What You Can Do Differently In Your Piano Playing Today
Posted on: June 20, 2009
After answering the questions, “What did I do well?” and “What can I do differently?” you must ask yourself, “How can I make changes in my piano practice and performance?”
The third question is one that is also often slighted. Piano students are excellent at knowing what should be done better but knowing how to make changes to create better sounding music is often a mystery.
What are the root causes of piano music played poorly or with mistakes? Incorrect notes, inaccurate rhythm, and carelessly performed cadences form the core of poorly played piano exercises and repertoire and keep a pianist from progressing. In addition, poor fingering, sloppy pedaling, tempo variations,and little regard for dynamics and articulations exacerbate practice sessions and inevitably lead to lackluster performances.
It has been said that an incorrect note played three times simultaneously takes thirty three repetitions to correct. It is imperative that notes be played correctly on the piano from the start.
The playing of inaccurate rhythms can undermine the effectiveness of any piano piece. Rhythmic accuracy is attained with the same careful attention to detail as note accuracy.
Analyzing cadences away from the piano keyboard to determine the movement of the bass line and the chordal progression is a must. Knowing the make-up of a cadence before putting it on the keyboard will help the pianist avoid a change of tempo or the playing of incorrect notes in these most difficult but most necessary parts of any piano piece.
Attack the root causes of poor performance in every practice session. Make note accuracy, rhythmic precision and well-prepared cadences an absolute must in every practice or performance of exercises or repertoire of the piano.
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