Publications
More than the World
in Black and White
How Music came alive
and my life became Music
My memoir traces my development from a musical child who resented her talent into a person whose life is grounded in music. It explores how the fulfillment of talent is influenced by family dynamics and life events.
In my early life in post-war Germany, I felt trapped by the obligation to practice and by my mother’s high expectations. At 16, I spent a year as an exchange student in a small town in the American Midwest. With no understanding of the way of life and values there, music became the means to express my feelings. Finally, I could embrace my musical talent. A kind and caring choir teacher was the catalyst in this transformation. More than 20 years later another American teacher would enter my life and liberate the pianist in me.
Life-changing insights, though, didn’t happen at home. That pattern repeated after my return to Germany from America. I struggled through music college. Trying to break away from my family, I entered a marriage that deteriorated quickly. A trip to Japan was the first step out of that life. An almost forgotten dream reawakened: to explore life behind the Iron Curtain.
My encounter with Russia was defined by the struggle for love, survival, and music. I was past 40, and my mother was dying, when a friend gave me the German translation of Seymour Bernstein’s book With Your Own Two Hands: Self-discovery through Music. Convinced that the author could teach me what I was lacking as a pianist, I traveled to New York City for lessons with him.
Dismantling inhibitions that prevented me from playing my best went hand in hand with acknowledging trauma suffered in childhood. It lead to the beginning of a new life in the United States. Fulfillment as a pianist came late, but it did come. Looking back, detours and challenges on the way were lessons that taught me how to survive. More than the World in Black and White is a tribute to the power of music and to courage, patience, and persistence in following your calling.
The book is available on Amazon and has received five star ratings since its publication in December 2018.
Blog: Music, Life and other Challenges
“You have to get yourself out there, you should write a blog,” said one of my adult students after I had moved to Maplewood, NJ from Concord, NH and was setting out to try my luck as an independent piano teacher and freelance musician in the Greater New York City area. That was in 2009. By April 2022, 216 entries had found their way into this blog, with 65 432 page visits to date. The topics are centered around experiences, discoveries and insights about music and people, often connected to playing and teaching the piano. It provides food for thought for anyone connected to music and the piano. The blog has also become a wonderful way to keep in touch with friends and colleagues in places where I’ve lived before – that’s the reason for going bi-lingual and translating the blog entries into German.
A Bear for Emily
A Piano Story Suite for Beginners who like to dream
I composed the music for this story suite for my students at the Concord Community Music School in 2003, based on Dennis Hasely’s picture book: A Story for Bear. Due to copyright issues I ended up writing my own story when Oceanna Music agreed to publish the music. The story is set in the New Hampshire scenery of woods and mountains. There’s a lake and a cabin, and a magical encounter with a very special bear – who knows whether he was real or imagined, and maybe it doesn’t even matter. Fourteen solo piano pieces illustrate the story. They range in difficulty from beginner to early intermediate level.
The book with original illustrations by Jessica Hiemstra-van der Horst was published in 2007. As of 2022, the publisher is no longer operating, but contact me for remaining copies of this 1st edition. A new edition is planned.
Through the Woods with Birgit Matzerath at patch.com.
How Peter Rabbit came to play the piano
Story Suite for piano 4 hands, 2011
Peter Rabbit is a stuffed toy that fell out of Grandma’s bag on the way to the airport and lands in the gutter. That’s how he ends up in Ms B’s piano studio instead of traveling to California – and you’ll have to check out the rest yourselves. I wrote and composed this story suite for some of my young piano students in 2011, to be performed at a recital. It consists of seven short duets, ranging in difficulty from primer to elementary level. Both the primo and the secondo parts are accessible for students. Total performance time ca 10 min. Please contact me if you’re interested in the book.
Thusnelda the Turtle’s Adventure in Central Park
Story Suite for Piano 4 hands, 2013
Thusnelda the Turtle risks becoming turtle soup, when she leaves the lake in Central Park and goes for a stroll. Fortunately, she runs into a group of friendly moles who provide shelter. At the end of the day she returns to the lake with a story to tell and new friends to return to.
It takes about 10 minutes to perform this story suite. It can be played by piano students at the elementary level. There are words to go with the primo part, so all eight pieces can also be sung. The secondo part is slightly more difficult than the primo. Please contact me if you’re interested in the book.
Music-Education-Humanity
A Festschrift honoring Seymour Bernstein on the occasion of his 75th birthday
Alison Thomas and I compiled and edited this collection of contributions by colleagues, students and friends of Seymour Bernstein in 2002. It celebrates the outstanding pianist, teacher, writer, composer and subject of Ethan Hawke’s documentary “Seymour – an Introduction” (2014) with articles on interpretation, teaching and playing the piano, as well as personal tributes. The Festschrift is available through Hudson River Press.
