I Know this is obvious but.........

[prodigy1220]

IF u were playing the piano and were forced to practice only one thing would u practice technique or your sheet music.


Remember only ONE CHOICE

[randmc]

improv!

[phil13]

I know it'd be good to go with technique, but I'd really get bored with it...

I propose that I play beautiful sheet music with technique building already in it!

Phil

*Footnote: Sorry if this ruins your black/white question, but I can't help it. I'm wishy-washy. 

[ted]

Yes, I agree with randmc. Improvisation, because it combines everything else.

[pianistimo]

i feel feisty today.  improv is basically scales and arpeggios combined with a melody line here and there, so it's actually a combination of the two.  what if jazz or improv had no 'cadenza' like stuff and it had to be only melodic.  what kind of jazz/improv would that be?  sort of like a jazz singer who is told they cannot move while singing? 

*sits back, licks finger, and chalks one up for the girls. 

[prodigy1220]

IMPROV IS NOT A CHOICE PEOPLE  SO DON'T COME ON THIS THREAD UNLESS YOU CAN STICK WITH THE TWO CHOICES

[Torp]

Sheet music that I generated from a recording of a previous improv.

Given only those two choices...sheet music of great music.  If that practice session happened to be my last....wouldn't it suck to go to your demise with Hanon stuck in your head.

[prodigy1220]

IMPROV IS NOT A CHOICE OK!!!!!!!! CAN YOU PPL PLEASE STICK TO THE TWO CHOICES AND NO SLICK ANSWEWS LIKE SHEET MUSIC I GOT FROM IMPROV AND OTHER CRAZY THINGS   IF YOU DON'T WANT TO ANSWER RIGHT THEN DON'T ANSWER AT ALL








people have hard times following directions these days

[BoliverAllmon]

I would go with sheet music. I would much rather die playing beethoven than C maj scale.

[Torp]

people have hard times following directions these days

Especially arbitrary ones that have no bearing on reality...

[BoliverAllmon]

Especially arbitrary ones that have no bearing on reality...

HHHHMMMMMM.....or at least reality that has not occured yet.

[bernhard]

If I were at the piano and I was forced to practise just one thing and further to that I was given only one choice between sheet music and technique, and furthermore I was forbidden to include improvisation amongst my choices, then I would think that this is definitely a case for Gandhian civil disobedience and I urge all lovers of freedom to come here and post as many choices as one wishes, even if it results into imprisonment, and beating up by the practice police.

So to answer the question:

Improvisation seems a great idea.

Sheet music, sure, but then why not devise some technical exercises based on the sheet music on an “as needed” basis? Yes, I think I will do that as well.

Pure technique? This does not exist in reality. It is just a mental construct.

But also, careful analysis of the score would come in handy. So I would probably spend a good time deconstructing the score (separating the voices, doing harmonic reductions, transforming chord progressions into melodic lines, etc.), and then putting it all back together again in layers just to see what makes the piece tick.

Ah yes, given these two choices, I would reserve some of the practice time for sight-reading – such an important skill must not be neglected.

And here is another choice not mentioned: I would listen to all that, both the full piece and all the deconstructed layers above.

Ah yes, if I was forced to practise just one thing, I would probably practise some of my martial arts skills as well (on the person forcing me to do this or that).

You see, I am not a follower. (And disobedience is such great fun! )

Best wishes,
Bernhard.

[thalbergmad]

I would happily play my Hanon until the end of time.

[allthumbs]

IMPROV IS NOT A CHOICE PEOPLE  SO DON'T COME ON THIS THREAD UNLESS YOU CAN STICK WITH THE TWO CHOICES

You should have done a poll with only the two choices. Problem solved!

My choice - Improv... no, sheet music. lol

[practicingnow]

Sheet Music

Yes, I agree - I also hate it when you pose a hypothetical question (however obtuse), and yet certain people can't seem to answer it directly, they're always trying to be clever and outwit you - it's like: "get over yourself, schmuck! just answer the question!"

[leahcim]

IF u were playing the piano and were forced to practice only one thing would u practice technique or your sheet music.

No.

But I get the impression you were trying to ask a different question....

[Bouter Boogie]

I'd go for sheet music, because I can be very lazy if it comes to technique

- BB

[spirithorn]

Sheet music, sure, but then why not devise some technical exercises based on the sheet music on an “as needed” basis? Yes, I think I will do that as well.

If you have any doubts about what Bernhard is talking about, check out the Cortot Edition of the Chopin Etudes.

[Bob]

Cortot exercises?

[spirithorn]

Cortot exercises?

Preceding each Etude, Cortot devises a number of exercises based on the particular technical challenges of that Etude.  Sometimes, perhaps taken to the extreme, but an excellent source (IMO) for ideas as to how to do this for ANY piece that presents particular technical problems.

[danyal]

If I were at the piano and I was forced to practise just one thing and further to that I was given only one choice between sheet music and technique, and furthermore I was forbidden to include improvisation amongst my choices, then I would think that this is definitely a case for Gandhian civil disobedience and I urge all lovers of freedom to come here and post as many choices as one wishes, even if it results into imprisonment, and beating up by the practice police.

So to answer the question:

Improvisation seems a great idea.

Sheet music, sure, but then why not devise some technical exercises based on the sheet music on an “as needed” basis? Yes, I think I will do that as well.

Pure technique? This does not exist in reality. It is just a mental construct.

But also, careful analysis of the score would come in handy. So I would probably spend a good time deconstructing the score (separating the voices, doing harmonic reductions, transforming chord progressions into melodic lines, etc.), and then putting it all back together again in layers just to see what makes the piece tick.

Ah yes, given these two choices, I would reserve some of the practice time for sight-reading – such an important skill must not be neglected.

And here is another choice not mentioned: I would listen to all that, both the full piece and all the deconstructed layers above.

Ah yes, if I was forced to practise just one thing, I would probably practise some of my martial arts skills as well (on the person forcing me to do this or that).

You see, I am not a follower. (And disobedience is such great fun! )

Best wishes,
Bernhard.

Brilliant!

Anyway, I would choose sheet music, because it developes excellent technique at the same time... but technique doesnt really develope the musical aspect of things... and its alot more enjoyable. Read Horowitz's views on this.. https://web.telia.com/~u85420275/Articles/1932.htm

Is there any point to these threads anyway?