physiology of piano technique

[becko]

I’m looking for good writings (books, articles, etc.) concerning the physiology of piano technique (preferably freely available on internet). Any recommendations on where can I find them?

becko

[xvimbi]

I’m looking for good writings (books, articles, etc.) concerning the physiology of piano technique (preferably freely available on internet). Any recommendations on where can I find them?

CC Chang's book covers some of the basics, but not in a systematic way. Check out www.pianomap.com and generally google around. However, there really isn't anything terribly useful out there. I highly recommend the usual books (Sandor, Fink, Bernstein). In particular, I recommend Thomas Mark's "What every pianists needs to know about the body". Instead of buying a CD, get this book. See if you can get the Taubman videos from a library.

[bernhard]

To add to xvimbi’s suggestions, if you are looking for the “biology” and “science" of it all, the basic references are:

“The physiological mechanisms of piano technique” – Otto Ortmann – Dutton

“Piano Playing – James Ching – Borsworth”

Both books have been criticised for dedicating too much space to the Physical (as in the science of physics) aspects of playing and concluding in the physical impossibility of doing a number of things, that nevertheless pianists do (they don’t know enough physics to know that it is impossible )

A more balanced approach can be found in:

“The science of pianoforte technique” – Thomas Fielden – Macmillan

“The pianist’s problems” – William Newman – Da Capo

and

“The techniques of Piano playing” – Jozsef Gat – Collet’s Holdings.

I find that it is always useful to have a look at how these theories come about, and the following books are – although now shown to be wrong, badly written or incomplete – very interesting:

“The riddle of the pianist’s finger” – Arnold Schultz – Carl Fischer

“The teaching of Pianoforte technique” – Tobias Matthay – Bosworth

“The visible and invisible in piano technique” – Tobias Matthay – Oxford University Press

Finally try the three books below which cover a similar ground:

“The basis of pianoforte playing” – John Dunn – Oxford University Press

“The hidden variables of piano technique and the fundamentals of skill” – Noel Huntley – Prescience.

“The pianist’s touch” – Paul Pischier & Walter Krause – Perelen

I am afraid none of these is available online

Best wishes,
Bernhard.

[jeremyjchilds]

“The physiological mechanisms of piano technique” – Otto Ortmann – Dutton

Now THAT was an interesting read...

hundreds of pages of eliptical diagrams...and dry narrative

[bernhard]

Now THAT was an interesting read...

hundreds of pages of eliptical diagrams...and dry narrative

With a title like that, and an author called Otto, you were not really expecting an unputdownable page turner, were you?

Still very useful if you suffer from insomnia.

(And if you liked that one, rush and get the James Ching one, he he)

[stevie]

with a name like Otto i would expect a great read!



 

[piazzo23]

"I am finished. Thank you." hehehe. The famous warm-up.