Do any of you sing while playing piano?

[jbmajor]

I was just wondering, because I'm trying to learn.  When I started piano, I thought it was difficult keeping track of two rhythms(bass/treble); now adding a third(voice) does a lot to keep my mind agile.

[m1469]

I am wondering about these things in your post:

Are you asking a question, or making a statement?

Are you singing something different than what is already within one of the voice-parts on the page?

What are you working on?

m1469

[.COM]

Interesting question jbmajor, but I'm not sure about what you mean. Are you trying to ask if any of us does this for a career or as our profession?

Anyway, I have tried singing while playing the piano. It usually depends on the kind of song you are singing to if you wany to know if it is difficult. Just today I was teaching my 9 yrs old sister how to play Jolly old saint nicholas on the keyboard and as I played it to her I sang it to her, but of course that wasn't really complicated. It is fun though.

Question: Do you play the piano?

[donjuan]

Sometimes I subconciously hum along to my playing, and I accidentily did it during my lesson as well.  My teacher scolded me for it, and since then I play while chewing gum or with my lips sealed tight.
...man, that was sooo embarassing!
donjuan

[Antnee]

My parents can't stand my practicing anyways...But if I were to start singing..oh sh*t I'd be out of a home...

-Tony-

[Motrax]

I sometimes sing when I play, but almost never when anyone else is around. I usually find it distracting to myself when I have to concentrate on my own singing as well as my hands on the keyboard.

At piano lessons, if I screw up a passage, sometimes I'll continue singing the melody until I can find where I am and pick up with the piano again.  

[johnjwong]

i dont know but when i see professional pianist performing the piano, sometimes their mouth is moving like they are singing... such as lang lang playing don juan.. hes lips are moving and i think he is singing to himself.....

[donjuan]

i dont know but when i see professional pianist performing the piano, sometimes their mouth is moving like they are singing... such as lang lang playing don juan.. hes lips are moving and i think he is singing to himself.....

I have also noticed this.  Horowitz makes movements like he is adjusting his dentures, or something...

[jbmajor]

I am wondering about these things in your post:

Are you asking a question, or making a statement?

Are you singing something different than what is already within one of the voice-parts on the page?

What are you working on?

m1469

I've only been playing for a few months, so I started out on Billy Joel/ Elton John before I ever tried classical.  Now that their stuff is within my grasp, I try singing their authentic piano transcriptions.  It's just another challenge I wanted to take on.  I play classical a little, but my problem is there is so much out there of varying genres that I want to learn that I sometimes find it difficult to learn everything I want to, especially with work/school.  It's just something I wanted to try.  I am using pop music as a stepping stone to classical; however I still enjoy both.

[liezly]

Regarding your question, well I do sing while playing the piano but that really depends on the song you're playing.  If I really like the song so much, I tend to sing with it.  But I really prefer to have a pianist to accompany me when I'm singing (especially classical music like opera and arias) so I can do more expressions and interpret the song much better.  :-*

[minimozart007]

Singing phrases can help you grasp the musical concepts of a piece.

[pianobabe56]

I agree. In passages where I'm having trouble voicing a certain melody line or musical idea, I'll play them, sing them, and I'm AMAZED at how much easier it was to voice the melody. It helps to really know what to listen for.

I also love to sing, so I'll find vocal music and play the piano part while I sing.

[chopinguy]

Even for those who don't sing lyrics, singing solfeg is a great mental exercise, especially on Bach.  Bach Fugues even more so.  For an afternoon of fun, get together with three of your friends, two pianos, and play and sing each part.  Assign the soprano and tenor to one piano, and the alto and bass to the other.  It's a really cool experience, one that whoever hasn't done it should try.

You really get a sense for when each subject comes in, and plus it makes your mind more agile at the same time!

[pianowelsh]

I nearly always sing when I practice (particularly a new piece) I find it helps me come to the most logical/musical phrase stucture and it helps when it comes to the continuation of melodic line and also when it comes to memorising because you already have a strong aural image of what your learning. I sometimes end up hoarse when I'm working on a new programme!! I usually try to ween myself off it nearer a concert as it is nowadays considered unfashionable to hum along in concert aka Glenn Gould.