Playing into the Keys

[atticus]

Hi All,

Are there ever times when a pianist should stay on the top/middle of the keys and not play the keys to the bottom of the keybed?  Is this what it means to play "lightly"?

For example, when playing fast or softly should one still strive to play the keys through to the bottom of the keybed? 

Thanks,
atticus

[spaciiey]

I think that when you play softly you should still sink into the keys.. otherwise you're really barely scratching your face. The sound doesnt travel, and you can hardly hear yourself. Even if you're playing softly, you still want to be able to hear what you're playing - and so does the audience, especially the old lady at the back thats hard of hearing.

Thats just what I think though.

[mcgillcomposer]

I think that when you play softly you should still sink into the keys.. otherwise you're really barely scratching your face. The sound doesnt travel, and you can hardly hear yourself. Even if you're playing softly, you still want to be able to hear what you're playing - and so does the audience, especially the old lady at the back thats hard of hearing.

Thats just what I think though.

Good advice. This is especially true when playing in a larger concert hall.

[daniloperusina]

I totally disagree!

Playing the key only half-way down (or 3/4 or whatever) is one of the most colourful expressive tools that there is!
If you only ever press the key fully down you'll only limit yourself and the nuances that you can give the music.
I'm sure a pianist can be excellent anyway.
But I think you're wrong about the sound; it WILL carry to the back of the hall, and you will most certainly be able to hear yourself when you play like that.
There are lot's of ways you can use it: softness in accompaniment (listen to Pogorelich playing Chopin's funeral march, middle section!); embellishments; trills (e.g. try a diminuendo trill by gradually releasing the keys); for more interesting scale-passages try some of the notes half-way; delicate stacatto...etc etc.

Of course, constant full depression of the keys will yield more power, but I find this constant power to be a bit tiresome to listen to. Anyway, my opinion..

[phil13]

I totally disagree!

Playing the key only half-way down (or 3/4 or whatever) is one of the most colourful expressive tools that there is!
If you only ever press the key fully down you'll only limit yourself and the nuances that you can give the music.
I'm sure a pianist can be excellent anyway.
But I think you're wrong about the sound; it WILL carry to the back of the hall, and you will most certainly be able to hear yourself when you play like that.
There are lot's of ways you can use it: softness in accompaniment (listen to Pogorelich playing Chopin's funeral march, middle section!); embellishments; trills (e.g. try a diminuendo trill by gradually releasing the keys); for more interesting scale-passages try some of the notes half-way; delicate stacatto...etc etc.

Of course, constant full depression of the keys will yield more power, but I find this constant power to be a bit tiresome to listen to. Anyway, my opinion..

Josef Lhevinne wouldn't have put it that way. 

It's true that, on occasion, the keys must be played lightly, like when employing different types of staccato, or imitating pizzicato. In legato playing, however, you want the keys to be at the 'sweet spot'- not burying yourself into the keys, but rather striking exactly at 'key bottom', if that makes any sense. The greatest pianists were able to control their volume through means of arm and shoulder weight, not by scratching the surface of the keys. That is why pianists like Horowitz were able to play ppp and still get a full tone out of it.

Phil

[atticus]

Thanks for the replies! 

Do pianists usually sink all the way into the key beds when playing presto?

Thanks,
atticus

[mcgillcomposer]

finch


...oops, wrong thread.