Omordia In Piano Masterclass For MUSON Students
THE pianist, Rebeca Omordia, an awardwinning prodigy, recently conducted a masterclass in Lagos for six of Musical Society of Nigeria’s most promising Diploma students. A masterclass is a form of corrective enterprise in which the expert (master) corrects the play of upcoming and aspiring students.
The first student to perform was the piano major Ude-madu Kasiemobi, who played a fiery piece of Polish piano composer Frederic Chopin. The piece is titled, Revolutionary
etude in Eb major, and it seems to be like musical fireworks. Ude-madu made a good effort at his musical play.
Macpherson Aghah was the next pianist on the line, as he performed the Fantasiestucke by Franz Schumann. The atmosphere was subtle and peaceful. Any pianist, who is able to prosecute these difficult piano pieces, marks himself out as being a ‘maestro’ in his own right, or a personality with exalted musical skills. It is the habit of maestros to ‘memorise’ the music, or this is the habit of playing music without a score, or rendering the music with reference to printed material.
Rebeca Omordia fell in love with the play of this particular student whom she commended with the salutation “well done!”
The student, Seyi Ajibade, then played
Berceuse in Eb major, also by Frederic Chopin, which piece was sedate and accomplished. It was noted that the musical society was able to attract to the masterclass various students interested in piano play, as they were regaled in the instructions of the piano technique by Omordia, who has attained the status of a cult figure by her deft play and corrective instructions. Rebecca’s notes flowed like dew or like the sparkling of water droplets on sun splashed grasses.
Alfred Okoli was next in line to display his skills, and though his play was jagged at times it was not the practice of the maestro to dwell on the negative aspects of the students play. Okoli payed Beethoven’s Sonata
Op 13 (Pathetique) 3rd Movement by Ludwig
Van Beethoven.
Oluwatobi Olaoluwa was the only female pianist to perform on that day, and she gave a good account for the female gender. She played the Scherzo in Db by Franz Schubert. Ogbonyomi Titilope David played the last piano piece, titled: The man I love by L Gershwin.
There was then an interactive session during which period probing questions were addressed to Omordia about the way and manner she practices her pieces, and what tips she could give to students to attain an effective practice regimen.