What drives/inspires you most; playing the music or playing the piano ?

[m1469]

I know that they are complimentary to each other (obviously) and need to blend together as one, but I was thinking about this today.  I just *LOVE* the FEEL of playing the piano, and, I suppose, of playing music at the piano.  I just love the physical sensation(s) in my fingers and in my hands and arms and body, and, I will admit, I think that sensation almost drives me the most with it -- actually I am quite certain of it.

And, I got to thinking about this ... perhaps there are different kinds of people with regard to this.  I mean, I LOVE music, don't get me wrong, but, I think I experience music with my entire body more than I do with just my ears.  And, because I love the feel of playing SO MUCH, sometimes it just doesn't matter what, exactly, it is that I am playing.  And, this is why I have at times derived great joy out of doing mere scales and studies.

Anyway, I am just curious what you think/feel you get more joy out of ... playing the music, or playing the piano.


Cheers ! 

m1469

[m1469]

I just love the physical sensation(s) in my fingers and in my hands and arms and body, and, I will admit, I think that sensation almost drives me the most with it -- actually I am quite certain of it.

Okay, just the sheer sound of it is pretty BLUDDY *AMAZING* as well.



*loves the piano*

[quasimodo]

Is there really a difference between the two?
I mean, playing the piano without musical intention would just reduce us to the status of a typist...

[m1469]

Is there really a difference between the two?
I mean, playing the piano without musical intention would just reduce us to the status of a typist...

Yeah, I think that I don't agree entirely with any of that ... LOL.

First of all, I don't know if there is really a difference, but there definitely is.  And, second of all, I think that some typists would be definitely offended that you say "reduce" to the status of a typist - perhaps some feel it is their art and their very 'calling' ... maybe even their very purpose in life  ... and third of all, I think that it does not have to be necessarily MUSICAL intentions, per se, but INTENTIONS in general, perhaps (many typists have clear intentions). 

Actually, in thinking about it, I really enjoy the sensation of typing as well. 

[quasimodo]

I was not dissing typists, just stating that they don't play music when they type, lol.
But to answer precisely to your question, what dirves me is definitely the willingness to play music, which to some extent has bad consequences, because it's a limitation practice-wise.

[Bob]

The expression in the music.  Occasionally I "recharge" with certain pieces.  That definitely has to be it.

(And I'm not following.  I've posted several times before this but it's a topic I would click on to read.)

[ted]

I agree m1469, at least most of the way. The physical yoga of piano playing is important to me too. Improvisation, in particular, is a unique fusion of mental and physical aspects. To the extent that we are physical creatures, it's probably one of the reasons why the popularity of playing musical instruments will never wane, why the ordinary piano will probably survive for a very long time yet.

However, I don't think I'd go quite as far as to assert that the physical act by itself is anywhere near sufficient. I regularly use a silent practice clavier - that's a pretty good test of the hypothesis that the physical act is enough - and no, in the end music is definitely the more important. As you know, although others here may not, I do not hesitate to fully use direct physical means, in extremely varied fashion, as an actual generator of transitional ideas.

So for me the feedback loop between the mental and the physical is very deeply rooted in the improvisational process. The yoga of playing is not just aural, mental or physical but a highly complex interaction of them all and much more besides.

But even when I am not doing these things, when I am simply playing pieces written by other people, I have always derived tactile and haptic pleasure from it. I have never been able to regard playing a piece after the manner of negotiating a steeplechase - me versus the piano - although I am told that many of the best players really do think this way. We often read about some famous pianist or other "attacking" a difficult piece. I could never do that. If something doesn't feel good to me physically I am inclined to work out ways of playing it so it does feel comfortable. Of course this might be precisely why I am not a particularly good interpreter or performer.

[quasimodo]

We often read about some famous pianist or other "attacking" a difficult piece. I could never do that. If something doesn't feel good to me physically I am inclined to work out ways of playing it so it does feel comfortable. Of course this might be precisely why I am not a particularly good interpreter or performer.

Well, actually, then, you just do what great pianists do...

[sarasia]

my answer could be the music, the music itself will motivate you to play/master the piece

[pianistimo]

that's a good answer, too - because the tactile things that you do are determined by the composer.  so, if it feels good - it means you have some kind of connection to their style.  perhaps similar hand size?  i don't know!  i've heard that some people who play on a smaller keyboard suddenly find chopin easy to play. 

there is some inner drive in me that wants to be comforted by the repetition of something.  piano practice is consoling in some way.  and, hopefully, the progress makes you feel like you accomplished a little bit more towards a goal of becoming a better musician.  listening to the notes /voicing better.  thinking about intervals and their relative importances.  understanding where the music is going.  all these things give you something to ponder.  perhaps it keeps one mind busy and questioning.  it's a challenge.  that is probably my biggest reason.

[electrodoc]

m1469, I think that I understand what you mean. I sometimes practice on a good electronic piano (Yamaha CVP 305), especially in the early stages of note learning. While this is a good instrument with a reasonable touch and sound it does not give the same tactile feedback as my acoustic grand. I think that the instrument itself is important. I do not like hard or over bright sounding pianos and I find the touch seems hard when compared to a more mellow instrument.

I remember once having a top UK tech visit to tune for me. He was rather remote and taciturn. He asked me what type of sound that I wanted. I then explained that it was not only sound but a feedback through the fingers that I was looking for. This hit his "go" button and he suddenly opened up saying that we were now speaking the same language.
Needless to say he did a good job!

Of course the music is important but to me the real pleasure is when the tactile and the music combine.

[thalberg]

Yeah, Gyorgy Sandor talks about this in his book "On Piano Playing."  He says not to take too much pleasure in the tactile.  He's a bad old man, though.  Really bad.

[amelialw]

Both. But watching my teacher play the piano inspires me the most!

[m1469]

Both. But watching my teacher play the piano inspires me the most!

hee hee... yeah, good point .

[furtwaengler]

Yeah, Gyorgy Sandor talks about this in his book "On Piano Playing."  He says not to take too much pleasure in the tactile.  He's a bad old man, though.  Really bad.

Actually he's dead: https://www.guardian.co.uk/obituaries/story/0,,1694919,00.html

A real shame...he was a phenomenal musician (just listen to the Bartok recordings!).

[timothy42b]

Anyway, I am just curious what you think/feel you get more joy out of ... playing the music, or playing the piano.



m1469

For me the music, because my relative lack of skill inserts a frustration factor into the physical act on piano.  It is the reverse on trombone, where I enjoy the playing more than the music.

But that is the smaller part of the experience on trombone, where my playing is normally part of a larger group, and the group process becomes more important. 

We had a discussion on another forum that seems relevant to me, but may be too far out of the pianist worldview.  The question was whether it was more important to play good music or to play with other good musicians.  People argued both sides, but several of us including me argued for a third position.  That is, we preferred to play with congenial people.  At our age we no longer tolerate playing with jerks regardless of how worldclass their skills are, or how sublime the music.

At the risk of overcomplicating this,  where the joy comes from partly depends on which modality you are functioning in.  By my definition, when you are pushing keys on the piano you are doing one of three things:  practicing, playing, or performing.  They are significantly different hence your reward structure may change. 

[opus10no2]

Something I've thought about before quite a bit.

With increasing technology, the musical 'instruments' of the future may do without the fingers altogether, and be directly driven by brain impulses, which would take this sensation away.

Reminds me of the legendary sex scene in Demolition Man  

[pianistimo]

they are electrically charged.  that is why.  everything that is a stimulus is electrically based.

say, have you all heard about the olfactory nerve disfunction being an indicator of people having alzheimer's.  (supposedly they lose the capability to smell lemon and cinnamon).  now, if you take this in reverse - if you have very high functioning olfactory nerves - what does it tell you?  now, for scriabin it was colors.  for me, scents.  i think that people need things around their piano that inspire them to play the best they can.  i would like a waterfall and flower garden right around my piano.

[cmg]

What I love about playing is the total immersion in sight, sound, touch.  Complete concentration that makes the so-called Real World go away.  ( I keep a fresh cup of Kona coffee around for the olfactory part.)  The piano and music are inseparable to me.

Total Zennnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn.


Michael

[nick]

I know that they are complimentary to each other (obviously) and need to blend together as one, but I was thinking about this today.  I just *LOVE* the FEEL of playing the piano, and, I suppose, of playing music at the piano.  I just love the physical sensation(s) in my fingers and in my hands and arms and body, and, I will admit, I think that sensation almost drives me the most with it -- actually I am quite certain of it.

And, I got to thinking about this ... perhaps there are different kinds of people with regard to this.  I mean, I LOVE music, don't get me wrong, but, I think I experience music with my entire body more than I do with just my ears.  And, because I love the feel of playing SO MUCH, sometimes it just doesn't matter what, exactly, it is that I am playing.  And, this is why I have at times derived great joy out of doing mere scales and studies.

Anyway, I am just curious what you think/feel you get more joy out of ... playing the music, or playing the piano.


Cheers ! 

m1469

My sentiments exactly m1469. The physical act of transfering the weight from finger to finger with accompanying sounds aside from the music is most important for me as well. It's almost like the music is the iceing on the cake, very good iceing i might add.

Nick

[nocturnelover]

I really think that you can't separate the two. Personally the sound reaches the soul and the physicality of playing is an expression and can be very therapeutic, they are inter-twined. However I can get alot of pleasure out of playing as in the actually striking of notes and chords, though it does combine with the sound for me. I don't think I like practicing with no sound, yeah and the action on digitals are nothing to the feeling of playing on a genuine grand.