Things that REALLY improve your playing

[arigatuso]

Is there any thing, method, book, video, advice,.. that really changed your way of practicing and playing? I have made a huge difference in my playing since I read this books and suggestions.

Chang's Book. "Fundamentals of piano practice". Avaible on line, search on Google. GREAT ADVICE ON PRACTICE METHODS.

Fink's Book. "Mastering Piano Tecnique". Search on amazon.  REALLY GOOD BOOK. GREAT ADVICE ON MOVEMENTS. The video is very good too.

This forum! (specially some post from Bernhard and Robert Henry, Meiting, Anda, ...)

Some ideas from www.practicespot.com

My new teacher. (Suzuki trained teacher).


Any Suggestions?
Any MUST read?
Any MUST see?
...


Regards,
Ale

[zhiliang]

I would say Gyorgy Sandor's book "On Piano Playing". Teaches the essence of relaxation in piano playing and on movements.

The other one that i found helpful for me is the Boris Berman book "Notes From The Pianist's Bench" The first chapter on touch really helps me a lot. And it talks about all aspects of piano technique and interpretation.

I can only think of these 2 now.

Zhiliang

[L.K.]

Don't forget Neuhaus' "The Art of Piano Playing". It offers some interesting views on technique and other stuff. It's a must read.

Watching some piano videos has also improved my playing. Not very much though.

[bernhard]

Yes, all the books mentioned helped me a lot.

However there was one thing that made such an absurd difference as to make everything else pale to insignificance: teaching.

In order to teach I had to examine carefully what I was doing unconsciously. I had to break down complex co-ordinations patterns into basic steps. I could also observe what was wrong, and many times what was wrong with the student was also wrong wiht me once I start paying careful attention to it. As a consequence my movements became much more efficent and"correct", and my practice become much more systematic (since I had to give a good example ).

If you want to really learn a piece, teach it ( in all its aspects - not only playing) to a willing student. it will quickly show you where your deficiencies are.

Best wishes,
Bernhard.

[donjuan]

I bought Joseph Hofmanns book "Piano Playing" (Dover Edition).  It has answered many technique questions I had.  It also is an interesting read.  Hofmann tells about his lessons with Rubinstein, and makes many references to the repertoire.  OH! I forgot.  Thereis also a helpful set of questions he has been asked over the years along with questions.
but...


...
Bernhard is probably more correct then I...  

[tooomf]

The only singular thing that has improved my playing is a teacher, this wins hands down on all the books ever published and it cannot be overstated too much I don't think.  

[belvoce]

I agree with tooomf. I don't there is any book that can surpass having a really good teacher. After all, some aspects of piano playing can only be learned by watching and listening to a skilled teacher.

[peter_g_moll]

For me three things made a huge difference.  First and most important, finding a good instructor (a professor of piano at a university nearby).   This is by far the most important element, far more important than any book or technique or piano.  It's worth the best teacher that your money can buy.  Otherwise you can waste an enormous amount of time practising incorrectly and getting faults ingrained.  A good teacher is also essential in order to help with selection of pieces to play.  A random order is wasteful of time.  Certain skills need to be built up over a long period of time, at least for common mortals like myself.  This is where sequencing comes in.  A good teacher will find pieces which extend your repertoire of fine music while developing a particular skill, without your having to do too many boring exercises and studies.   A good teacher will be able to advise how much time to spend on each piece -- when to persist, and when to give up in the expectation that the particular problem that's giving trouble will be fixed through other pieces sometime later.  A good teacher will pick out faults in your playing that you would not have detected on your own.

Second, getting a good recording system -- mikes, recorder with CD-burning capability, board, monitor speakers -- and recording my playing from time to time.  This helped me identify errors which I was unaware of and has helped to develop my listening skills.  Now that I am better able to hear my own playing and evaluate it objectively, I have less need of the recording system but I still use it frequently.  

Third, a good acoustic grand piano.  Essential to get a firm touch and to be able to hear fine differences of volume and tone, and have enough evenness across the notes so that I am induced to try harder for more smoothness in semiquaver runs, etc.

[ahmedito]

everything works, but what really gave a huge boost to my performance was when I Started to teach (due to financial necesity), its not so necesary for me now, I now have a scholarship, but I still do it, because it helps you to consiously understand the stuff you usually do by instinct.
By the way, a comment, does anyone find Neuhaus's book horribly overrated? I mean, its just a bunch of gossip about how cool Richter was.... If you really want to understand Russian piano technique, the best book out there, for me is Feinberg's.

[A.C.]

Ruth Slenczynska - Music at your Fingertips

[drooxy]

Hi everyone,

This is the list of books mentionned in that thread:

 Fink - Mastering Piano Tecnique
 Gyorgy Sandor - On Piano Playing
 Boris Berman - Notes From The Pianist's Bench
 Ruth Slenczynska - Music at your Fingertips
 Neuhaus - The Art of Piano Playing
 Joseph Hofmanns - Piano Playing

I have studied piano 5 years in my youth, then gave up, then took 1 year again when I was 30... (I never totally gave up music though, and kept on playing either the guitar or the piano from time to time through the years !).

Now I would like to come back seriously to the piano...

In my case, which one of the above books would you recommend ?

Thanks in advance for your suggestions !

Drooxy

[bernhard]

Hi everyone,

This is the list of books mentionned in that thread:

 Fink - Mastering Piano Tecnique
 Gyorgy Sandor - On Piano Playing
 Boris Berman - Notes From The Pianist's Bench
 Ruth Slenczynska - Music at your Fingertips
 Neuhaus - The Art of Piano Playing
 Joseph Hofmanns - Piano Playing

I have studied piano 5 years in my youth, then gave up, then took 1 year again when I was 30... (I never totally gave up music though, and kept on playing either the guitar or the piano from time to time through the years !).

Now I would like to come back seriously to the piano...

In my case, which one of the above books would you recommend ?

Thanks in advance for your suggestions !

Drooxy

Sandor and Fink.

Also have a look here:

https://www.pianoforum.net/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=stud;action=display;num=1084143473

Best wishes,
Bernhard.

[drooxy]

Thanks for the advice Bernhard...

I am thinking of getting these two books but I am afraid the video is not available in Europe (the standard is PAL/SECAM here and I think I remember that you use a different one in the US...).

Unless there is a "DVD" version of it... ?

Cordially,
Drooxy

[harmonies]

Sandor and Fink.

Also have a look here:

https://www.pianoforum.net/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=stud;action=display;num=1084143473

Best wishes,
Bernhard.

I realize that this is an extremely old post/thread, but does anyone know what link/video Bernhard was referring to?

Many thanks!

[asuhayda]

I keep plugging this guy, but if you're interested, check out Paul Barton on Youtube.com, his lessons are awesome! And he's a virtuoso.

He gives great advice on how to pick apart pieces.  But most importantly, his videos are very cleverly put together.  I study with a coach as well, and there's nothing better than that (obviously).  But, I'd highly recommend checking out his videos if you'd like another perspective.

Good luck!