Practicing blindfolded...

[perfect_pitch]

Greetings everyone...

I wanted to ask everyone if there was any real advantage of practicing blindfolded. I'm not at the stage where I've got the notes in my head, and to try and ensure that I'm really trying to play with precision and to really heighten my muscular memory.

Has anyone actually tried practicing with this technique? I know most teachers recommend doing blind work with large jumps in chords - however I wanted to see if it could be used for the entire piece. Not only does playing with my eyes closed stop me from sometimes playing a little fast and clumsy, but it really helps you gain a better feel for the piano keys.

I've only just started using it for a couple of days now, but wanted to get opinions before I took it further - in case there are some drawbacks to it.

[j_menz]

I can't do it blindfolded since I need to see the score, but that lends itself to a similar thing, I  think - I don't get to look at my hands as a rule.

It certainly helps with one's keyboard geography, but I can't see any real advantage in doing it until you get to those bits of the repertoire (rare early, quite common later) where relying on looking at your hands to know where you are and what you are doing fails - they are simply too far apart. Whether there is an advantage in learning the necessary geographical skills early or leaving it until the point you actually need them I can't really tell.  In my case, I was grateful I already had them, but probably struggled more earlier because of needing to learn them earlier.

[pts1]

I think the real advantage would be to force yourself to REALLY hear what you're doing.

So this would mean playing something you already know geographically so you can close your eyes and really listen.

Sort of the opposite of what your asking.

But I don't know if it really helps with finding your way around the keyboard, since being blindfolded would give you a different perceptual balance than you normally use.

IOW, it would probably help your "blindfolded" performances, not so much your sighted ones.

[p2u_]

Practicing blindfolded... [...]

I've only just started using it for a couple of days now, but wanted to get opinions before I took it further - in case there are some drawbacks to it.

This strengthens the image of sound and movement, so: by all means continue. Just keep in mind that the benefits may not last. I also urge you to try that same piece on a silent keyboard a couple of times, depending solely on your inner sound image with no aural feedback at all.

Paul

[outin]

I do practice with my eyes closed sometimes (or simply just look at the wall behind my piano) and find it helps with my learning and memorization problems. My vision seems to do more harm than good sometimes and my memory relies too much on my unreliable eyes. I tend to get disorientated when looking at the keyboard too long. Usually if I cannot get a tricky passage together, if nothing else seems to help, it helps to close my eyes. Don't know if it's just me of if it is generally helpful in learning...

[p2u_]

Usually if I cannot get a tricky passage together, if nothing else seems to help, it helps to close my eyes. Don't know if it's just me of if it is generally helpful in learning...

Some people are visual, others aural, etc. It is good sometimes to strengthen your weak points in this respect by leaving out your strongest senses in practice.

Paul

[perfect_pitch]

Okay - some interesting opinions... some for, some against. Will need to ask my teacher and see what she says about it.

I think for me the main benefit is that playing while blindfolded forces you to think of every single note - the placement of the hand etc, so I'd like to know if this would help eliminate careless, spontaneous mistakes over time.

It does also help your keyboard geography and allows you to listen - but not only that, it seems to help me keep my mind focused on the music without getting distracted by the world around me.

[rachmaninoff_forever]

One word.

Muscle memory.

Well that's actually two, but still...

[perfect_pitch]

One word.

Muscle memory.

Well that's actually two, but still...

So you do think it's a healthy practice to incorporate into my playing??

[chopin2015]

Try darkness of night and 1 candle

[perfect_pitch]

Try darkness of night and 1 candle

And piss off the neighbours... again???

I might get into trouble... again.

[chopin2015]

No piano at night? No nocturnes?

[perfect_pitch]

No piano at night? No nocturnes?

I had some cranky b!tch complain about Stravinsky in the MIDDLE OF THE DAY. Doubt I could get away with much at night.   

[chopin2015]

Id complain about stravinsky too...crazy dude!

[ted]

Luckily, I live in a very solid brick house, and piano sound is barely audible outside provided the windows are shut. Neighbours are only a few yards away and I frequently play to midnight and later. The neighbours told me they cannot hear a thing.

We had a power cut once when I was playing, and I was surprised to find I could play quite well in the dark. I wouldn't choose to do it though.

I regularly use a silent Virgil Practice Clavier for technique but I do not actively imagine sounds while playing it. I think I use a combination of haptic memory and keyboard visualisation.

[ajspiano]

One of my neighbours complains if she hasn't heard me playing..

Haven't heard a peep out of the others, despite the fact that like ted I often play at midnight or later. I always worry that I'm going to piss off someone but maybe it just doesnt carry through my walls and theirs.. or if it does its very quiet by that stage.

I definitely enjoy playing in the dark too.. good for improvs of a certain feel..  I've been known to close my eyes while performing too, - not deliberately or anything, I guess it just happens.

[chopin2015]

I hear voices commenting on how i am playing...not sure where they come from...

[chopin2015]

Yeah darkness is fun, but blindfolds,...idk. also, try distractions.

[pianoplunker]

Greetings everyone...

I wanted to ask everyone if there was any real advantage of practicing blindfolded. I'm not at the stage where I've got the notes in my head, and to try and ensure that I'm really trying to play with precision and to really heighten my muscular memory.

Has anyone actually tried practicing with this technique? I know most teachers recommend doing blind work with large jumps in chords - however I wanted to see if it could be used for the entire piece. Not only does playing with my eyes closed stop me from sometimes playing a little fast and clumsy, but it really helps you gain a better feel for the piano keys.

I've only just started using it for a couple of days now, but wanted to get opinions before I took it further - in case there are some drawbacks to it.

I think what happens here is that the blind fold is forcing you to slow down and "think" about what you are doing. Nothing wrong with that. I have never used a blindfold, but have tried to make sure I am not looking at keys all the time. If you want to learn to sight-read, one of the early steps is to look at the score , not the keys. Also having the "feel" in your hand can help you find better fingering, at least for me. One other way of practice is to simple sit away from the piano and meditate your way through the piece. Of course if you are familiar enough with it to do that

[perfect_pitch]

Yeah darkness is fun, but blindfolds,...idk. also, try distractions.

I should probably clarify that I don't technically practice with an actual blindfold... but rather just close my eyes and practice for extended periods of time.

As for the meditating my way through the piece - I can't STOP doing that... the problem with perfect pitch is that all day long I have piano music floating through my head.

[birba]

It's a very good practise, once in a while-  I remember having problems with those jumps in the schumann fantasy and it helped a lot.  Try doing it.  It's impossible at first, but slowly your hands start to find that perfect distant shot.  I guess it has to do with mnemonic memory?
And, of course, it does force you to listen more to what you're playing.

[pianoman53]

As for the meditating my way through the piece - I can't STOP doing that... the problem with perfect pitch is that all day long I have piano music floating through my head.

Happens to everyone else too, just not in the correct pitch.

[perfect_pitch]

Happens to everyone else too, just not in the correct pitch.

Does it happen every minute of ever hour, of every day???

If so, then I guess all musicians are a little nuts...   

[lateromantic]

As for the meditating my way through the piece - I can't STOP doing that... the problem with perfect pitch is that all day long I have piano music floating through my head.

Same thing here (I also have absolute pitch).  In fact, even while I was reading your post I was hearing in the background of my mind a passage from a Chopin waltz I'm working on.  My fingers have been been twitching along with it too.

[geom]

Very good practise espeially for your ears!I also while playing or performing have my eyes closed in order to listen to my own sound, and every  detail of the my sound and adjust my technique in order to have the "perfect" sound for me!and  my skills have evolved!It will help you very much, especially when playing Bach and baroque pieces!:D

[virtuoso80]

Why not just close your eyes? I find that as I have progressed, the difference between eyes closed and open becomes smaller. At some point, you have to rely on feel and muscle memory. For young students, the idea of playing something with your eyes closed is an amazing thing, and it probably seems amazing to some spectators as well, but really there's not a big difference except when dealing with very large jumps.

[indianajo]

In my youth I would practice with my eyes closed sometimes.  Putting on an actual blindfold is way too melodramatic for me.  After I got the piece memorized it didn't much matter whether I was staring at the blank wall behind the piano, or the inside of my eyelids, anyway.  It takes real talent to look at an audience while playing and make them feel included by exercising your face: something for the highest level stars, IMHO.
I could make eye contact at recitals, but pleasing facial expressions are not something I have command of even when doing nothing else but talking to people. 
Even playing with eyes closed doesn't work at age 60 or later.  If my hands are jumping around, kinesthetic feedback is not consistent enough at this age to land accurately.  The reason is the same as the reason for senior golf championships.  Muscles act differently on different days at this age.  I have to watch my hands now if they are moving around for the visual feedback; a bit annoying but doesn't keep me from playing harder pieces than I ever played before I quit lessons at age 16.