Practice pays off

Margie Balter was confident her recently released CD “Music From the Heart” would be a hit when she previewed it for her piano students.

The music passed what Balter described as “the Lilliputian test,” referring to the “very small-sized” but perceptive kids who gave their teacher’s effort a collective thumbs-up.

“Kids know what’s good,” she said. “They’re not jaded.”

Balter will have a wider audience on hand Sunday when she performs at Borders bookstore in Costa Mesa, part of a Borders tour that also includes stops in Los Angeles, Pasadena, West Hollywood and Glendale.

She’ll set up her portable keyboard for a “fun, one-woman show,” sharing the music she wrote, which she describes as “surprising.”

“It’s stuff you’ve never heard before. It takes twists and turns that came from my eclectic brain.”

This was a life work for her, Balter said.

She wrote, recorded and produced the CD herself, and said all the pieces are emotional, “cinematic” solos that will make you feel something when you play them.

Balter envisioned the artwork for the cover, then worked with graphic artist Laurie Dworsky to bring her vision to fruition. The photo of the piano in the gushing water tells the story and sets the tone, she said.

“It’s exotic and eclectic because you don’t expect to see a piano there. That’s pretty much what the music is — surprising, and you can listen to it every day.”

As a teacher, Balter knows the importance of practicing, which she does every day, as well as the value of studying.

“Studying and teaching piano is a lifelong thing. There’s an entire universe of stuff I haven’t gotten into,” she said.

As a teacher, Balter always assumes responsibility for whether or not a student is learning, a quality she said distinguishes the good teachers from the bad.

“You have to totally, totally care. Whatever talent the person has, it’s the job of the teacher to get to that,” Balter said. “You need to be persistent, and try whatever works to penetrate the brick,” Balter said.

She said she won’t let students off the hook, coming at the lessons from every angle — the 11th dimension if she has to — refusing to let someone not get it.

“I’ve used techniques like laying on the floor with them, yelling, or having them do weird body exercises to help them get rid of tension.”

It’s easier with younger students, because they’re sponges, “willing to breathe in and take in what someone’s teaching them.”

One of her students is a 75-year-old man who came to her because he always wanted to learn and couldn’t find anyone who could teach him, which is why Balter said her lessons are 100% customized to each individual student.

That can sometimes be a challenge, especially when your student is a Hollywood actor depending on you to get the job done within the time constraints involved on a movie shoot.

Balter has coached actors including Tom Cruise, Holly Hunter, Jack Black and Barbara Hershey for piano-playing movie roles.

Hunter won an Oscar for her performance in “The Piano,” a movie Balter was apprehensive about getting involved with at first because she was afraid the story would be perceived as “too weird.”

Then again, some things just have “that little bit of luck that you need in this business,” she said.

Balter is hoping luck is on her side when the Grammy nominations are announced today. “Music From My Heart” is being considered for nomination in three categories.

Getting respect as a composer is a bit of a welcome change, Balter said, especially since she’s worked for “every little baby step” that she’s been given.

“I’m crazy about music, and I feel like I’m on a very big roller coaster ride.

“I’m holding on by the seat of my pants.”

IF YOU GO

WHAT: Margie Balter piano performance and signing

WHEN: 2 p.m. Sunday

WHERE: Borders Bookstore, 3333 Bear St., Costa Mesa

COST: Free

INFO: (714) 432.7854 or go to www.margiebalter.com

SUE THOENSEN may be reached at (714) 966-4627 or at sue.thoensen@latimes.com.