Learning by playing louder...

[ironzi]

I have been taking lessons for about 6 months now, and I’m having a
problem with one of my teacher’s methods.  She insists that one should
play very loudly when trying to learn a new passage.  Throughout the
lesson she will say “that is mezzo forte…I want Fortissimo when you
are trying to learn something new!  You have to command those fingers
to play in a certain way…play louder!”

She is a semi-retired teacher…very talented and accomplished.  She took
offense when I told her that while repetition helps me learn , playing
loudly does not.  Does anyone think this ‘method’ has merit?  From what I’ve
read here and elsewhere on the internet this could be dangerous.  I do not
practice the way she suggests because it doesn’t work for me, but I am
playing loudly during the lesson. 

[Kassaa]

It makes you 'feel' the passage in your fingers, so I think it helps.

[Siberian Husky]

my teacher uses the same method of teaching...but i think i digested the notion with more ease as you have.. because she used the term.."play INTO the keys"...i dont think your teacher especially wants you to perform the fortizzimo output of sound..she simply wants yourf inger muscle memory to really dive into the keys and get conditioned with the movements in a solid fashion...

[Eusebius_dk]

My former teacher often demanded of me to practise everything loudly, when learning a new passage, so 'that I could teach the fingers how to play it'. I'm not doing it anymore, because you only get used  to practise the passage sounding ugly. Practising is not just about playing the notes in the right order in the right tempo, sound is just as important. In the long run you'll tire your ears by listening to a harsh sound all the time, and when you have mastered the passage, and want to actually make it sound good, you ears are already imune to your own playing. If you want to practise anything in another dynamics than written, find one that is relaxed and comfortable for you. Never force anything for the sake of forcing.

George Kochevitsky suggests in his book "The Art of Piano Playing - A Scientific Approach" that, based on some neurological research, practising extremely softly (like pppp) actually gives you the feeling of strong fingers when you return to the 'real' dynamics. This way of practising is one he recommends rather than practising extremely loudly.

If you really want to have control over what you are doing, practise the difficult bits as soft as you can, connect your finger to the key before depressing it, and go all the way to bottom of the key without pushing. You might need to practise it extremely slowly, but trust me, it helps.

In this way of practising, the essential part is having contact with the key before depressing it. You'll realize how little effort it takes to strike the note, even on the heaviest keyboard!

[llamaman]

You do not necessarily have to play fortissimo, but as long as you press your fingers into the keys, it works.

[chopinisque]

What she probably wants you to do is play firmly and evenly... and this is just a way of exagerating it.  However, remember that the real test of control is being able to play softly while fast.  IMHO.

[galonia]

just repeating a passage over and over again quickly becomes a mindless exercise, and you are no longer ingraining the new passage into your brain.

I practise by playing it ff, then pp, then staccato, then changing the rhythms, and different combinations of these.  This way, I'm making my brain work with the passage in many different ways, and I don't waste any repetitions because I am always concentrating on what's going on.

[quantum]

As stated above, your teacher probably wants you to play "into" the keys and give a solid tone.  This however is not the only way to gain control over your fingers.  If this is the only method utilized, I would say yes this is bad because you are only training your fingers to do one thing.  Your fingers need to be able to play with many varying degress of articulation, from extreemly harsh, to almost inaubiable, super legato, to dessert dry staccato. 

I once attended a recital and masterclass of some visiting pianist.  His advice in the masterclass to many students was to play more into the keys - but it seemed excessive at times.  When he played his recital he had splendid technique, but utterly awful tone - not becuase he played into the keys, but because he did this all the time without variation.  The result was an overly heavy sound in all the music. 

Another thing you can try is finger articulation - emphasizing the lifting action of your fingers.  This will also help you gain control of individual finger movements and eveness. 

Not all teaching methods work for everyone, so don't take what your teacher says as the bible and the only absolute truth.  What you can do is take what your teacher says and apply it in a way that works for you. 

[happyface94]

It makes you articulate more. My teacher asks me the same thing. Another method is to play everything stacatto.

[026497]

I think your teacher is right.
But more important is, playing the piece in your mind first. Otherwise, It'll be a mindless practice,with no emotion.