Two approaches to playing piano music.

[zheer]

The first approach being the one where the pianist has a concept of how a particular piece should sound, this approach requiring deep analysis of the music and a full understanding of how the piece should be performed to the listener. This pianist usually going through extraordinary lengths to achieve this.

The second approach also requiring and understanding of the piece through analysis, however the interpretation being the outcome of the pianists instinct or reaction to the music, Therefore upon performing the piece to the listener, the pianist allowing his subconscious to take over and deliver the music through this process.

I’d like to hear you thoughts

[go12_3]

It works both ways---from the intellect and from the heart(feelings).   

[ramseytheii]

The first approach being the one where the pianist has a concept of how a particular piece should sound, this approach requiring deep analysis of the music and a full understanding of how the piece should be performed to the listener. This pianist usually going through extraordinary lengths to achieve this.

The second approach also requiring and understanding of the piece through analysis, however the interpretation being the outcome of the pianists instinct or reaction to the music, Therefore upon performing the piece to the listener, the pianist allowing his subconscious to take over and deliver the music through this process.

I’d like to hear you thoughts

This pianist usually going through extraordinary lengths to achieve this.

Sounds like you are justifying not studying enough?

Walter Ramsey

[zheer]

Sounds like you are justifying not studying enough?

This thread isn't about me.

[timothy42b]

You might be alluding to some kind of split between internal and external.  Other artists (nonmusicians) talk about this.

For example, what if you had to portray a serial killer in a play or movie?  How would you do it convincingly, when by nature you are a kind and loving person?

There are two theories. 

One is that you have to look deep within yourself and find that spark of serial killerness that exists within all of us, and bring it out to convince your audience.  The secret to doing this is removing the emotional blockages that prevent you from expressing the writer's (composer's) intent. 

The other is that as a consummate professional you can portray any image convincingly, though you share none of the characteristics.  The secret to doing this is not removing blockages, but instead learning your craft well. 

[zheer]

That's a good example, it's true learning the script for a theatre production isn't too dissimilar to the pianists study of musical notation. As we know that's only the first step in learning a piece, a lot more needs to be done. As pianists we have to deal with different genres, so for instance you can't play Mozart in the style of the late romantics like Rachmaninoff. This is I guess what you mean by internal and external, the external would be music analysis ect ect the internal musical expression ect ect.

[tranquillis]

Sort of like learning the Great Highland Bagpipes. When I first learned my teacher impressed a single thought upon me, "It'll be like wrestling an octopus" And it was.. For about a year.. However, once that initial layer was peeled off (when most people quit) another layer unfolded; How on earth do you master blowing with a constant sustained tone on the drones through proper air flow, while squeezing the bag in synchronization, while mastering proper crisp, measured fingerwork? Once this was accomplished you move on to incessant maintenance of the pipes, reeds, more work, on and on and on...  Piano pieces are similar; one practices, practices, practices to get it down (when most people quit) They move on to perfect the technique, strain, study why the piece is played as it is played;;what doing that with that will accomplish; Finally, the subconscious overruns this arid plain of mechanization, order, in a word: utopia~but it is not utopia; you have reached the lake where you can essentially luxuriate in the piece, you've overcome mountains of hardships, streams of doubt, gloomy forebodings, but now you feel the piece's meaning and push yourself to boundaries no person has ever been conscious of ever knowing, you alone stand on that zenith of improbability, chaotic harmony, and unequivocal transcendence