Question about scores versus free playing

[kriatina]

Hello,

Can anyone explain that why
when I learn a piece of music from the score
I feel they are always a little “stiff”,

in comparison to my very fluid playing
when I make something up myself
from a melody I have in my head
or when I just play "by ear".

Is this something anyone else has experienced
and is there an explanation?

Thanks from Kristina

[j_menz]

I think everyone probably has that experience to some degree; though not everone improvises so perhaps they don't recognise it as much.

The secret is to internalise the music of the piece you are playing, so that when you do play it it's as if it's your own. The it will not seem "stiff" at all.

This is something that takes time to learn to do, and is often ironically less easy with earlier pieces or study pieces as there may be less meat in them to digest.

[kriatina]

Thank you, j_menz for your kind advice.

Your answer to my question is very interesting and I shall have to think about it very deeply
and see whether I can achieve the same fluidity with the pieces I learn from the score
as I do from my own melodies which come into my mind.
Hopefully that comes with more experience and practise.

Thanks again from Kristina.