Avoiding recordings completely when learning new music.

[philb]

Does anyone feel that a student should avoid recordings completely and rather learn strictly from the score, or should they be able to listen to a recording and find out how the piece sounds? What are your thoughts?

[kclee6337]

my teacher has me gather recording of a certain piece and bring them to her. she listens to them and decides which are best to get an idea of how the music should go. then from there it is my job to interpret for my own how the song should be and have justifications for my interpretation.

in conclusion I think student should listen to recordings but be weary of the performers interpretation.

[philb]

my teacher has me gather recording of a certain piece and bring them to her. she listens to them and decides which are best to get an idea of how the music should go. then from there it is my job to interpret for my own how the song should be and have justifications for my interpretation.

The question is shouldn't a student be able to do that on their own. What if there is no recording of the piece?

[williampiano]

The question is shouldn't a student be able to do that on their own. What if there is no recording of the piece?

When I begin learning a piece, my teacher usually wants me to avoid listening to recordings if I can, because it is good practice to completely learn the rhythms myself, without any guidance from a recording.

As a student though, I find it easier to just start out with a recording because it gives me a better feel for the music and allows me to check and make sure I'm playing the piece correctly.

[chadbrochill17]

I find it makes learning the piece far easier. Instead of figuring out the rhythm on my own, if I know what it is supposed to sound like then I can practice without worrying about the rhythm. it doesn't take that long to listen to a piece so I think it expedites the whole process.

[philb]

I find it makes learning the piece far easier. Instead of figuring out the rhythm on my own, if I know what it is supposed to sound like then I can practice without worrying about the rhythm. it doesn't take that long to listen to a piece so I think it expedites the whole process.

But aren't you, by listening to a recording, using someone else's ideas of rhythm and not in fact doing it "on your own".

[elenka]

Maybe it doesn't help very much the sight reading, but you'll find some chunk of the piece you're learning much more familiar after you've listened to its recording

[outin]

But aren't you, by listening to a recording, using someone else's ideas of rhythm

The composer's, assuming the one who recorded the piece knew what he was doing?

But I sometimes feel I should not listen to recordings before starting the piece, because I usually end up hating my playing, no matter how much I work on it, it never sounds as good as on the recording (by some great virtuoso).

[chadbrochill17]

But aren't you, by listening to a recording, using someone else's ideas of rhythm and not in fact doing it "on your own".

I guess I should have said listening to MULTIPLE recordings is a good idea. Yes only listening to one probably isn't a good idea but getting a broad range I think is.

[asuhayda]

I look at it this way.. if he was an up and coming football star, I wouldn't discourage him from watching football (you know what I mean?).  I find inspiration in watching the greats play piano.  It's an excellent way to learn and improve and become inspired.  So, no... I don't discourage it. I'm usually elated to find that my students are listening to piano music.

However, they need to listen to their teacher as well.  That should be the final word.  I usually tell my students, you need to first learn and understand how the composer intended this to be played, then make it your own.

[danielekstrom]

Both have benefit:

Listening to recordings is great. Very inspiring. I listen to mostly piano music anyway, so I already have a whole list of pieces I want to learn which I have many recordings of on my iPod and I listen to them a lot.

On the other hand, not listening to a recording is great as well. Beyond just learning to read rhythms better, it can be an opportunity for exploration and surprise. You don't know what's coming next, so you have to play to find out. Plus, there not always be recordings of a piece you want to play.

Anyway, both have their benefits. I think they should both should be utilized depending on the goal.

[wbl24]

If you recognise that the recordings are just the performer's interpretation of a piece, then by all means go ahead. In fact, for the sake of balance listen to a few recordings of the same piece.

But ALWAYS remember that you need to learn the notes, the rhythm, the tempo etc on the sheets of paper in front of you first. Trying to play the piece to match how it sounds on the tape can lead to laziness and lack of attention to detail to what is written. Also, at the end of the day, what you are playing is YOUR interpretation of what the composer has written and not anyone else's.

My experience is that I tend to check aspects of the piece by listening to the occasional tape, but never really heavily relied on them.

[ichky]

Music is all about sound. If I don't like how the new piece sounds, I ain't going to learn it.

So yes, listening to recording is important to me.

[chechig]

hello. As I dont' have a teacher, I find very useful listening to the music I'm learning, no doubt, for my is half lesson. but maybe you should try for yourself to see how it works.

[philb]

Music is all about sound. If I don't like how the new piece sounds, I ain't going to learn it.

That's not the point. You should be able to decipher how the piece should sound without the use of a recording, the question is whether recordings stifle individuality in learning new music.