Frank’s personal collection of short and sweet insights to get your whole attitude toward Piano Technique moving in the right direction…
Technique & Interpretation
are INSEPARABLE.
How you MOVE your body
is the way the music
is going to SOUND and FEEL.
Fluent Piano Technique
is achieved by learning how to dance,
not by training your fingers
to be well behaved little hammers
on the end of stick.
Suggesting that you play the piano
using only your fingers
is like saying that you dance ballet
using only your feet.
BEWARE of anyone who claims
that you need to build strength
& endurance in order to play the piano.
You cannot make beautiful music
if you play using just your fingers,
no matter how dexterous
& well-trained they might be.
Musical technique is achieved
by fluid CHOREOGRAPHY,
not machine-like precision.
The solution to a technical problem
is always found in the direction
of MENTAL & PHYSICAL EASE.
Never stop playing…
even in-between the notes…
ESPECIALLY in-between the notes!
Playing with a musical technique
is largely the process of learning
how to get out of your own way.
Even SMALL ADJUSTMENTS in how
you position and move your body
will absolutely LIBERATE your technique.
Fast playing is not a matter
of developing “speed”,
but about cultivating ACCURACY!
Grouping of notes into
meaningful musical PATTERNS,
both physically and mentally,
is essential to technical freedom and ease.
All progress in piano technique
is achieved by changing your BRAIN,
not by changing your muscles.
Expert piano technique
is a TEAM SPORT…
Your entire body contributes to
every musical idea, large and small.
Accuracy and musicality
are achieved by engaging
all four Musical Intelligences:
AURAL, ANALYTICAL,
VISUOSPATIAL, and KINESTHETIC.
A simple, coordinated GESTURE
is all that is required
to play any musical pattern
with freedom, ease, and confidence.
Musical technique is
always PREPARING & ANTICIPATING…
mentally and physically CONNECTING
one musical place to another!
The keyboard is not a gymnasium.
It’s a DANCE floor!
Can you think of some other important insights into what piano technique is and isn’t?
Please let Frank know if you’d like to get this lesson (and other his micro-lessons) as a PDF or set of audio files.
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I tried to buy you a coffee using Venmo, but unfortunately the platform doesn’t work in Argentina.
Sorry about that.
Thanks for your content — I really appreciate it!
Thanks for trying, my anonymous friend from Argentina. No worries… Your words of appreciation made my day!
Thank you for this lesson. Excellent advice. Is there an accompanying video? Thank you Frank.
Thanks for positive feedback, Anthony.
No video, but your question makes me think that lesson would be nicely delivered as a playlist of MP3s (one for each insight) that can be compiled and listened to as someone takes a walk, drives to work, or does the dishes. I have not recorded them as such as of yet, but would be happy to do so and send to you if you think it’s a good idea. Cheers, old friend.