I began piano lessons at four years old with the conductor and pianist, John Mario DiCostanzo, of the local symphony. I remember two things the most about him: he always required that I play “music”, even with the practice exercises. He would say, “Think of this as a song, not fingering.” He also asked me to “make songs fancy.” This was, of course, code for improvisation. Add elements to the songs that fit or improved them. My teacher, Mr. Caleb Grabowski, has influenced me in understanding the fundamentals of jazz—so much so that I tend to “jazz up” most songs, even ones that maybe shouldn’t be. My third teacher, Dr. Barbara Durost of the Claremont Community School of Music has had even more of an impact on my learning. I realized only recently what she was doing: choosing pieces that were somewhat above my ability threshold and that would require different skills of me as a pianist. Some pieces asked for real control of dynamics; others required specific fingering. She has also kept my love for music alive, despite how difficult the theory can sometimes be. It is because of these influences that I decided to conduct a fundraiser series called, “Battle of the Genres,” in which I play a variety of genres and then intermix them with medleys I make up. I raised $2,200 for my Eagle Scout Project in March, 2024 to support the non-profit Claremont Community School of Music (CCSM) and their keyboard lab; I just got approval for a follow-up concert (with all new pieces) for March, 2025, the proceeds of which will go to piano scholarships for needy students at CCSM.
You can find Alexander’s 2024 Spring Music Competition piano performance here.
You can find Alexander’s 2024 Contemporary Music Competition piano performance here.