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From today's New York Times:

Hi Steve,

Thank you for sharing this article, to me it is very interesting.

What an odd and interesting essay! And what a rich cast of characters: Errol Morris, Sviatoslav Richter, Jeremy Denk, the lobster...

Glenn Gould, as well!

Thanks for posting. I just love it!

I'd skipped this in this morning's Times, imagining it just some trifle. Thanks very much for posting. I'm not really a classical fan, and don't know much of the literature discussed, but still found it fascinating.

An interesting read...

Very interesting. It sounds similar to some athletes who wear the same dirty socks until they win the series or a lucky hat that has to be worn for flying.

Just looked at my posting counter.

I’m slow but steady. Hallelujah just hit big time!

Interesting read - thank you!

Far better to have lobsters on your piano than crabs on your organ.

It made me think of some of the strange habits we develop when we’re under stress, especially something like playing a recital or giving a presentation for an audience. When I would play in a recital, (rather rare event thankfully), I would bring a old white binder with my sheet music inside with colored tabs. I memorized several bars before and after the page flip and marked the music. When I came to the mark I’d find the right pause and reach with my left hand and flip the page. I could quickly find the next mark and continue. It worked for me. I still drag around that old white binder with the pieces I’m working on. Looks slightly less weird than a plastic lobster but it is always my crutch.

Interesting read, thank you!

What I found interesting is Errol Morris' interpretation of Sparky and his magic piano. I'm sure that I would've understood the intended moral of the story as a kid. But the thought of that reliable something vanishing from you or that you can't get there without that something - now that is a scary story for kids and adults alike.

We’re all like the Peanuts character Linus that always had his blankee wherever he went. 😁
We find a way to make it more discreet than a blanket or a plastic lobster.

Anybody who throws in the hanky and pounces on the piano with the energy of a spinning top is bound to have some other eccentricities. 😆