Laura’s Music Studio Newsletter - Paid Subscription Giveaway: Winner!

Photo by Bruno Croci on Unsplash

Drumroll, please! I am pleased to announce the randomly chosen winner of a free yearly paid subscription to my Substack newsletter: jtakeoka4. You’ve been notified of your win!

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I've published five piano music books and one guitar music book. Get them here.
Sign up here for my free monthly newsletter! Connect with me on Instagram and Pinterest.

Laura’s Music Studio Newsletter - Paid Subscription Giveaway

Photo by Bruno Croci on Unsplash

I am giving away a free yearly paid subscription to my Substack newsletter. What does a paid subscription get you? All the perks of a free subscription (a monthly newsletter) plus free sheet music for piano and guitar.

Enter by August 3, 2026 (11:59 pm Central Time).

To enter, sign up for a free subscription to my newsletter here. One winner will be chosen at random from my free subscribers and will be contacted directly on August 4, 2026.

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I've published five piano music books and one guitar music book. Get them here.
Sign up here for my free monthly newsletter! Connect with me on Instagram and Pinterest.

My Sheet Music

I’ve composed over 70 pieces for piano players and guitar players. The pieces range from a beginner level to an advanced level.
You can find all of them here.

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I've published five piano music books and one guitar music book. Get them here.
Sign up here for my free monthly newsletter! Connect with me on Instagram and Pinterest.

Chasing Chopin - Reading Together - Chapter 7

Welcome to the seventh post discussing Chasing Chopin by Annik LaFarge.

In Chapter 7, LaFarge delivers a deep dive into the centerpiece of her book: the third movement of the Piano Sonata No. 2 in B-flat minor, Op. 35. LaFarge untangles how this ubiquitous dirge, recognizable even to those unfamiliar with classical music, has been fundamentally misunderstood since its 1840 publication. She examines the work's historical, political, and emotional weight, contrasting its famous, heavy opening with the lyrical, major-key trio at its center. Ultimately, LaFarge strips away centuries of caricature to reveal a fresh, deeply tragic masterpiece.

Annik LaFarge has an extensive website that includes links and resources for each chapter. I highly encourage you to check it out, especially if you are looking for ideas on how to connect this book to teaching ideas for your studio or classroom.

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I've published five piano music books and one guitar music book. Get them here.
Sign up here for my free monthly newsletter! Connect with me on Instagram and Pinterest.

Chasing Chopin - Reading Together - Chapter 6

Welcome to the sixth post discussing Chasing Chopin by Annik LaFarge.

In Chapter 6, LaFarge examines the complex textual history and physical transmission of Frédéric Chopin’s scores. Because Chopin frequently improvised during performances and made ongoing alterations to his manuscripts, his pieces often evolved across multiple simultaneous editions published in France, England, and Germany. LaFarge traces the archival journey of these conflicting musical texts, highlighting the detective work modern scholars and performers must undertake to find the composer's true intent. She reveals that Chopin's music was never fixed or static, but rather a living, breathing entity.

Annik LaFarge has an extensive website that includes links and resources for each chapter. I highly encourage you to check it out, especially if you are looking for ideas on how to connect this book to teaching ideas for your studio or classroom.

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I've published five piano music books and one guitar music book. Get them here.
Sign up here for my free monthly newsletter! Connect with me on Instagram and Pinterest.