10 years ago by
A Pianist
Hi
I know that your question is directed to prof. Fraser.
If you ask me (which you do not) firing up a public, playing musically, and winning competitions seems at a young age as opposed and irreconcilable tasks. With experience and age these dichotomies become less manifest-especially when you stop entering competitions.
One solution is to accept this "multiple personas" problem and learn to adapt to different situations. You have reached a level were I think the problem is the opposite of what you describe, it's your musical undefined? conceptions that inhibits your technique. One way is to practise with extreme distinction controlling voices within chords, timing sounds on a "nanolevel" and be vigilant of eveness. Here the pedal is very very crucial- less is always better. As you know speed is almost always a question of eveness you might yourself experience that you play slowly but out there, because of distinction and eveness the listener hears great speed.Last movement Chopin#2 sonata played by Rachm & Horowitz is a good example.
Mental training always helps that is playing in your head in an armchair. It's just ashtonishing how you can speed up things this way.
Sorry to interfere just want to help.
Eric