Piano Matters Archives

Piano Artistry - Painting Pictures of Sounds for the Ear

Do you appreciate a simple beam of light shining on the side walk, or imagine how a photograph will look as you frame your subject in the camera's lens and snap the picture? If so, you have the creative gift of observation. Some artists, however, are able to visualize creative ideas without observation, rendering a painting, drawing, or design completely from the ideas in their imagination. Piano artists learn to observe and visualize with their ear.

This is important because piano sheet music is only ink blots on paper, it takes the artist to bring it to life. But how can a piano student transform ink blots on paper into a beautiful picture of sound? The same way a painter does, with observation, imagination and brushes! Yep, there are lots of different brushes available to a pianist, as well as hues of color. Piano artistry includes a palette of playing styles, rhythms, techniques, and improvisations to tell and illustrate wonderful musical stories.

Music always has a story to tell. The Russian Sailor Dance for example is a traditional physical endurance test sailors perform to music in a minor key. It has a steady march beat famous for repeated notes. It's not exactly a happy tune, but it is energizing. It's the one where Russian sailors in their dress uniforms and beskozirkas (best hats), bend their knees and kick out one foot at a time to the music with their arms crossed over their chests. Get the idea? It's awesome! Now, imagine military Muscovites in Red Square performing their traditional dance to a waltz. Nope, just doesn't work - wrong parade. Outraged Russians would protest. "Hey guys, what's the big idea? Dancing Bears?"

Every country has a unique musical culture born of their heritage. With the advent of technology, popular music is dispersed across the globe, resulting in a new era of shared musical experience - and shared stories. For a piano student who wants to play with more artistry and style, ask this question. "What is the story I'm trying to tell with this piece of music? Am I conveying the right idea? How could I get this idea across more clearly?" Experiment with different playing styles and techniques until you find the one that tells the greatest story. Then imagine what the Star Wars movies would be like without music!

Best Wishes,

Cynthia Marie VanLandingham

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Helping Kids Connect to their Inner Artist - 5 Tips for Recital Time

Piano students spend a lot of time preparing their music, especially at recital time. Here are 5 tips to help piano students maximize their creative energy and get the most out of their practice time.

1. Ask Questions Along the Way -

Feel free to stop and investigate any areas of the music you're unsure of or have questions about with a thoughtful review.  Just playing the piece over and over without changes limits possibilities for improvement.

2.Make sure the objective is creative work at the piano, not just 'time at work' -

Practice with a specific goal in mind that adds a creative purpose to playing, such as counting out the rhythms, checking for accuracy of the notes, or improving your technique.

3. Target your best attention to challenging areas -

At the beginning of practice our minds are fresh and our attention is best.  Therefore, begin practice on areas in the music that are most challenging.  Then, stop for a few minutes and start again fresh in another area.  Look for places in the music that need work and focus your attention on these.  Then play through the piece many times.  Begin the next practice session similarly with an area of the music that is more challenging.

4. Don't gloss over the notes -

To let the music speak clearly, become familiar with the melody.  Your ear needs to hear the music clearly to play clearly.  Also, don't rely only on your own creative ideas, listen to how others have interpreted the music as well.

5. Add the human element -

Creative ideas come to individuals.  To connect to your inner artist, make it personal.  Imagine each note is an important word in a personal conversation you're sharing with your very best friend.  This will bring your own, magical personality into the musical conversation, so that each note resonates as part of a coherent, musical idea that's important to you and honors your audience.

Best wishes for a great piano recital!

Cynthia Marie VanLandingham