Piano in the dark

[mkljackson]

Does anybody play piano in the dark. If you do, do you feel that you play better?
I do this from time to time, so that instead of focusing on the visual aspect, I hear the sounds much better, and I feel the music I'm playing.

[pianistimo]

yes!  usually at the end of practice sessions i try to see what i actually have memorized.  it's relaxing, too, on your eyes. 

[infectedmushroom]

I mostly play with very little light (almost dark), so I can just see my hands and the keys a bit. When I'm playing like this I play much better than with the lightspots right on me... 

[mkljackson]

See, this is something I discovered a few months ago, and I realize the difference with such a simple thing as lighting. I didn't know many people did it. anyways, thanks for the input. I also realized that natural lighting (sunlight) is good (no, great), like keeping a door open and letting the wind blow through the room. simple things like that 

[zheer]

Chopin would tell his students, once you have learnt the music and memorized it,
play the piano with your eyes closed, only then will you be able to hear all the subtle details.
              personally i feel that it is a good way of learning to see without looking, trains the brain in a different, secondaly you have to listen much harder, thirdly it helps a lot with the memory especially if done slowly,finally you discover new things , like the best way of knowing which finger to use in various passages.

[mkljackson]

I've always loved Chopin. (the master of the piano)

[lufia]

more importantly itz a good way for the students to develop musicality

[quantum]

I frequently do this with memorized pieces, but especially the night before I am to play publically.  If it's a difficult passage I would make various slips because I can't see where my fingers are playing, but in comparrison this makes the actual performance much easier.  Any unsecure spots are revealed in the dark, and I am better prepared to play for an audience. 

[tompilk]

i like to play in dim light.. it helps
Tom

[perfect_pitch]

We had a power blackout earlier on tonight (good ol' australian efficiency....    ) so i ended up playing piano for a good 2 hours. By the end of the first hour, I could barely see the keys... and by the 2nd hour, I couldn't see a thing.

Having said that, I played pretty well considering. I also sometimes play without my glasses, and seeing as I am VERY short sighted, it helps me relax.

But I can play completely blindfolded (I've been tested on that believe it or not) which is pretty good.

Very calming.

[tompilk]

We had a power blackout earlier on tonight (good ol' australian efficiency....    ) so i ended up playing piano for a good 2 hours. By the end of the first hour, I could barely see the keys... and by the 2nd hour, I couldn't see a thing.

Having said that, I played pretty well considering. I also sometimes play without my glasses, and seeing as I am VERY short sighted, it helps me relax.

But I can play completely blindfolded (I've been tested on that believe it or not) which is pretty good.

Very calming.

unless you've got a murderer in the household...
Tom

[g_s_223]

Some musicians have said thay playing in the presence of a single lit candle allows them to access a different "zone"...

Anyone who saw the film Tous les matins du monde will know how atmospheric candelight can be.

Don't burn the place down, though.