piano and your love of music have meant so much to you and to your friends at the center.

That's exactly what music should do. It speaks a universal language and touches people in places they never knew they had. It keeps the spirit young.

The love of music, especially classical, will bring so much joy to your life, as I am sure you already know.

Take care,
Kathleen

Thanks, gmm1.

I'll give it a try.

Kathleen

Kathleen said, "The love of music, especially classical, will bring so much joy to your life, as I am sure you already know."

I think it's the love of music whatever genre it is will bring joy to your life. Personally, I think the love of Rap will bring so much joy :rolleyes: just kiddin!

PianoGal: I'm glad you added "just kidding" to that sentence about loving rap music. :rolleyes:

Because if you were really serious, we would have to call the "forum police" and have you physically escorted off this site.

Then the forum jury would find you guilty of the greatest of all "musical" crimes.

And, of course, your punishment would be to listen to Lawrence Welk for the rest of your life!!

Kathleen

I kinda like Lawrence Welk. Especially when he has Joan, The Pianist, on there, but I will keep my love for rap music to myself..

Loved each and every post members wrote and shared ...Thank you so very much...Thank you so for your kind words to me ....Most appreciated...I learn from all of you too and so love the Piano World Forums...LIberace...The rings...I wanted to be a little Liberace type and a friend gave me a huge beautiful gold ring...I wore this huge ring on my right hand without thinking while playing piano very often... for hours at a time, here a assisted living...and I developed tendonitis in my palm on my right hand...Two years later the tendonitis is still here...Two surgeons have looked over and will not operate or offer me a cure...I gave the ring to my daughter...Does anyone have an idea how to get rid of the tendonitis in my palm please? Cortizone maybe? Nothing so far has helped... Thank you again for all the great fun info on Liberace...Dan on the Piano World Teacher's Forum gave me good advice about my hand ... any other input? Thank you in advance..I saw this on a post and thought this was so dear to thank in advance...Sandy B...

Hi fellow Liberace lovers. I will be 67 on Tuesday (I still feel 23 in my mind and can't believe the years have passed so fast).

My Mother was a Piano/Accordian/Voice Teacher. We watched the Liberace show religiously. My mother also loved the Lawrence Welk show and particularly the accordian player Myron Floren.

The fist time I went to Vegas, the Liberace Museum was number one on my list of attractions to visit. We were told that his museum was the most visited tourist attraction at that time. Many of his pianos were there along with many of his costumes.

I had the pleasure of seeing him in person when he appeared here on Long Island. He was Mr Showmanship without a doubt. The audience went wild for him, particularly the women (maybe they felt he was one of them).

With all the homophobia going on in society today, it is rather surprising that when Liberace was alive we all knew he was gay, but no one gave a damn. I wish we could live in a less prejudiced world.

Those of us who remember seeing Liberace on TV and in person realize what a great talent we lost.

Jerry you said, "I wish we could live in a less prejudiced world."

I am pro gay, pro stem cell, pro choice, pro,pro,pro...Did anyone watch that 20/20 special last night about the world coming to an end? Don't you think that all the prejudice and judgement is so stupid and a waste of time when you realize just how insignificant we are. It's a waist to me.

I'll drink to that a thousand times. Jerry, thanks for that input!

ooopppsss

Do any"old timers" like me feel guilty if they improv classical piano?If I know the people I am fine if not I am afraid a classical pianist will be offended...So I ask permission from the listeners...Does anyone else? Why can't it be accepted worldwide?I can understand why not for many , many years without recordings. of the masters...We have that now and we can make it clear we are playing improv only...Sandy B