Technique and methods
39 posts
Started 18 Jan 2017
A
A pianist
As for the opening of Op. 111, Andrew you'll recall a lesson I gave you on the first note of the Schubert C minor Impromptu? We did almost a whole lesson on getting that one octave to sound with the right , not just the right resonant, "healthy" sound. Technique was at the service of musical expression. I actually wrote that lesson down but you'll have to wait for my next book to come out before you can read it...
Any estimates for a publication date yet?
A
A pianist
I'm avoiding it because I can't do it. In fact, you guys have inspired me to practice the impractical fingering. I just did. I had no trouble getting it up to sixteenths at 152bpm.
...So what am I really trying to say here? Is it that we should avoid difficulties just for the sport of it? Obviously not. But if I were to ever perform this scale in a piece, I would not use the impractical fingering. It's FINE for an exercise. Great. But in performance, I do what is easiest.
And if it makes you feel better about yourself to do the more challenging fingerings when you play piano literature. Good for you. I wish you success. But my experience with most professionals is that they are interested in making their lives more difficult.
A
Alanfraserpiano
For me, normal C major fingering for A minor and E minor is easiest because it's the one I do when I'm not thinking. It would also be easy to change it, but why bother?
AFF
A
A pianist
For me, normal C major fingering for A minor and E minor is easiest because it's the one I do when I'm not thinking. It would also be easy to change it, but why bother?
AFF
That's the more psychological side of it. And I can relate to that. want to have to "think" about fingering when playing. A sure way to mess up.
A
Alanfraserpiano
A friend of Leon Fleisher once told me that when he returned to 2-handed performing he re-learned a Mozart concerto and changed all his old fingerings because he found a bunch of musically better solutions. But in the performance all his old fingerings came back and that's what he used, even not having practiced them in decades.
AFF
A
A pianist
Lol. Must not have practiced the new ones very much.
A
Alanfraserpiano
That's not the point! He practice the new ones a lot! But when it came to the performance, it was as if his mind knew the new fingerings but his soul was still connected to the old ones - and in performance soul must win out - if it's going to be a good performance...
AFF
A
A pianist
Totally with you there. My worst performances are when I'm so worried about hitting the right notes that my soul can't even join the party.
A
A pianist
...tell me about it...
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