closed eyes practice good or bad?

[drazh]

hi
when i play alone every things is ok but in front of my teacher I forget > 50% of the pieace and performance will be disaster. may i use closed eyes practice ?is it helpful or any other way?
thanks

[haydnseeker]

"In order to become oriented at the keyboard and thus make easier the acquisition of a necessary skill at sight reading, it is a good practice to play memorized pieces in the dark."

CPE Bach, Essay on the True Art of Playing Keyboard Instruments (originally published 1753, Eulenburg edition translated by William J Mitchell): Introduction to Part 1, para. 21.

[birba]

I've sort of lost the thread of the discourse here. You say in front of your teacher you forget some of your music.  I don't think playing with eyes shut is really going to help you there, unless it's just shuting out the sight of the teacher who's making you nervous. And I'm completely at a loss as to what good ol' CPE Bach intended.  How is playing memorized music in the dark going to help you with sight-reading?!
At any rate, I use closed-eye practise for jumps and things.  Like the Schumann fantasy, or mephisto.  And I like to do it anyway just for the pleasure!   

[pytheamateur]

You may be interested in Graham Fitch's blog of 14 January 2012, which talks about precisely this issue.

https://practisingthepiano.com/

[roseamelia]

Actually yesterday, I just played a piece through that I just started with my eyes closed. if I did that then it should be a great practice. and one other thing just pretend your teacher isn't their and think about what your playing not whats around you that's how I get through my lessons every week just put everything in the music your playing like your in a cage no where to go.

[pianoplayjl]

It is good practice because it provides a means as a test device for your familiarization of the piece. I sometimes close my eyes while playing and I hit wrong notes every 4-5 measures. When your eyes are open you are usually aware of your surroundings and consequently you don't focus as much on a piece. When you close your eyes you have nothing to see or distract you from playing the piece. You are just concentrating on the piece. The way I see it, closing your eyes is like being in a meditative mood.

JL

[landru]

Closed eyes practicing is my secret weapon. I've only had to do it on a few pieces where I was so stuck on fingering or hesitation mistakes - slow blind practice just wiped the problems away. I don't need it for every piece but I love the results when I do.