mini-lessons on video

[robert_henry]

I am not God, but I think I have some good, concise ideas about piano playing.  My wife and I just bought a digital video camera (finally), and I am thinking about posting little mini-lessons (maybe 1-2 minutes in length) on my website.  It might be a mini-lesson on scales, or chords, proper use of the wrist, or even a section of a piece.

I would appreciate feedback as to whether this would be useful for you guys, and if so, what kinds of things would you like help on.  

Robert Henry

P.S. I encourage others to do the same, whether they be the student or the teacher.

P.P.S.  On second thought, maybe I am God.  Hrm...no.

[10Fingers]

Hi Robert,


I would be pleased to see your videos. I have just visited your website and was very impressed by the Chopin- Godowsky etudes.
I'm a piano major myself but as to the others, I think they really often discuss about playing scales with the Thumb-Over method. Not many people make use of this but it's necessary if you want to play advanced pieces... but whom am I telling this... .

Amen!  

H.T.

[srdabney]

Great idea.

1) Addressing techniques for bringing out the melodic voice of chords in contrapuntal lines ... thinking WTC fugues as an example. Especially when the critical voice needs to come from a weaker finger. In my opinion, what differentiates the great performance from the technically sound performance is upmost control of the 'singing tone', in even the simplest of passages.

2) Development of finger independence. It is pretty much a given for folks who've reached performance level, but for the masses toiling under clueless teachers ... they still play everything from the arm or wrist, not the fingers *shudder*.
Perhaps video examples of legato and staccato correctly played with fingers, not hands. Then an example of how speed kills unless you play from the fingers. Im thinking of a few folks out there with velocity/stamina problems
directly caused by lack of finger independence.

Lastly, and perhaps most easily ...
Glissando (Chopin op 10 no 11)

Oh, and you could give folks an example of legatissimo vs plain old legato, marcato vs staccato, scherzando vs agitato and other hard to describe effects.


Cheers,
Scott

[robert_henry]

Those are great suggestions, but I don't get the glissando bit.  Do you mean rolls?

I agree with you that finger independence are indeed important in all we do, but in my experience, the use (or misuse, or even nonuse) of the wrist is the most poorly taught aspect of piano playing.  Finger independence can only come from a free wrist, and most ppl don't have one.  You and I would probably disagree on a few things, but that's cool.  

Robert Henry

[JoeTownley]

Great idea, Robert_Henry. I toyed with that idea myself, but I have nowhere near the the kind of expertise you could provide aspiring young pianists. Go for it!!!!!

[srdabney]

Those are great suggestions, but I don't get the glissando bit.  Do you mean rolls?

I agree with you that finger independence are indeed important in all we do, but in my experience, the use (or misuse, or even nonuse) of the wrist is the most poorly taught aspect of piano playing.  Finger independence can only come from a free wrist, and most ppl don't have one.  You and I would probably disagree on a few things, but that's cool.  

Yup. Rolls, arpeggiated chords, etc. Any broken chord played ultra fast and encompassing a greater jump than your relaxed hand position.  And proper execution is tied to the 'side to side' flexibilty and freeness of the wrist.  I am quite in agreement with you in general about promoting the free wrist, but without overusing lateral motion to the point of distraction.

Some additional topics ...
Octave playing. (the wrist vs the arm/rebound)
Attack angle (flatter vs rounder, or is it flounder ... ugh).

SRD