Fink Seymour

[madsfr1234]

What do you guys think about Fink Seymour's DvD?

[thalberg]

I keep intending to buy it because I loved his book.

[will]

An excellent accompaniment to the book. Using the DVD alongside the book makes it easier to understand what Seymour is on about.

[madsfr1234]

Did it work?

[atticus]

Hi,

I was thinking of getting this too.  Did anyone that bought the video achieve good results once trying the techiniques?

Thanks,
atticus

[danny elfboy]

Absolutely great stuff !

[kitty on the keys]

I know Seymour, he used to teach about an hour away from me. He did a presentation of his book at a MTNA convention----when he made the video cassette----glad to hear i was re-mastered to DVD. I will order it.

[kitty on the keys]

Is any one also familar with the Alan Fraser book and dvd?


kitty on the keys

[dmc]

Is any one also familar with the Alan Fraser book and dvd?

I've just started the book and the DVD is on the way.  Too early yet to form an opinion but I'm intrigued by his description of how Feldenkrais applies because I'm working through some injury issues at the moment.  I'll post more when I have some thoughts on it.

[counterpoint]

Just wondering whether his name is Fink Seymour or Seymour Fink 

[rachfan]

Different styles of communication are perceived differently by different people.  I own a ton of performance and repertoire books.  I would have to say that Fink's book was the least useful one to me, along with Abby Whiteside's book.  But that's not to be critical of the authors.  Others obviously are blown away by Fink's ideas.

[faulty_damper]

Hi,

I was thinking of getting this too.  Did anyone that bought the video achieve good results once trying the techiniques?

Thanks,
atticus

I agree that having the video greatly helps understand the book but that is about all that it is useful for.  The video isn't really necessary if you have a good visual/spatial/tactile sense of movement as it just shows the movements.

The practical applications of the book and video are pretty nil because it's main underlying understanding of piano technique is based on generalities of movement.

Here's a practical summary of Fink in one word: Rotation

Any good piano teacher will recognize everything Fink attempts to describe and they are pretty infantile descriptions that miss the point of piano technique.

I bought the book and video for the improvement of my technique but it was pretty useless.  The exercises were also just ridiculously idiotic because it requires co-contraction - not something you want to practice and ingrain in your body.

I really like that one part of the video where is is demonstrating hand-shaping to another chord for a leap.  I wonder just how many takes that took because he seemed so happy he was able to get it right on the first try...

[rachfan]

Here's another fairly recent dud--"The Craft of Piano Playing" by Alan Fraser.  Save your money and your time!