7x20 rule, what is it?

[violinist]

I was just reading one of the other posts and was wondering if someone could clarify what this is for me.  Sorry if this is totally obvious to all pianists. 

I'm a violinist - see by my name??

I just figured out here that HS means hands separate - ain't I smart?

[pianistimo]

probably something like dvorph points.  i still can't make sense of that one either.  i want to know how they are calculated.  if it was so easy (as 7x20) it would be better.  but, i think they left out 'to what power.'  that's the confusing part. 

now, if you want to get all mathematical - you should start with 'the golden mean.'  it's a little easier concept.  you take a line and break it into thirds.  or, study a conche shell and derive meaning from it to carry over into composition. 

[phdezra]

I was just reading one of the other posts and was wondering if someone could clarify what this is for me.  Sorry if this is totally obvious to all pianists.

Based on what I recall reading from a Bernhard post, "7x20" simply refers to organizing 7 repititions of 20 minutes each to learn a piece.  Keep making the piece small enough/manageable to fit into 20 minutes and repeat for 7 times. Do another search on here and you'll find more info...

[bernhard]

Yes, phdezra has summarised it.

If you  want the excruciating details, have a look on these threads:

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,2526.msg21829.html#msg21829
(how to organise piano practise in short/medium/long term – Principle of memory retention – Principle of 15 minute sessions – stopping when you achieve your goals. Teachers should teach how to learn)

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,3039.msg26525.html#msg26525
(how big are your hands, and does it matter?  7 x 20 minutes – exercise/activities to strengthen the playing apparatus – ways to deal with wide chords – the myth that Richter was self-taught – 3 stages of learning – Example: Chopin militaire Polonaise - scientific principles for testing practice methods – Example: Prelude in F#m from WTC1 – when to join hands and why HS – practice is improvement – the principle of “easy” – Example: Chopin’s ballade no. 4 – repeated groups)

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,4105.msg37603.html#msg37603
(Does age and practice time matter? –  Summaries of the 7 x 20 approach – averages and standard deviations are given for the several numbers – need for a practice diary – how to deal with mastering something and forgetting it next day – what exactly is mastery – the 3 stages of mastery)

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,3561.msg31700.html#msg31700
(7 X 20 principle, how do you know when you mastered a section, when to use the methods, and when they are not necessary – investigating the reasons for difficult)

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,4689.msg44184.html#msg44184
(20 minutes – practice starts when you get it right – definition of mastery : learned – mastered – omniscience – Aim for easy – final speed in practice must be faster than performance speed – Example: Chopin Op. 10 no. 2 – outline – repeated note groups – HS x HT)

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,4710.msg44538.html#msg44538
(7 x 20 minutes – Progress is the ultimate decider – How to break a piece in practice sessions – Example: Satie gymnopedie – importance of planning – aim at 100 pieces per year – Example: Bach Cm WTC 2 -)


https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,4858.msg46087.html#msg46087
(Paul’s report on B’s method. Feedback from Bernhard including: HS x HT – Example: Lecuona’s malaguena – 7x20 – need to adjust and adapt – repeated note-groups – importance of HS – hand memory – 7 items only in consciousness – playing in automatic pilot - )

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,5177.msg49229.html#msg49229
(more on 7x20 – what it means to master a passage)

 

Best wishes,
Bernhard.

[violinist]

probably something like dvorph points.  i still can't make sense of that one either.  i want to know how they are calculated.  if it was so easy (as 7x20) it would be better.  but, i think they left out 'to what power.'  that's the confusing part. 

now, if you want to get all mathematical - you should start with 'the golden mean.'  it's a little easier concept.  you take a line and break it into thirds.  or, study a conche shell and derive meaning from it to carry over into composition. 

huh?

[pianistimo]

mathematics are in everything.  it's unavoidable.  take a look at the 13th variation of the goldberg variations.  (i think it's thirteen)  take a look at some of the pieces in mozart's magic flute.  these are a few examples of what it means to find mathmatical concepts in a piece of music.  of course, there's a little freemasonry in there, too. 

say, did you know that the three monuments in washington make up a triangle.  between august 1st and 10th there are bright stars over each of these monuments (the capital building, the washington monument, etc).   this was in the 1700's, too, and freemasonic ideas were floating around everywhere.  look at the usa dollar.  it has a pyramid on it.  where did this idea come from.  from classic form.  everything in the classics had math written all over it.

now, granted, the golden mean starts as a simple process - but can be quite complicated as one uses it more and more.  it's something that's found a lot of times in classical art. 

[mdshimazu]

now, if you want to get all mathematical - you should start with 'the golden mean.'  it's a little easier concept.  you take a line and break it into thirds.  or, study a conche shell and derive meaning from it to carry over into composition. 

What does the phi (what it's called in modern day) have to do with thirds???

Given three points A, B, C with B lying on line segment AC, such that AB/AC=AB/BC, where AB>BC
AB/BC=phi

(1+(5^(1/2)))/2 = phi

It equals about 1.6180339887498948482045868

So it really isn't very close to 1/3 or 2/3.

[pianowelsh]

7x20 = the amount of practice all good pianists should practice per week. 7 days 20 hrs per day! - simple!!