Derived from the lecture Alan gave in Hanns Eisler music school 2023 in Germany
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.
While the fingers do their thing
By giving it a posture or "acture" as Alan says
Soften the blow by standing up and get the purer vibration of the string
This is how you produce multi layered beauty of sound
Alan demistifies the famous Albert bass problem
Keep yourself aware of the levels of the sound
Alan demonstrates big chords
"There is a space between the notes"
Alan demonstrates leaps with la campanella
Are the octaves played "from the wrist" or is there something else at play?
Tiny adjustments are needed even if you have small hands
"Expressively directed micro timing"
Experience the physical but link it to the ear and emotions
