10 years ago by
A Pianist
Sharon,
I really don't think it's a group of "trade secrets." I really think people don't know. That's my experience in any case. We are so inarticulate about what we do. I grew up with very mediocre teaching, no teaching at all really, and as a young adult was very unsatisfied and went searching. I wanted to formulate things so that other students would not have the problems I had had. I was lucky to find first Phil Cohen then Kemal, and Feldenkrais as well. These three are all of an exceptionally scientific bent, really oriented towards understanding exactly what's going on and being able to explain it. My Dad's a scientist, Canada's first medical geneticist, and so I come by this leaning towards clarity and exactitude naturally...
The thing is, many very fine pianists learned more or less instinctually, so they can do something well but they don't really know how to talk about it, explain it, or transmit it except by demonstration...
On the plus side, there are really very many pianists out there who have thought deeply about it and who continue to investigate and find answers. Many of the posts on this forum are proof of that. But piano playing is a practical occupation - once you know how to do something you like to spend less time thinking about it...
AFF
