Looking At Score Vs. Looking At Keyboard

[florentin]

I was wondering what people look at when they play, or what 'percentage' of each.

Do you look strictly at the music, and never take your eyes off?
Do you look mostly at your fingers, and glance at the music as needed?
Do you look back and forth between the two?

The third option seems the most logical to me. One problem I have to deal with, naturally, is finding the spot I left off when looking away from the paper.

thanks for your input.

[ramseytheii]

I was wondering what people look at when they play, or what 'percentage' of each.

Do you look strictly at the music, and never take your eyes off?
Do you look mostly at your fingers, and glance at the music as needed?
Do you look back and forth between the two?

The third option seems the most logical to me. One problem I have to deal with, naturally, is finding the spot I left off when looking away from the paper.

thanks for your input.

You should play from memory.

Walter Ramsey

[amelialw]

I usually look back and forth between the 2. After I learn the notes, I always memorize the piece, actaully i do both at the same time.
"The third option seems the most logical to me. One problem I have to deal with, naturally, is finding the spot I left off when looking away from the paper. "It's fine if you have that problem eventually, it will go away when you know where your keys are.

[florentin]

I forgot to mention a pretty important piece of information 

I was mainly refering to accompanying, like a chorus or something similar

sorry about not clarifying that. Would you still memorize a choral accompaniment?

[amelialw]

yes, you should

[pianiststrongbad]

In my choir accomanying exeriences, it has been much easier to just read.  For instance if the director asks for only the bass and alto lines, it is just easier to look at the page.  Accompanying soloists, I am always reading also, because if they skip something, I need to be able to find where they are.  When playing solo music, I always memorize though.

[cjp_piano]

When I'm accompanying, I usually keep my eyes mostly on the page.  There's nothing wrong with memorizing it, but for me, that takes too much time, especially if I can play it fluently on the 2nd or 3rd time reading through it. 

I think it all depends on how well you can read (or sight-read).  If you struggle through figuring out the notes, fingers, and rhythms, then you'll probably end up memorizing the piece by the time you can play it fluently.  But if you can read the music easily, why look down at your hands?

[desordre]

 Dear Florentin:
 You must consider two different aspects of piano playing: knowledge of the keyboard, and sight-reading.

 When you play a piece, despite the fact you use or not a score, you need control of the keys and their distance through your brain and muscular apparatus. So, if you actually mastered a combination of notes/keys, you just don't have to look to play it with precision. Furthermore, if you have to look it's a clear signal (in my opinion) that you didn't work at the passage enough. From the very beggining (strict finger to key relation, such as c with 1, d with 2, and so on) to the most stricking gap/chord/whatever, your eyes (and your vision for that matter) act as a ruler, some kind of help to improve your notion of space and coordination. After each level is mastered, looking or not to the keyboard is not relevant.

 Then, about the second question, it's just the same: you only can read at first without looking down when the score your have to play is under control. Some examples to ask you: when do you have to look at the keyboard?
 - c3 d3 e3 f3 g3;
 - a two-octave c major scale;
 - a two-octave c major arpeggio;
 - a three-octave b flat minor melodic scale, contrary motion, hands together;
 - a sequence of f sharp minor chords, ascending (root, 1st inversion, 2nd inversion, root an octave above, etc);
 - a melody in double octaves, such as Chopin Scherzo 3;
 - finally, an example where is impossible to look down, except if you have independent eyes   : Chopin's Scherzo 2 last chord.
 
 So, what are your impressions? Desconsidering the first example, I remember I can't play without looking down to all the others, and now it's just not necessary anymore.

 Best wishes!

[florentin]

thank you for the explanations and all the input. It is greatly appreciated.

Not looking at the keyboard at all kinda scares me. I have to glance at the score from time to time. I wish I didn't have to.

[shingo]

If the piece is memorised is it still bad form/practice to look at the keys from time to time? I mean if you do not need to look at the music for musical direction, or if you are not even using the sheets anymore is it best to keep the head looking at where the music would be placed at all times?
(I don't mean to steal your thread florentin, it was just a question I too had pondered over )

[shortyshort]

Once I have a piece memorised, I sort of look at the keys while thinking about something else.

If I ever look at the score I get lost.

[florentin]

Once I have a piece memorised, I sort of look at the keys while thinking about something else.

If I ever look at the score I get lost.

I am sorry, but this sounds a little careless to me. While you 'think of something else'?

I don't know about others, but looking at the score gives me more confidence.

Regarding other replies, I don't know if I could memorize ALL the accompaniments I have to play.

Thank you all for the input.

[shortyshort]

I am sorry, but this sounds a little careless to me. While you 'think of something else'?

It's not a concious decision, it just happens. 

I don't know about others, but looking at the score gives me more confidence.

That must be because you forget what to play. That sounds a little careless to me. 

[florentin]

so wait a minute,

you are saying that it is acceptable to accompany someone and 'think about something else' while you play, because you know the score?

[shortyshort]

so wait a minute,

you are saying that it is acceptable to accompany someone and 'think about something else' while you play, because you know the score?

You can wait as long as you like. 

You can do what you like. 

If you need the score to support your playing, that's fine. 

You asked for peoples opinions and input, then attack a statement that you disagree with. 

In future, perhaps only ask questions that you're sure you'll get an acceptable answer to. 

Anyway, have fun.

Shorty

[florentin]

attacking and dissagreeing are two different things.

I wonder how many readers in here agree that  "thinking about something different when playing" is a good alternative.

if you want to argue, find a different thread please

[andersand]

For me, the scores are just there to learn from, to get the right notes down. I do not try to memorize a piece, it just comes naturally when learning it. I think it is difficult to focus on the scores and get the right feeling/expression at the same time. If you throw away the scores, you can concentrate 100% on the music.

I totally recognize what you are saying, shortyshort. I do exactly the same, but only when playing piece that i have total control of and only when practicing. I cannot see why this is a bad thing, it just happens. 

[overscore]

Do you look strictly at the music, and never take your eyes off?
Do you look mostly at your fingers, and glance at the music as needed?
Do you look back and forth between the two?

I look at the score or I get lost. As soon as my eyes leave the page to locate a key I stumble when I try to find the right spot on the page again. I'm finding my aim is getting better now that I never look away from the page. I can handle anything within an octave okay... outside that there's about a 50% chance I'll hit the wrong key. But I know that this is something that will improve over time so I'm not that bothered.

When I play from memory, I look at my hands because it seems natural. Besides, I want to keep an eye out for any bad habits that my hands might be slipping into.

[ryanyee]

never take my eyes off the keyboard. that's of course after i memorized my pieces.

[pianowelsh]

I ensure that as I memorise i do three stages. 1 Looking ONLY at the music (my hands have to find their way! 2. Looking only at the hands (testing my memory of the printed page - analysed prior to this point)and optimising my hand position efficiency 3. Looking at neither (ie eyes closed or looking down the length of the piano..letting my ears guide me through.  that way all memory skills are developed.

I agree there is a dangerous place when you think you know something but you are reading it - ish! Its really a lack in concentration that is the problem. If im rehearsing a chior or something I wouldnt do so form memory..that could waste time! I do memorise chamber music though.