Post your piano secrets here....

[Bob]

Shhh..... I won't tell anyone.... 


But if you have a life-altering piano secret (or any knid) please post it here.  Let's see if it really is a huge deal.

[pianistimo]

i pull energy from a single focal point behind my belly button.  it's hard to explain.

[arensky]

shoulders down wrists loose


No secret, really.... 

[ramseytheii]

I use the middle pedal in almost every piece I play.

Walter Ramsey

[invictious]

I put a small cd player which is carefully hidden from the audience in the grand piano
I pretend to play while the cd player plays.
That's how I performed by Chopin Concerto Number 1 after 3 days of receiving the sheet music.

[counterpoint]

my two little piano secrets:

1. practise only when you really enjoy practising

2. practise at least 5 hours per day   

[tds]

in the past few months, i've applied powder on the key and finger tips. smoooth..

[rc]

I put a small cd player which is carefully hidden from the audience in the grand piano
I pretend to play while the cd player plays.
That's how I performed by Chopin Concerto Number 1 after 3 days of receiving the sheet music.

Be careful of the live performances.  It's not easy explaining to people how you made the piano applaud and cheer.

[rach n bach]

I see you guys constatnly spying on us in the "who's online?" 

[ramseytheii]

Be careful of the live performances.  It's not easy explaining to people how you made the piano applaud and cheer.

Unless the audience also brings a CD of applause.

Walter Ramsey

[frederic chopin]

I put a small cd player which is carefully hidden from the audience in the grand piano
I pretend to play while the cd player plays.
That's how I performed by Chopin Concerto Number 1 after 3 days of receiving the sheet music.

I would wonder why there appeared to be two orchestras accompanying simultanoeusly too!

[quantum]

I keep an instruction manual handy, just in case I have a guest over that asks me if I can play something on the piano.   


Congratulations on your purchase of a new piano.........

[rc]

Unless the audience also brings a CD of applause.

Walter Ramsey

I can see it now:  after playing for the audience LVB's Op2no1 (as done by Kempff), an audience member holds out a disk of applause for you to put in.

(cue laugh-track)

[quantum]

miscue..... the CD player track button is sticky so you selected the "Booooo" track instead

[zheer]

  To spend dayz away from the piano, doing non piano related stuff.

[jas]

Don't sit cups of tea on your piano when you're about to launch into the Revolutionary Etude. Messy.

[alzado]

If you want an appreciative audience, always play for cats, never for people.

[imbetter]

the keys on my piano are hard as hell so i use the una cord pedal when i practice unless i play really really loudly

[0range]

I have a CD recording of the sound of an audience clapping with one hand. 

[amelialw]

1. practise 3-4&a half hrs a day
2. listen to tons of classical music
3. sight-read new pieces to motivate myself

[counterpoint]

the keys on my piano are hard as hell so i use the una cord pedal when i practice unless i play really really loudly

you could stick a rubber in the left pedal so that it's pressed all the time. That helps a lot with loud pianos 

Or just hang a carpet over the piano.

[m]

A few not real secrets, but still worth to remind.

1) Practice everything--both, hard places and those which don't seem so. You never know how seemengly "easy" spots will stab you in your back, esp. on the stage.

2) When you practice be inventive.

3) If something does not come out for a long time the first thing to do is to shift attention from difficult spot.
For example, if R.H. does not come out, then practice and pay much more attention to your L.H.
If for example, in Feux Follets your double notes do not come out, then pay attention to 1-2 fingers and use them as a leading voice.
Read again 1). If there is a difficult passage your heart every time "sinks" once you approaching it, pay much more attention and practice the previous, easier episode. Most likely you will forget about that "difficult" passage.

4) Remember, the music is about transitions--that's where most of the time people fail.

5) The real technique is not in ones fingers, but in ones mind. Understanding it is already a major step towards becoming a pianist.

6) When you play piano your hands should breathe. Then your music will breathe as well.
Then you will feel that playing piano is a very simple, comfortable, and enjoable process... at least physically.

[nicco]

My god Marik, you're so full of...
































































Great knowledge and helpful words

[henry_v]

5) The real technique is not in ones fingers, but in ones mind. Understanding it is already a major step towards becoming a pianist.

Very well said. Piano playing is about achieving the correct sound image (which is in your head) in the most natural and economical way.
Therefore it's useless to practise passages thousand times without any sense of improvement and it can be even very dangerous doing so. Rather analyse what you are doing wrong.

I strongly believe that there are no real 'secrets' in playing the piano (at least technically). "Good technique" doesn't even exist in my opinion, it's a combination of doing different easy things together or really fast one after another, that is in other words, training your mind to think as fast as possible, rather than play with your fingers as fast as you can.

[thalbergmad]

1. Always start practice sessions with a good whiskey.
2. Play like you don't care if you make a mistake and you probably won't.
3. Never play during Coronation Street as you will probably be told to shut up.
4. Use your Hanon book to adjust the height of your stool.
5. If you practice for 2 hours, listen also for 2 hours.
6. Keep away from pianostreets.

Thal

[franzliszt2]

Practice properly. Warm up properly. Always no the meaning behind a piece and never sound boring. Always understand the problems, if you know what the problem is, you can slove it, which makes technical problems non-existant (almost haha)

[m]

6. Keep away from pianostreets.

 

Good advice...


from somebody having over 5.000 posts  .
I believe only Pianistimo beats you to that... with oomphy 9.500+

How you guys do it

[ronde_des_sylphes]

When you want to hear what's really going on, don't use the pedal.
When you don't want your audience to hear what's really going on, use the pedal.

I was in a masterclass once when the teacher said "The pedal is to the pianist what the bottle is to the alcoholic" 

[invictious]

Practice WITHOUT the pedal, that's very important.

yes, if you don't want your audience to hear what's going on, pedal all the way through and make it sound impressionist.

if the Hanon book isn't enough for adjusting the stool, use Czerny too.

[pianistimo]

consider practice like a workout.  hydrate yourself. 

never put a clock in a practice room.

if your piano is out of tune - no amount of practice will do you any good.

only sit on the hanon -not the czerny.  but, come to think of it - it's rather slippery to sit on books.  much better to put them on your head to check your posture.

dust and polish once in a while.  otherwise you'll be sneezing your head off.

do not listen to amateurs unless you have to - although i'm really liking this godowsky or paderewski transcription of saint-saens 'the swan.'  hmm.  the art tatum really makes me think this 'amateur' is really good.

[thalbergmad]

dust and polish once in a while. 

That one is for women only.

[pianistimo]

yeah.  vaccuming is for guys.  (eats some more angelfood cake)

oh.  i have another one:

do not attempt to save bad music.  it will only come out now again to be soundly rejected.  just X out pages in books that have ridiculous minuets or sarabandes or things that you know people will kill the audience.  make a bonfire out of every piece that kuhlau wrote.

or, to save the trouble of weeding out the bad music - stack all the music you want to practice in one place.  do not attempt to keep alphabetizing it.  you will keep pulling it out anyways.

never take repeats.  it just gets confusing.  did i repeat?  didn't i repeat?  besides...  more chances for mistakes.  basically - if it's two or three bars - just hum it again really quick and go on.  (you may decide otherwise in performance - but for practice...it's just a waste of time).  people always look for something unique and different in repeats.  if it's not there - it's a way to get people to look at their watch and look up at the ceiling and think 'ho hum.'

affordable pianos are junk.  buy something wayy out of your price range.  if they don't come with a good bench - the deal is off.   

cushy benches will make your back feel better.

play in the dark.

eat while practicing.

when people ask what you are playing - make them guess.

[jlh]

Practice softly MOST of the time.

Always play more times slowly than you do at tempo.  Consider this an analogy:

https://www.metacafe.com/watch/606286/fast_camera/

--
"I once had the secret pleasure of listening to Sviatoslav Richter practice on the day of a concert. At first I was struck by the extreme slowness of his practice, but gradually it dawned on me that this was exquisite playing. Every note seemed to be perfectly placed and no phrase suffered from the slow tempo. Richter was taking the time to experience the music as deeply as possible. The longer I work at playing the piano the more I find I am drawn to this kind of practice. No matter how frantic my everyday life becomes, I'll always have this refuge in my practice - where there is time to search for the kind of music I really love."   --Edward Gates

Taken from : https://www.music.sc.edu/ea/keyboard/PPF/1.2/1.2.PPFp.html

(good article for this thread, btw) 

[pianistimo]

good answer - practicing slowly.  playing softly probably helps lengthen your practice time, too, right?  no stress.  instinctively, peple tend to play a bit medium loud at the end of practice session anyways.  better to save it for last.  that's my idea anyways. 

[jlh]

playing softly probably helps lengthen your practice time, too, right?  no stress.  instinctively, peple tend to play a bit medium loud at the end of practice session anyways.  better to save it for last.  that's my idea anyways. 

That plus it trains you to play without force.  Loudness has its place, but if you always practice a loud piece loudly, you're just asking for an injury, especially near the end of your practice session, when your muscles are tired and more susceptible to misuse and overuse.

[b.piano]

I think all of you guys live a great musical life 

from what I read.. you don't really have HUGE secrets or real big problems with piano..

I decided to open my heart here.. to make you know how lucky you are.. all of you..

I have a lot of piano secrets.. & have no one to tell about.. coz here in Arbil- Kurdistan where I live.. if I told anyone about my passion.. my love to the piano.. she\he is gonna laugh at me 

imagine loving the piano so much since you are 7.. dreaming of it.. being ready to do anything just to touch the beatifull 88 keys..  but you can't: no piano teachers where you live in Syria.. no monye to buy a piano.. no piano concerts.. all what you have is tv to see more piano & feel more pain.. coz deep inside your heart: you know that you are a pianist.. you have to be.. but you just can't do it.. & you stay try to play something classicaal on your 3 octave keyboard.. but you can never finish a piece coz 3 octaves are never enogh..

but you never stop dreaming: a miracle must happen.. & till then, keep playing your small keyboard...

do it till you are 10, & then something happens:

you see an upright piano for the 1st time n your life in a friend's house.

you touch it..

& you realize that this is what you have to do for the rest of your life..

but you still can't do it..

& then..

3 years later..

the biggist thing that changes your life happens:

you move to another country (Kurdistan) were your parents makes much more money (my father has doctorate in musicology & he is a great guitarist.. he stared teaching in university here in kurdistan.. in syria we lived in a small city whic is why there was no music schools there.. but here there is an institute & college)

& can think of buying a piano for you..
so & when you 2 years later..
after finishing the 9 years in school to be abel to go to the msic institute..
you do it!!! go to the test & pass!! & buy a piano..
you go to the music instrumaents shop to but the piano.. no pianos here so the shop brings it from UAE..
you heart is flying: I'll get an upright piano soon...
& spent the the nights thinking about it..
the piano is late!!! yeah it's stuck in (Basrah) were it's war. & stucks there for tow months.
& you spend 2 months in pain: what's gonna happen for my piano??
& when it finally reaches to your city..
& when you are about to take it home..
the guy in th music instrumints shop says I'll take a look at he house (our house)
the most sad day in my life..
he comes. takes a look at the stairs..
& says: impossible..
we cant take the piano upstairs: the stairs are too tight..
I cried that night..
& had to buy a Clavinova..
but never mind..
I got a great piano teacher..
I study in the institute..
the best pianist now in the institue..
even invited to play in concerts..
I stated takin the piano lessons ith my great teacher 6 months ago only..
finished 28 Hanons.. trying to master Chromatic scales & the scales.. play Nocturnes (Chopin) & a valse & a half  & Toccata (Khachaturian)..
everybody are amaized about me  I guess it's just that I've always been a pianist in me heart 

I'll tell you more soon.. my dreams..my secrets...

Boran 

[zheer]

I have a lot of piano secrets.. & have no one to tell about.. coz here in Arbil- Kurdistan where I live.. if I told anyone about my passion.. my love to the piano.. she\he is gonna laugh at me 

   I lived in Arbil- Kurdistan for 4-5 years, back then there was a war, people getting killed every day, including people that i knew. so you see peopel in Arbil at this very moment are struggling with life, they are just enjoying freedom and independance that they have now that Saddam has has gon.
   It seems that you have financial problem , thats all, things like that can be sorted out, dont feel sad for your self, cuz it will only make your parents feel bad.

   BTW are you kurdish. ?

[b.piano]

Hi Zheer.. Yes I am Kurdish..

I can see that you didn't come to Kurdistan long time ago.. people here are really comfortable & leave in peace.. what I mean is something else: the society.. that beleives that being musican is a bad thing.. the one who is musican can't success in live!!! the students in the fine arts institute are lazy.. knows nothing..

I'll open my heart more to let you understand:
my problem wasn't only about monye: now I hav
e no problem with money.. I'll buy Yamaha upright piano when we move to our new house  (My teacher's Piano)..

but.. to make understand: I was invited like one week ago to play for 5 min in a Big Children Fistival.. I was gonna play with a voilinist.. you know what?? I asked about the piano that they'll get for me so I can see & maybe practice on it a little bet (that was like tow days before the fistival)... & what happened?? they said: we have no piano so you must get your piano yourself!!!! get it myself?? how?? there are no pianos to rent in Arbil!!! there is not any piano in all the halls in Arbil.. you believe that?? & I said hey you invited me to this fistival. & you must get me a piano!!! so they said: no piano.. no performing.. & they canceled me.. after that I have practiced so hard for like 3 weeks.. that's what they did tome  it was going to be the first time for me to perform on stage 

& one month ago.. me & 3 of my friends in the institute were asked to play in
Sheraton hotel(Daaaaaaaa).. you know they don't have a piano?? the Sheraton for god sake have no piano!!!! so we agreed to play but I said I won't play if you din't get me a Piano.. & they were like yeah we'll get a great piano..

so.. the day we went to perform.. you know what I saw?? A Clavinova with broken pedal!!! that was (The Great Piano)!!!

you know that I've never been into a Piano Concert in my life.. you know why?? not coz of money.. coz there is no piano in any hall in kurdistan!! there is no Concert Grand piano in Kurdistan..

so my freind.. when I say you have great musical life.. I don't mean you have money.. the goverment here have money too.. what I mean is every thing.. people respect.. Halls with steinway& sons piano (I dream to see a real Stienway Piano).. a lot of teachers!!!

Here in Arbil.. there is one True piano teacher (my teacher) who comes from Mosul every week to teach here.. if anything Happens to my teacher... all my dreams will burn forever..

I hope that you now understand what I mean.. what I'm complaining about. is a whole society.. & not 3000 or 4000 Dollars!!!!!

Boran 

[zheer]

Here in Arbil.. there is one True piano teacher (my teacher) who comes from Mosul every week to teach here.. if anything Happens to my teacher... all my dreams will burn forever..

I hope that you now understand what I mean.. what I'm complaining about. is a whole society.. & not 3000 or 4000 Dollars!!!!!

Boran 

  Am glad that you now have a good  piano teacher and that your piano teacher is willing to sell you his piano once you move into your new house. It seems you are looking to gain some experience in performing. Well since you will have a piano some time soon, you will then have the chance to perfom on your own piano in concert halls.  Piano playing is a solitory activity, so a lot of the learning, practicing runing around looking for teacher is down to you. Good luck.

[zheer]

Hi Zheer.. Yes I am Kurdish..

   

[b.piano]

  Am glad that you now have a good  piano teacher and that your piano teacher is willing to sell you his piano once you move into your new house. It seems you are looking to gain some experience in performing. Well since you will have a piano some time soon, you will then have the chance to perfom on your own piano in concert halls.  Piano playing is a solitory activity, so a lot of the learning, practicing runing around looking for teacher is down to you. Good luck.

thanks a lot zheer!!!
I believe that the future is always better!! & my teacher really believes in me which means a lot to me!!!!

so another piano secret:

when I'm practicing alone in the room on my clavinova:I pretend that I'm playing in concert.. yeah & I even bow to my imaginary audience!!! & imagine them clapping for me.. my teacher sitting in the 1st seats & my family too!!! & some people who told me that studing music is useless & didn't believe that I can make it!!! it makes me happy!!!
yeah I do that & hope that no one inter the room!!!!!!!!!   

[rc]

Hey b.piano, it sounds like you're doing a good job overcoming your obstacles.

Can't say I've ever been to Kurdistan, but I think that generally music isn't the most prestigious field.  It doesn't have material benefits like building a house, it's not so valued by society.

I was thinking the other day, that the reason we have the classics is because of the enormous wealth of the upper class in the past, who could afford such luxuries as paying a musician to play and compose fulltime.

Things are never ideal.  I have an upright, but I have to keep it halfway across the city at my parents house because it won't fit where I live.  It just occurred to me, last night I'm hanging with my friends and all I can do is talk about music with them, because there is never a piano around most of them have never heard me play.  On the other hand, there're guitars everywhere.

Oh well, such is the instrument I've chosen.  I don't think anyone pick piano because it's easy in any way

[pianowolfi]

b.piano I just want to say that I always read your posts with great interest. I am sure you will find a way to make your dreams become true And I very much hope that the pianistic situation in your country will get better soon! It is so good to know that there are wonderful and idealistic people like you, dreaming, thinking positive, despite the hard conditions. My deepest respect!

[mattgreenecomposer]

When I pick up a  new piece that I'm going to learn I go straight to the hardest section first.  I see If I can play it with some degree of accuracy and musicality.  If not, I don't learn the piece.  I figure if I can get through the hardest part ok.  then I can make the rest of the piece sound good as a whole.

I usually don't spend more than a week on a piece (unless it's long like a concerto.)  This includes memorizing.  I think spending 3 months on a piece to get every little articulation is a waste of time!  Get through as much repetoire as possible...this of course done with atleast a descent performance of the work.

[b.piano]

Hey b.piano, it sounds like you're doing a good job overcoming your obstacles.

Can't say I've ever been to Kurdistan, but I think that generally music isn't the most prestigious field.  It doesn't have material benefits like building a house, it's not so valued by society.

I was thinking the other day, that the reason we have the classics is because of the enormous wealth of the upper class in the past, who could afford such luxuries as paying a musician to play and compose fulltime.

Things are never ideal.  I have an upright, but I have to keep it halfway across the city at my parents house because it won't fit where I live.  It just occurred to me, last night I'm hanging with my friends and all I can do is talk about music with them, because there is never a piano around most of them have never heard me play.  On the other hand, there're guitars everywhere.

Oh well, such is the instrument I've chosen.  I don't think anyone pick piano because it's easy in any way

Yeah it's never easy!!! BIG instrument!! but still love it more then anything!!!

you are right.. music is not valued at all here.. but I wish I can change that when I grow up.. maybe!!! it's not only me.. there are a lot of talents here (I see them every day in the institute).. and they are just waiting a way out to shine!!!!

thanks a lot..

           Boran

[b.piano]

b.piano I just want to say that I always read your posts with great interest. I am sure you will find a way to make your dreams become true And I very much hope that the pianistic situation in your country will get better soon! It is so good to know that there are wonderful and idealistic people like you, dreaming, thinking positive, despite the hard conditions. My deepest respect!

my deepest respect to you!! I want to make things better when I grow up.. I think I'll go to Eourope after college to study master's degree & doctorate!!! and come back to my country & be able to teach more & add more to kurdish music.. tha'ts how I see my life.. & tha'ts what I believe I can do!!

I will work hard!!! the dream may come true!! 

Thank you.......

                  B.Piano = Boran piano 

[tradge]

Practice properly. Warm up properly. Always no the meaning behind a piece and never sound boring. Always understand the problems, if you know what the problem is, you can slove it, which makes technical problems non-existant (almost haha)

that's probably some of the best advice on here