feelings while playing

[sharonlovespiano]

How do you get different sounds on the piano? I do play different characters in pieces but when I'm listening to myself I hear only one kind of sound.
I teacher said to me: "you just have to feel the different atmosphere in a passage and also make an image of the sound, then you will get really a different sound when you can do that"
I tried to do that but actually I didn't get another sound... Weard, but how do you do that?
He also said that everything what I'm doing at the piano it seems that all things come from besides me. Like your teacher always say: here a cresc and dim, ritenuto, like he tells me how to build a crescendo etcetera. I had to feel all music by myself..
But HOW can I get different sounds in a piece and how can I practise everything to FEEL what I'm really doing?

Thanks!!

Sharon

[plunkyplink]

interesting! You could try experimenting. I find, when I listen to a recording of myself the music sounds different than I thought it did. Try recording yourself playing a peice how you normally do. Then, record yourself playing the same peice while experimenting with getting a feeling, then compare the recordings. Some experiments I can think of, is playing the peice while imagining a sad, deep feeling, or scenario, like, try to imagine it's the sound track to a scene in a movie where two lovers are separated, then try playing it while imagining looking at the sky in a moving car, trees and birds whizzing by all sunny and cheerful. This sounds like fun, I think I'm going to try that!

[alhimia]

This is a very interesting topic and I am glad to see someone who comes up with this subject.

First of all, what your teacher said to you is true. You must have a very clear image of your sound in your head before you can project it into the keys. Then, you have to find a way to do it. I think 'sound'  is related not only to sound itself, but it has to do with all other aspects (like rhythm, articulation, dynamics, timing). So when you are unhappy about your sound or about your expression, try to take every aspect of the music into consideration. That will help you. When all elements become more clear for you, the sound will be more beautifull too.

I don't believe in only a physical way to make a more beautifull sound, I think it's more complicated. The pedal can be very important as well. Take your time to experiment with making different sounds in different ways. Unfortunately, I can't give you a recept or say 'do this, or that', since music is a very complicated matter.

Good luck! 

[gruffalo]

this is a good topic, but difficult to explain. when i make different sounds of the piano, i am thinking about making different sounds but at the same time i dont think about  how to make them. i just transfer my thoughts into my hands. i dont think it can be explained, nor practiced. i dont know if its a acquired or if one can just do it. im sure it is acquired because pianists get better at this, or at least their imaginations and feelings do, as they study more of the piano. i think you just need to explore more and release the technical oppressions that you think you need to do this. stop trying too hard to do it, and just let it happen when you think about it. sorry that was waffle, but im just trying to say that you need to think less of how you are going to acheive this mechanically and instead try and use your inner feeling and imagination.

[cjp_piano]

I agree with experimenting.  Just take one passage and play it a bunch of different ways, thinking about different ideas, moods, emotions, characters, etc.  (Chopin had his students play ONE single note 20 different ways!) 

The most important thing is to LISTEN to the sound.  This seems simple but we usually have a hard time actually listening to our sound because we are so absorbed in MAKING the sound.

I like what PlunkyPlink said about thinking of different scenarios while you play.  Not just: "I'm gonna play this part sad", but THINK of something sad.  And if you can actually BE sad while you play it, it's almost guaranteed to sound sad.

[meli]

Seems like you have a good teacher. In the past, I was taught play the notes first - out comes the music. I didn't know its the complete opposite! i.e. first hear the music (in your head). I like all the previous tips given on experimenting. I guess music like any other art communicates feelings or stories. I know this sounds stupid, but I would pretend somebody is listening, and use my playing as the ONLY way to communicate how I feel, usually if its something personal to you. Sometimes I would play for my boyfriend and ask him did it sound like intended e.g. Moonlight Sonata "I love you", "I hate you" etc.. the list goes on. Its wierd, but I notice I play Moonlight Sonata (3rd Mvt) on bad work days, and my boyfriend just "knows" how I feel just by hearing me play.

[gruffalo]

however, most importantly, one should not think of the mechanical process (i.e. how you will use your hands to make the sound). If you think about your hands whilst you do it, the muslces will tense up in the wrong way and the sound you want will not happen. i believe that we make different sounds on the piano, and most of these sounds we have already heard so we naturally know how to play it, but discovering new sounds requires the imagination of hearing that sound, without physically hearing it. if you get what i mean. the way we make different sounds in the first place is because we have already heard them.

[mass]

This is a great thread.  I'm an adult beginner (5 years now). My problem (one of them) is relaxing at my lessons.  When I'm practicing at home I can "feel" the music but at lessons I tend to become tense and worry more about hitting the correct notes. I know this must be common, but it's frustrating to know that you aren't performing as well in fornot of your teacher. Any suggestions??

[keyofc]

You can make different sounds on the piano by physical movements such as arm rotation, finger changes on repeated notes, using your arm instead of wrist.

But technique is much less challenging for me when I play a song I have written. 
Why don't you try this?  If you have written a song, or can improvise with a CD, or perhaps you just connect to a piece of music that you haven't written.  Memorize it so you don't have to read any music and for play it for a long time, maybe adding chord progressions as you go.

And you will notice that when you are playing something  you've written or connected to emotionally.  After playing it for awhile with your eyes closed, watch your arms and hands.  They will probably be more artistic.

Because you are feeling the music you are free to express it.  It's a lot harder the other way around.

I hope this makes sense the way I've worded it.