Today I practiced for 8 hours. I am increasingly becoming
interested in my music and learning to perfect my technique. This entry will most likely bore you all but
I feel this is a topic I can ramble on about endlessly. I have bought and
checked out many books on the art of piano technique and am aimlessly hoping to
find that one bit of information or clue as to how to play correctly. Anyone
can play piano, but only a few people can learn to play it well. I’m starting
to see that there is not one factor to exceptional playing, but multiple. In
fact there are hundreds of things that factor in such as moods, relations,
practice, physical factors, environmental factors, past experience,
expectations, technical ability, and the kind of instrument you are playing on.
With that in mind, I feel I have to read and communicate as much as I can to compile
a true definition and technique to reach near perfection. So far I am working
on relaxation and finger strength in order to play freely but still have even
and steady tone. The types of pieces
being played also matter. Different periods of music require different touches.
It is confusing because I have come across many books that conflict on what
type of expression and phrasing to use such as in a work by Bach. One book tells me to play certain notes
smoothly while another says to play separate and detached. I feel baroque music is the most difficult to
analyze because there are no true dynamic markings or phrasings left by the
composers. All current ones are thought up by analysts and musicologists based
on historical context. It is strange thinking about how no one piece might be
played exactly how to composer intended. Perhaps it was done on purpose to
leave the performer their interpretation of the music. I will continue my
search for prime piano technique. I’m so excited. No joke.
WC: 330
Your blog was not boring, Adam. I found it to be quite enlightening. I've never really thought about how environmental factors might effect playing an instrument and I haven't thought about the Baroque period in a really long time and I never knew that the works in this period were open to various interpretations. Although, this might be a good thing in the sense that the player has the power to interpret the music how they see it. That might just be me being sentimental and trying to connect literature and music together. Literature theory changes constantly so I feel your frustration on conflicting ideas in books. :)
ReplyDeleteKeep up the good work and keep doing what you love!