where is bernhard?

[drazh]

 

[Bob]

He disappeared years ago and then stopped by once or twice after that.  I think he got bored with the site or ran out of ideas that he hadn't already posted.

*Bob wonders if Bernhard went over to Recorder Street.*

[costicina]

He was last active about a year ago (I checked out). I'm afraid he disappeared for good from PS  . I miss him sooo much!!!! He had a crucial role in my 'pianistic life', and not only there. I'll never forget him

[pytheamateur]

He was last active about a year ago (I checked out). I'm afraid he disappeared for good from PS   . I miss him sooo much!!!! He had a crucial role in my 'pianistic life', and not only there. I'll never forget him

What were his credentials?  Did he ever reveal them?  Did he ever clarify whether he is the author of the famous "Chang Book"?

Reading his views on technique is rather revealing.  He seems to think that acquiring good technique is like learning to ride a bicycle for the first time in that the technique will stay with you and you'll never need to practice it again.    

If so, why do concert pianists have to practice 8 hours a day?  Are we to understand that only those pianists who claim to practice no more than 3 hours a day are pianists with true technique?

Chang acknowledged in his book that he is no pianist himself.  What about Bernhard?  I hope he did play the piano as I would not want to think that all his posts were nothing more than pure theorizing.  Reading some of his discussions with Marik, I have never found any evidence either way.

[drazh]

Hi
Just think about the logics .he was very logical.
Thank you

[thalbergmad]

Hi
Just think about the logics .he was very logical.
Thank you

What looks good on paper does not always look good on the piano.

My own personal opinion which may be way off the mark, is that his methods would produce thousands of competent pianists but no great ones.

Marik was the one for me. I am more likely to take advice from someone who you know possesses the complete package.

Thal

[pytheamateur]

To his credit Bernhard did attempt to take a scientific approach to piano playing, which is why he reminds me of the author of the Chang Book, who by his own admission is not a pianist but a scientist.

An interesting question is whether a non-pianist can ever properly train pianists.  This might not sound so outlandish as the Williams' sisters' coach are their father, who has never been a professional tennis player.  Did they succeed because of or in spite of him?

[Bob]

I think it's possible to be somewhat successful teaching music without really knowing much about it.  I've run into a few elementary general music teachers who don't have a music degree or play an instrument but they're still teaching.  (Not "highly qualified."  )

[pytheamateur]

I think it's possible to be somewhat successful teaching music without really knowing much about it.  I've run into a few elementary general music teachers who don't have a music degree or play an instrument but they're still teaching.  (Not "highly qualified."  )

Oh yes this reminds me of an aquaintance at school who, when he started piano lessons, was assigned a teacher who taught woodwind instruments.  Poor him.  I never got to how he would have progressed as he was expelled from school shortly after.

Back to Bernhard, though; he wasn't just talking about teaching beginners.  He professed to know enough about the attainment of playing of the highest order and was quite comfortable in applying his theory to criticise the technique of Alfred Cortot.

[drazh]

Hi
But he was a professional teacher wasn't he ?
Thank you

[pytheamateur]

Hi
But he was a professional teacher wasn't he ?
Thank you

Was he?  And did he actually play the piano?  These are the two things I have been trying to find out. 

I still assume he is the author of the Chang Book, in which case the answer to both questions is "no" (someone actually asked him the same question, to which he never responded, rather uncharacteristic of him).

If he actually dealt with these three questions, then please direct me to the relevant posts.

[ajspiano]

Was he?  And did he actually play the piano?  These are the two things I have been trying to find out. 

I still assume he is the author of the Chang Book, in which case the answer to both questions is "no" (someone actually asked him the same question, to which he never responded, rather uncharacteristic of him).

If he actually dealt with these three questions, then please direct me to the relevant posts.

I couldnt tell you where the posts are..  but..

I've definitely read posts by him describing his experiences playing (the one I'm thinking of was in regard to chopin 10/1 so one might assume he's atleast slightly proficient), and his experiences teaching - including discussion of specific students and their progress relating to his ideas regarding everyday lessons, which discussed on average beginner pupils reaching bach invention standard within 3-5 months consistently,.

Chang's user name on here is "CC" - there are comments from him suggesting that he regards bernhard as somewhat of an authority on teaching. Additionally - chang plays the piano to a high standard I believe, he just didn't make piano playing or teaching his profession.

[drazh]

Hi
but i realy missed him
thamk you

[fleetfingers]

https://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php?topic=3419.msg30083#msg30083
(Teaching - qualifications and skills)

https://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php?topic=7832.msg79191#msg79191
(Focus on the ideas, not their source)

https://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php?topic=30361.msg360647#msg360647
(About not teaching professional pianists)

https://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php?topic=5651.msg55614#msg55614
(On learning pieces himself)

[pytheamateur]

Thanks for posting those links.  It's now clear to me that Bernhard played the piano and was a piano teacher.

[fleetfingers]

You're welcome. I was searching for another thread in which Bernhard talked about playing the piano himself. Never found it, but came across these other ones. Interesting theory that Bernhard is the same person as Chang. I will have to read some posts from both of them to compare their writing styles . . . I certainly do not picture the same person!

[costicina]

m1469 (great m1469!!!!) made a index of the forum, with all Bernhard's posts ordered by argument....

[drazh]

Hi
His ideas was very attractive . I like his comprehensive  explanations about any problems
Thank you

[Bob]

Haha... It's probably been said before, but if Bernhard is considered a deity, a saint... That would make him... Saint Bernhard.

[pytheamateur]

Haha... It's probably been said before, but if Bernhard is considered a deity, a saint... That would make him... Saint Bernhard.

I like the quote by Lincoln.  Didn't know he was a prophet as well as a great statesman.

[db05]

Seeing the title, I can't help but thinking:

o/~ Where is bernhard, where is bernhard?
Here I am, here I am
How are you today, sir...? o/~

Bernhard and Chang are different people, who earned mutual respect. They agree on quite a lot of things. The one time I saw Bernhard disagree with Chang is about the exercise of the 4th finger while the 3rd and 5th are pressed.

Also, the tone is different. Chang has a physics + observing concert pianists (his daughters) perspective. Bernhard is into psychology + teaches basic work (NOT for concert pianists).

There is a way to summon Bernhard from the depths of oblivion. Simply post a topic that is both novel and interesting. I was able to do this twice, but I couldn't keep his interest long enough. They were non-piano flukes.

An interesting question is whether a non-pianist can ever properly train pianists.  This might not sound so outlandish as the Williams' sisters' coach are their father, who has never been a professional tennis player.  Did they succeed because of or in spite of him?

I'd guess... yes. Teaching is a wholly different thing than playing professionally. But of course you have to be familiar with what you're teaching. Think of all the coaches of athletes, and basic ed teachers. The "students" are often much better than the coach/ teacher.

Perhaps the question is not of "proper" or efficient training, but effectiveness? A teacher can have a good logical plan but that doesn't guarantee results. Or we could differentiate a "teacher" (for literacy and basic work) from a "mentor" (for long term and professional growth).