Hauke Kranz – Die Tastenflüsterin

What does music mean to you personally?

Music is my voice, my way to connect with people and to bring my gifts into the world. I was born into a musically family and at the age of four I explored the piano for the first time. When several sounds start to be a melody, it felt like magic für me. And that is, what music is about – magic!

Do you agree that music is all about fantasy?

Not only fantasy, because fantasy arises in my head and my thoughts. Music is deeply anchored in our history, in social life, in our bodies, hearts and souls. It was always more than an international language, it is important for our mental and emotional health.

If you were not a professional musician, what would you have been?

As a child, I wanted to be a dancer, a singer, a princess or a pianist. And now the essence of all these wishes is in my life: When I play piano, my fingers are dancing. the piano can sing like a human voice. I have golden hair and wear beautiful clothes at stage – like a princess.

The classical music audience is getting old, are you worried about the future?

There are always changes in every profession. The corona times forces us to think about new ways to bring music to people. I don´t think, that classical music is only for an older audience, but we have to present music in new ways, at new places and with new words. If we refuse to this changes, we will die out. Especially the new genres of modern classical music will bring back young people.

What do you envision the role of music to be in the 21st century? Do you see that there is a transformation of this role?

There was already a big change in the role of music during the last years. The digital world with lots of possibilities to entertain has a big effect on how people use music. In former times they take time, listen to acoustic music in concert and enjoyed it together with other people. Today we „consume“ music – in the background, alone, in short pieces and often in MP3, with has a bad impact on our energy. But I see more and more people, who know again about the healing and transforming power of music. There will be a big shift in the role of music.

Do you think that the musician today needs to be more creative? What is the role of creativity in the musical process for you?

Creativity is nothing you can train, force or learn. But you can train your willingness and create the surrounding, that inspiration can happen. For me it is a moment of divine spark, an inner connection to „the source“, when the inspiration for a new melody comes to me. And then the „work“ begins, and I use my knowledge about music and composing.

Do you think we as musicians can do something to attract the younger generation to music concerts? How would you do this?

I was also a piano teacher during the last 40 years. And my mission was always to bring (young) people in contact to music and to himself. To show them, that music is not only the „cream on the cake“ but it can help you to grow and experience yourself. Perhaps the question is not „How can we bring young people to concert?“ but „How can we bring the music to people?“.

Tell us about your creative process. What is your favorite piece (written by you) and how did you start working on it?

Always my latest composition is my favorite piece. But there are a few compositions, that are connected to special moments in my life. For example the titel song of my last album „Open Skies“. I woke up very early at a New Years morning after ending the recordings for my first album. And there was a melody in my head. I went to the piano even before having the first coffee and after an hour „Open Skies“ was finished. The feeling of a new beginning, wideness und abundance spread all over me. This was a real magical moment!<

Can you give some advice for young people who want to discover classical music for themselves?

“Listen … listen … listen …!“ and „Try to learn an instrument!“. Find out, what kind of classical music touches you emotionally.

Do you think about the audience when composing?

No! In the moment of composing I play just for myself. In the beginning I wrote music only for myself – to hold, heal and comfort myself. I never thought, that one day it will do the same for other people.

What projects are coming up? Do you experiment in your projects?

Corona has changed my plans a lot. Actually I wanted to play the music of my latest album during 2020/21 and planned the recording of my next album in 2021. But now I had a big break and a lot of time to work on my presence in social media, create a new artist page and released my first music book with sheets of several piano songs. I delayed the recordings to 2022 and 2021 will be the year of „knowing nothing“ and going forward in little steps.