you don't grimace, you don't feel, or?

[trish89]

My teacher loves to tell me that I should have a facil expression while I play.
"Good to have a facial expression, it just shows you enjoy music and you really feel it." his words, also likes to tell me that Lang Lang has amazing face expression....
I know I have problems with musicality, but if I play pieces which I like I think I play them well.
And also I tried a few times to make some faces but I only lose my concentration. I can't focus at all. I never sit stiffly I can feel it through my body - so I guess I don't need to do it....

Do you think also if someone doesn't grimace, it doesn't feel?
Do you grimace while you play (happy, sad, angry face or whatever)?

[amelialw]

Personally I find Lang Lang's expressions anninoying, same for my teacher.

i do have natural expressions but it sometimes can be bad when i make mistakes

[quantum]

I think this is a personal matter.  Some people actually don't like watching a performer who overdoes the facial expression and eccentric movements.

Does making faces directly influence the music you play? The music should remain of primary importance.  Do what is necessary with your body to achieve that.  Too much extraneous movements add up and can actually take away energy that could be put to more direct use in your playing mechanism.  

Some people feel such expressions are a part of them when they play.  If you feel these distract you and don't really add to your playing, you don't have to make such actions.  


If you were studying opera, it would be a different story.  Such vocalists play roles and need to express more with their body.  

[shortyshort]

My teacher loves to tell me that I should have a facil expression while I play.
"Good to have a facial expression, it just shows you enjoy music and you really feel it." his words, also likes to tell me that Lang Lang has amazing face expression....
I know I have problems with musicality, but if I play pieces which I like I think I play them well.
And also I tried a few times to make some faces but I only lose my concentration. I can't focus at all. I never sit stiffly I can feel it through my body - so I guess I don't need to do it....

Do you think also if someone doesn't grimace, it doesn't feel?
Do you grimace while you play (happy, sad, angry face or whatever)?

Someone obviously told this bloke the same.   


https://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php/topic,29063.msg335094.html#msg335094

[trish89]

Someone obviously told this bloke the same.   


https://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php/topic,29063.msg335094.html#msg335094

hmm, I 've watched the video, realised that maybe if I do it, it will finally make my teacher happy  or he will be so scared that he won't complain about me anymore 

[shortyshort]

hmm, I 've watched the video, realised that maybe if I do it, it will finally make my teacher happy  or he will be so scared that he won't complain about me anymore 

Or he may call the men in the white coats.
You know, the ones who bring a straight jacket with them. 

[trish89]

awful how some serious piano teachers make freaks from their students, soon I will end up in a madhouse 

thx your post made my bad mood better 

[javacisnotrecognized]

If you have to actually go out of your way to make it clear to people that you're enjoying your music and "really feeling it", then you must be such a terrible musician that nobody can figure it out on their own. If you look around, you will find there are as many great pianists who sat practically immobile (Horowitz, Rachmaninov, etc) as there are who swayed around, made faces, etc. (Richter, Gould for example). In the end, the only surefire way to measure how much you're involved with your music is too .. listen to the quality of the music you're making! If it's good enough, then anything else is superfluous.

[pianowolfi]

 

Do you think also if someone doesn't grimace, it doesn't feel?
Do you grimace while you play (happy, sad, angry face or whatever)?

No. If you have facial or other expressions, they are a result of your being-into-the-music. Every theater and choreography that you consciously add is just distracting.

[trish89]

If you have to actually go out of your way to make it clear to people that you're enjoying your music and "really feeling it", then you must be such a terrible musician that nobody can figure it out on their own. If you look around, you will find there are as many great pianists who sat practically immobile (Horowitz, Rachmaninov, etc) as there are who swayed around, made faces, etc. (Richter, Gould for example). In the end, the only surefire way to measure how much you're involved with your music is too .. listen to the quality of the music you're making! If it's good enough, then anything else is superfluous.

Just he said he would be very happy to see me to do some faces, it really depends on what I play, I can be involved with my music but if I don't like some of my pieces even making faces don't save me.
I don't know maybe he wants to see somehow that I enjoy the playing?
True Horowitz doesn't move at all and I love his playing, his sound everything....
I honestly don't understand why he wants me to go out of my way or to change myself in front of the piano that much?

[pianowolfi]

Three examples I have learnt from:

1: Glenn Gould. He looks sometimes crazy but it's authentic. If an inexperienced person would turn off the sound and just watch him he/she might think what the heck is going on with this guy...

2. Alfred Brendel. Also authentic. I have seen him many times in concert and his gestures and faces are weird, really weird. But it's no theater and no show off, so I don't mind, I actually enjoy it even, as an authentic expression. It's just Brendel, he is like that.

3. I watched a very young violinist performing a solo with orchestra. She is very talented and a good musician. But before one of her performances she practised for hours in front of a mirror, trying to get the right smile on her face for the performance. At the performance her smile was so artificial and so ridiculous that everybody was just plainly horrified
I think she has learned from it...

[trish89]

Three examples I have learnt from:

1: Glenn Gould. He looks sometimes crazy but it's authentic. If an inexperienced person would turn off the sound and just watch him....

2. Alfred Brendel. Also authentic. I have seen him many times in concert and his gestures and faces are weird, really weird. But it's no theater and no show off, so I don't mind, I actually enjoy it even, as an authentic expression. It's just Brendel, he is like that.

3. I watched a very young violinist performing a solo with orchestra. She is very talented and a good musician. But before one of her performances she practised for hours in front of a mirror, trying to get the right smile on her face for the performance. At the performance her smile was so artificial and so ridiculous that everybody was just plainly horrified
I think she has learned from it...

I think it can also depend how much that human is extrovert or exhibicionist....If I learn how to face and I will try to show it in a performance, I will end same like that violinist.
And people in an audience usually enjoy my music, this problem I have and I have had with my teachers.

[pianisten1989]

I don't think one should think about the facial expression. I think it make a "I don't know how to expressmyself in the music, so if I do a facial expression, everyone will understand"-kind of feel.
I try to keep the attention to the music, and not to how I look.

[Bob]

As long as it doesn't distract from the music.  If it matches the music. 

I should probably have more expression.  I'm guessing I'm kind of blah or possibly angry which might not fit the music.


Try recording yourself.  Go with what you think.  You could practice expressions in the mirror but I wouldn't go too far.  As long as it's pleasant enough and matches the piece. 

Practice in front of a mirror.  Practice with the facial expression you want. 

I wouldn't fake it though, but I think you can learn it.  Do the "right" facial expression and later on actually feel that.  It might even help.

I am thinking of several people who look a little angry (it's concentration) when they're playing something more technical. 

[Bob]

Maybe a bigger question is whether you're actually feeling the music and whether the music is supposed to be that emotion or emotional at all. 

[Petter]

You could always dress up, then it won´t be a big deal.

https://se.youtube.com/watch?v=YH6RCDBU4ss

[scottmcc]

wow.  just wow.

but back on topic, wilhelm kempff was often criticized for looking bored when he was playing, but you'd never guess it if you were just listening to the recordings--they're very evocative.

for example: 

&playnext=1&index=8

the sound is what matters most, and a little making of faces is normal, but too much is distracting.

[quantum]

You could always dress up, then it won´t be a big deal.

https://se.youtube.com/watch?v=YH6RCDBU4ss

I've seen some of these vids before, and the playing is quite good.  Playing with gloves must change a lot of the response you get from tactile input of your hands.

[trish89]

I am thinking of several people who look a little angry (it's concentration) when they're playing something more technical. 

That's exactly me, especially when I play Bach. This facial expression usually helps me to get into music more....Sometimes I help myself with singing - but it's only at home....