Piano technique - Piano teaching and pedagogy

7 years ago by Jovan

As you know, there is an open call for feedback and suggestions on Kiddie Craft. Let's use this thread to post comments/feedback. I just received a chat message from a user who wishes to stay anonomous. In Lesson III-9, at about 1 min, hand hanging with wrist in neutral position is great - so much...

Abby Whiteside

7 years ago by Markeog

This is really a question for Alan. I think it is so great that you have been talking in the last couple of videos about the importance of rhythm, as well as in the series RHYTHM IS EVERYTHING. I wondered if you (or anyone) had ever come across the work and the writings of Abby Whiteside (1881-1956). She believed th...

Yuja Wang And "The Craft Of Piano"

7 years ago by Sheana2002

I was wondering as I am a fan of Yuja Wang(her technique is amazing, yet she can play very lyrically, not just Flight of the Bumblebee in octaves).....her finger movements remind me of my early lessons, where I had to lift them while practicing Hanon. Of course, I found this disastrous to musical expression and it...

The Russian School Of Piano Technique

9 years ago by A Pianist

This category has been on our forum for some time, but nobody has seen fit to submit anything. I thought I would get the ball rolling by posting my answers to an email inquiry I received about the Russian school. Thanks for that description. This brings up a very interesting point, some of the negative experiences...

Free The Piano Player

9 years ago by A Pianist

I just found this on the Piano World Forum and thought it would be a good idea to post it here. Read on! © Terry Teachout on CommentaryMagazine.com April 2008 It is now widely acknowledged that classical music in America is in dire, even desperate straits. Critics, commentators, and managers have noted with alarm...

Using Piano Technique To Bridge The Left And Right Brains

9 years ago by A Pianist

From my Blog, thought it would be nice to reproduce it here... Recently I gave a lesson to a guy who is a computer whiz but who, when he recently took up piano as a hobby, found he was having lots of difficulty coordinating the hands when any kind of polyphonic element appeared. It was fascinating to work with him,...

Spontaneous Christmas Carol Singing With The Roll-up Soft Ke

9 years ago by A Pianist

Last week I was invited to a SantaCon Christmas party where EVERYTHING was into place (foooood!), except that they had Lady Gaga blasting over the speakers. Good thing I brought my roll up keys, so we ended up caroling. I bought these keys online, but I`m looking for more roll up keys like these, maybe some other brand...

Teaching The Hand

9 years ago by A Pianist

It is one possible solution which your teacher may see as working well for you. However it is not the only one. Each finger must learn to MOVE so well, with such vigour and agility, that their unequal length simply ceases to be of consequence. It just doesn't matter any more that they are unequal, because each of them...

MOVEMENT

9 years ago by A Pianist

Impossible to answer this question. Each student is individual, and you might have to tell one pianist something diametrically opposed to what you'd tell another, or what you might do yourself, because of their unique physical organization. Sorry! AFF

Playing Thirds

9 years ago by A Pianist

HELLO, i have a problem playing thirds,Im trying to play in the right hand fingers 1 and 3 together ,then playing fingers 2 and 4 then 3 amd 5,all of this Im trying to play in a row,any suggestions about the technique? my fingers are stuck! Thanks

Wrist

9 years ago by A Pianist

hello, is it possible to move the wrist up and down with small movements and not get tired? im playing Bartok the Bulgarian Dances and the six piece the right hand is all non legato,after a while my wrist starts hurting....any advice? thanks a lot

HAND SHIFTING

9 years ago by A Pianist

I agree with Seymour about the hand shifting idea. About low wrist and high wrist: practically speaking, the louder the sound, the higher the wrist. A high wrist facilitates the transmission of forces from higher up the skeleton. When you play softly, you don't need this so much. Remember, it's NOT the transmission...

Working With Small Children?!

9 years ago by A Pianist

How can I use your techniques when working with small children? When I try to create the arch in their hand, they stiffen, but when I try to relax them, their structure collapses. What can I do?

About Teaching

9 years ago by A Pianist

Hello Alan! I very curious what do you think about piano teachers of today. A specially in musical institutes such as Manhattan school of music and julliard. I'm very interesting WHY (i know it from student of Man. Sc. of M.) piano lessons ONLY one hour per week? is that not stupid?? Also, I will give a...

Piano Technique .Net, Freeing The Caged Bird, Carola Grindea

9 years ago by A Pianist

Hi there I' just wanted to say there are errors on your pianotechnique.net site which prevented me looking at some of the articles: error: Warning: Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /home/alanfraserpiano/pianotechnique.net/wp-content/plugins/wp-shopping-cart/homepag...

Freeing The Caged Bird And Craft Of Piano

9 years ago by A Pianist

Hi Alan I watched this dvd recently - Freeing the Caged bird - and I have read your article a few days back reviewing some of the extracts. I must say Barbara is a very nice helpful lady having contacted her on several occasions via email. I do love her playing - musically I found her moving. I watched the whole...

The Inner Game Of Music And Effortless Mastery...

9 years ago by A Pianist

Hi all, I don't know if I'm allowed to ask this here, but would anyone have read any of both books : "The Inner Game of Music" by Barry Green and Timothy Gallway and "Effortless Mastery" from Kenny Werner. Maybe some topics that can be useful, in addition to "The Craft of the Piano Playing&qu...