Pianist and Composer Mark Pinkus

he was born on the anniversary of

he was born on the anniversary of Beethoven’s death coincidence I think

Beethoven’s death coincidence I think

Beethoven’s death coincidence I think not hi I’m Rebecca Brayton and welcome

not hi I’m Rebecca Brayton and welcome

not hi I’m Rebecca Brayton and welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re

to watchmojo.com and today we’re

to watchmojo.com and today we’re speaking with composer and pianist Mark

speaking with composer and pianist Mark

speaking with composer and pianist Mark Pincus

so when did you first sit down at a

so when did you first sit down at a piano tell us about your journey to

piano tell us about your journey to

piano tell us about your journey to become a piano master I have twin

become a piano master I have twin

become a piano master I have twin brothers they both were playing the

brothers they both were playing the

brothers they both were playing the piano when they were about seven and

piano when they were about seven and

piano when they were about seven and they’re twins identical twins Paul and

they’re twins identical twins Paul and

they’re twins identical twins Paul and David and they quit the same day my

David and they quit the same day my

David and they quit the same day my parents said to me how would you like to

parents said to me how would you like to

parents said to me how would you like to try play the piano the piano at the time

try play the piano the piano at the time

try play the piano the piano at the time was very soft yellow piano wooden piano

was very soft yellow piano wooden piano

was very soft yellow piano wooden piano near the window and I sat down and all

near the window and I sat down and all

near the window and I sat down and all of a sudden there was a rainstorm so I

of a sudden there was a rainstorm so I

of a sudden there was a rainstorm so I started playing the rain on the piano

started playing the rain on the piano

started playing the rain on the piano and then a black cat from the neighbor

and then a black cat from the neighbor

and then a black cat from the neighbor came over and started crawling on the

came over and started crawling on the

came over and started crawling on the window ledge and I saw this cat started

window ledge and I saw this cat started

window ledge and I saw this cat started playing the music for the cat so my

playing the music for the cat so my

playing the music for the cat so my first tune was called a cat in the rain

first tune was called a cat in the rain

first tune was called a cat in the rain and I’m doing the same thing today that

and I’m doing the same thing today that

and I’m doing the same thing today that I did when I was six and a half seven

I did when I was six and a half seven

I did when I was six and a half seven still composing music out of moments

still composing music out of moments

still composing music out of moments like that

your original compositions are described

your original compositions are described as sound paintings could you expand on

as sound paintings could you expand on

as sound paintings could you expand on that because I didn’t really develop the

that because I didn’t really develop the

that because I didn’t really develop the so-called classical conservatory

so-called classical conservatory

so-called classical conservatory technique I will always focused on the

technique I will always focused on the

technique I will always focused on the feeling behind the music so I ended up

feeling behind the music so I ended up

feeling behind the music so I ended up creating pieces of music that involve

creating pieces of music that involve

creating pieces of music that involve color with sound so it’s it’s visual

color with sound so it’s it’s visual

color with sound so it’s it’s visual emotions I see music as a palette of

emotions I see music as a palette of

emotions I see music as a palette of colors and sound blended together to

colors and sound blended together to

colors and sound blended together to create something in into your

create something in into your

create something in into your imagination

can you discuss the process of learning

can you discuss the process of learning your own compositions the things that

your own compositions the things that

your own compositions the things that are the easiest in life are the probably

are the easiest in life are the probably

are the easiest in life are the probably the most difficult to explain for me

the most difficult to explain for me

the most difficult to explain for me composing a piece of music is like

composing a piece of music is like

composing a piece of music is like turning on a light switch now I have a

turning on a light switch now I have a

turning on a light switch now I have a blockages of course like everybody else

blockages of course like everybody else

blockages of course like everybody else when there’s you know six month period

when there’s you know six month period

when there’s you know six month period of nothing going on and that’s okay too

of nothing going on and that’s okay too

of nothing going on and that’s okay too I believe strangely enough that music

I believe strangely enough that music

I believe strangely enough that music and Composition comes from not doing

and Composition comes from not doing

and Composition comes from not doing music in composition it comes from

music in composition it comes from

music in composition it comes from everything else other than the music

everything else other than the music

everything else other than the music from life from life experiences

from life from life experiences

from life from life experiences conversations being sick anything is

conversations being sick anything is

conversations being sick anything is just this music comes from those

just this music comes from those

just this music comes from those experiences I just transforming from

experiences I just transforming from

experiences I just transforming from those areas and into the music

where do you do most of your writing do

where do you do most of your writing do you find that the location has an effect

you find that the location has an effect

you find that the location has an effect on the final product a composition is

on the final product a composition is

on the final product a composition is going to come at any unknown moment so

going to come at any unknown moment so

going to come at any unknown moment so that’s why I learnt the guitar a little

that’s why I learnt the guitar a little

that’s why I learnt the guitar a little bit because if say I can hear a melody

bit because if say I can hear a melody

bit because if say I can hear a melody in my head if there’s no piano around

in my head if there’s no piano around

in my head if there’s no piano around I’ll go to a guitar write it down in a

I’ll go to a guitar write it down in a

I’ll go to a guitar write it down in a quick sketch form and then go to the

quick sketch form and then go to the

quick sketch form and then go to the piano and then elaborate on it

how important is the instrument itself

how important is the instrument itself do you have a preferred piano I know

do you have a preferred piano I know

do you have a preferred piano I know within two or three seconds of sitting

within two or three seconds of sitting

within two or three seconds of sitting down at a piano by the residents if I

down at a piano by the residents if I

down at a piano by the residents if I can communicate with it it’s just about

can communicate with it it’s just about

can communicate with it it’s just about feeling and resonance has nothing to do

feeling and resonance has nothing to do

feeling and resonance has nothing to do with what the piano looks like is how it

with what the piano looks like is how it

with what the piano looks like is how it sounds thank you very much thanks so

sounds thank you very much thanks so

sounds thank you very much thanks so much for Becca