Alan goes through a set of Alfred Cortot's exercises from the Rational Principles of Pianoforte Technique
Born in Montreal in 1955 Alan Fraser studied piano but also delved into composition, cello, classical singing and had several stints as a pop musician. Alan’s main pianistic influence was the pioneering research of Phil Cohen who studied alongside Ronald Turini, Andre Laplante and Janina Fialkowska with Yvonne Hubert, who had been Cortot‘s assistant in Paris. Alan spent several years with Cohen after an apprenticeship with two former Cohen students, Alan Belkin and Lauretta Milkman.
And we don't really think about it in our day to day activities
Thumb can move in three different ways but we don't want to flex it really
Like the Tai Chi empty step
In independence, there is always inter dependence
Everybody wants to over secure but tense up. Arm needs to be in motion all the time
Forget holding an apple, supination does not let your hand fall down
We need to be well balanced when playing the piano, no other way.
You hands might be small but you can still stretch them