Friday, 20 November, 2020 | 5:00 PM
Lisa Spector
Lisa Spector became known in recent years as a left hand virtuoso, after temporarily losing control of her right hand. Her story of resilience remains a source of inspiration for us all: never give up on your dreams.
Listen
Program
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
Arranged by Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)
Chaconne in D Minor for Left Hand
(From Partita for Solo Violin no. 2 in D Minor, BWV 1004), (1877-1878)
Alexander Scriabin (1872-1915)
Prelude and Nocturne for the Left Hand Alone, Op. 9
Zach Gulaboff Davis
Nocturne No. 2 for 8 Fingers, written for Lisa Spector
Frédéric Chopin (1810-1849)
Arranged by Leopold Godowsky (1870-1938)
Etude Op. 25 No. 1 for Left Hand Alone, “Aeolian Harp”
Frédéric Chopin (1810-1849)
Etude in F Minor, Op. 25 No. 2
Etude in C Minor, Op. 10 No. 12, “Revolutionary”
About the artist
Known in recent years as a left hand virtuoso, Juilliard graduate Lisa Spector
temporarily lost the use of her right hand after a bizarre fall in 2017 caused seven
right hand fractures needing four surgeries over three years. While suffering from
Complex Regional Pain Syndrome caused by the trauma, her first occupational
hand therapist told her she’d never play again with two hands. After realizing she
makes music with her heart, not her fingers, she started performing music for left
hand only. As her right hand gradually recovered over three years, she started
performing programs for one and two hands. From the stage and behind the video
camera, she shares music with a dose of inspiration, tellings stories of resilience
that inspire others to never give up on their dreams.
Early during the pandemic, Spector launched a weekly Facebook Live series,
sharing music performances for one and two hands, combined with readings from
her work-in-progress memoir, Left Hand Lemonade. Her viewers tell her it’s their
favorite hour of the week. You can find them at LeftHandLemonade.com.
A life-long passion as an educator inspired her to not miss a beat when she could
no longer teach piano in person. In March 2020, she launched her first online
course Piano Ninja Tricks: Double Your Proficiency in Half Your Time. That led to
another online course, Winning the Musician’s Mind Game, which grew into The
Music Conservatory, an online community for reigniting music dreams.
Prior to her injury, she was featured on NPR as a Pet Calming Maestro, after
combining her music talents with her love of dogs and creating over 16 hours of
music for pet anxiety. She’ll be releasing a new album featuring music with lower
frequencies for left hand, proven to calm the canine nervous system. A free demo
of Dog Gone Calm can be found at MyZenPet.com.
Spector resides in Half Moon Bay, CA, where she shares her heart and her home
with her 11-year-old agility champion black Lab, Gina, a “career change” dog from
Guide Dogs for the Blind, where Lisa is a former volunteer puppy raiser.