The Best Way To Master The Piano
There is no easy way to master the piano. Many people look for shortcuts or for a magical solution. Like learning golf, it can be a frustrating experience. You might have the best golf instruction book in the world but that is no guarantee that you will be a good golfer. You may have the best piano method books but that does not mean you will be able to play the piano well.
Music from the piano is not made from hitting the keys with your fingers. Music is made from a series of smooth complex movements whose energy comes from the torso and through the arms and into the fingers. These movements have a rhythm and a drive that are necessary for beautiful music.
Once you have understood the physical technique of rhythmic body energy, you will produce a sound so large that the listeners will want to wear a black helmet to protect their ears. You do not develop this technique by practicing scales and arpeggios. Playing dry and boring exercises will not give you the tools you need to really play the piano. The best practice of all is actually playing the music of the piano repertoire.
Spending endless hours practicing scales, arpeggios, and dull exercises will not give your this sound. Exercises which claim to build finger strength are particularly ineffective. The strength of your playing does not come from your fingers. It comes from the physical coordination and energy flow of your entire body. Once you have mastered this technique you will be able to get that quickness that needs a digital sport watch to time. It is a smoothness and power that the human ear perceives as beautiful music.
There are many real pieces of serious music that are not difficult. The Clementi sonatinas are beautiful gems that can be played by the beginning student. Bach has many pieces that are suitable for beginners. Other composer with beautiful music for beginning piano students are Bartok and Kabalevsky.
Practicing arpeggios and scales and playing boring uninteresting exercise will make the piano student lose interests. On the other hand, by studying the actual repertoire will maintain the student’s interest. The student can listen to the greatest pianist play these pieces so they hear how they should sound like. It will inspire the piano student.
Fine piano playing is produced by the rhythmic movements of the whole body. It does not come from wiggling your fingers. You do not become a good piano player by practicing scales and exercise. You become a piano player by playing real music.
