In this performance, I teach audience members to play Prelude in C major, the first piece from Bach’s Well-Tempered Clavier, the rudiments of conventional tonality in Western music. Distorting pedagogy, I instruct “students” to play the notes, emphasizing bodily discipline, with coins balanced on their strictly straightened wrists and with paper boats balanced on their heads for monitoring correct posture. Lessons are also given on out-of-tune pianos; praise is always dispensed.

Performance with paper boats, synthetic wig, musical score, Canada, 2008

Performance documentation, Hart House/Justina M. Barnicke Gallery, Toronto, Canada (image credit: Tejpal Ajji), and studio documentation with Tejpal Ajji

serena lee

Piano Lessons