Chopin's Teachings??

[sharmayelverton]

Hi, does a book or any resource exist, documenting Chopin's teachings? I've had a bit of a look round but haven't found anything yet I've heard reference to Chopin's teachings numerous times.

[ramseytheii]

Hi, does a book or any resource exist, documenting Chopin's teachings? I've had a bit of a look round but haven't found anything yet I've heard reference to Chopin's teachings numerous times.

This should have been easy enough to find, because it is a book called "Chopin: Pianist and Teacher (as seen by his pupils)" compiled by Jean-Jacques Eigeldinger.

In general, I think people expect too much from written accounts of teaching (see the almost wholly uninspiring accounts of Liszt's masterclasses).  None of the accounts portray the personality at work; they just have things like, "Chopin considered that trills should begin on the upper note."  Or: "A long note is stronger, as is also a high note."  

Oftentimes, the accounts are limited by the limitations of the pupil - Chopin and Liszt certainly did not have uniformly talented students, and in both of their cases, their own music was so modern that many of their students had trouble understanding it.

But I am sure you can dig out some little bit of inspiration from this book, which incidentally is 89 pages of text, 70 pages of notes on that text (!), 30 pages of dramatis personae, and then some 100 pages of appendices.  Not the best bargain for the buck.

Walter Ramsey

[keyboardclass]

Worth every penny if you ask me!

[sharmayelverton]

Lol well thank you. I'll look forward to browsing through it.

[stevebob]

Worth every penny if you ask me!

I agree!

I actually put off purchasing Eigeldinger's book until fairly recently because I was unsure just how valuable I would find it.  (While Chopin has been a lifelong obsession, I've always conceded a slightly greater interest in his music (and analyses of it) than in the man himself or the details of his life.)

Chopin: Pianist and Teacher turned out to be both absorbing and worthwhile.  I recommend it to anyone with a serious interest in Chopin or his music.

[csharp_minor]

I also agree!

If you are really into Chopin, but more importantly his teaching methods and the way he played  then that book is a must.