Getting the most from this great hobby!
OK, so it’s a bit click bait I admit. In fact, I’m not saying that we should not memorize piano music. Rather I’m saying that there is no absolute need to have to memorize everything. Often, people are almost bullied into thinking that they will perform less well with the score in front of them. ...
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We are often told that we shouldn’t learn piano music that is too difficult for us aren’t we? However, as adult learners it is advice that we frequently ignore. Personally, I’ve come to the conclusion that, within reason, we should largely please ourselves what we learn. I know that many will start shaking their heads...
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Did the title Lies to Pianists grab your attention? Is it click bait as they say? Well, Lies to Children is an expression I came across in the Terry Pratchett Book ‘The Science of Discworld’. For those of you unfamiliar with it, the basic premise is this: Any explanation of an observed phenomenon which, while...
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I was watching a video of the amazing Martha Argerich the other day. Whilst watching her play, she seemed to be almost nonchalantly throwing her hands in the general direction of the notes she wanted to play, yet, of course, landed each one with pinpoint accuracy. This had me start thinking more about what the...
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What do I mean by practising problem passages in context? Let me start with this hilarious image I came across on Twitter a long time ago. I think it describes the practice habit of many of us. In fact, I have seen this very same picture used in other contexts since and I hope that...
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When I read Neuhaus Book ‘The Art of Piano Playing‘, I was fascinated to read his reflection that ‘modern technology’ might completely remove the need for piano teachers. Of course, by modern technology, he wasn’t referring to what we think of as modern now, but to simple recordings (both audio and video). He gives an...
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An essential piano practice strategy is to keep it simple! We are often are advised to use the 3 S’s whilst practising piano. That is to say: Slowly (slow things right down) Separately (practice hands separately) Sections (practice in small sections) All three of these piano practice strategies have one thing in common – they...
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Neuhaus, in his book ‘The Art of Piano Playing’ tells us we need to ‘let the water boil’. He suggests that the most effective way to master something or to fix a problem is to simply work at it without stopping until it is as we want. He makes a comparison to boiling water. Paraphrasing...
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All too often (for my liking), when people ask for advice on piano practice, they are given a ‘strategy’ to use without any regard for the ‘goal’ they are trying to achieve. What is a piano practice strategy By piano practice strategy, I mean the way your are going to practice. Now, this could be...
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Knowing when to ‘move on’ in our piano practice is something that we need to really think about as amateur pianists. Without wanting to sound like an economist, I think we need to think at a Micro and a Macro level. By micro, I’m meaning those small things, individual bars or groups of notes. By...
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