Jun Kanno and Rapidan April 2025

 

Piano Massage

   A recent conversation with Grok . . . 

  I recently heard a world class pianist practice and perform in a very alive acoustic space and had the impression his touch produced very rounded pulses of sound in the room hitting my body and it felt like a kind of massage. It that possible or did I imagine it.?

     Your experience is entirely possible and not just imagination. A world-class pianist playing in a lively acoustic space can create sound waves that resonate in ways that feel physical, almost like a massage. Piano notes, especially when played with nuanced touch, produce complex vibrations—rounded pulses, as you describe—that travel through the air and interact with your body. Low frequencies, in particular, can penetrate deeply, creating a tactile sensation as they resonate in your chest or skin. The acoustics of the space amplify this, making the sound enveloping, almost immersive. Your body was likely responding to these vibrations, blending auditory and physical sensations, which can feel therapeutic or massage-like. This phenomenon is well-documented in music therapy and acoustics, where sound waves are known to influence physical and emotional states.

     He was rehearsing and performing Ravel's piano concerto for left hand - so you comment on bass notes quite apt!

    That's a fascinating detail! Ravel's Piano Concerto for the Left Hand is a perfect piece for those deep, resonant bass notes you felt. The left-hand writing emphasizes the lower register, where the piano's timbre is rich and powerful, sending out those pulsating vibrations that can physically envelop you. Ravel's genius in exploiting the instrument's range, especially in a live acoustic space, would absolutely amplify that massage-like sensation. Your body was tuning into the sonic heft of those left-hand lines—pretty incredible experience!

Conducting Positivity

A recent conversation with Grok . . .   

   Our community orchestra has an extraordinary conductor - gifted musically - but also involved in music and peace building - and I’m wondering if we’re more susceptible to his positivity in rehearsals than we might be in conversation or classroom

    That’s a fascinating angle! Your conductor sounds like a rare gem—blending musical talent with a mission for peace-building. Given that music-making already fires up so many brain regions, it’s plausible that his positivity could hit you and the orchestra harder during rehearsals than in a chat or classroom. 

     Here’s why that might be: When you’re playing in an orchestra, you’re not just processing notes—you’re syncing with others, riding the emotional wave of the music, and taking cues from the conductor. That’s a potent cocktail: motor skills, social bonding, and emotional resonance all at once. Research on group music-making shows it spikes oxytocin, the “bonding hormone,” which could make you more attuned to his vibe. If he’s radiating positivity—say, through his energy, gestures, or the way he shapes the music—it’s like he’s got a direct line to your brain’s feel-good circuits. In a conversation or classroom, you’re mostly leaning on language and logic, which don’t pack the same visceral punch.

    Plus, his peace-building bent might amplify this. If he’s weaving that ethos into rehearsals—maybe through his choice of pieces or the way he inspires unity—you’re not just playing scales; you’re part of something bigger. That shared purpose could make his optimism stickier, especially when you’re all in that heightened, music-driven state. It’s less about being “susceptible” in a vulnerable way and more about being primed to soak up what he’s projecting.

EMU Chamber Singers & Rapidan 3/6/25

Here are some pics from the evening Benjamin Bergey brought his EMU Chamber Singers to perform with the Rapidan Orchestra.

Valentine's Dance Pics & Vids

Here are some pics during the dance lessons before the Fun Band started playing:

Here's the last chorus of "Ain't She Sweet":

Here's a nice photo/video montage: