Can you help me? I need piano help.

[acm323]

I have a strange request.  I hope some of you are willing to help me.  I'm writing a novel.  One of my main characters plays the piano.  The problem is, I don't know how to play the piano at all.  Oops!  I only have a couple piano scenes.  But, I want to make the scenes as realistic as possibe.  I want to fake it enough to sound like I know what I'm talking about.

I just have two simple questions:

How do you feel when you're playing your favorite song on the piano?

and

What is going through your head as you're playing your favorite song?

Your answers can be as brief or as long as you like.  Please know that I am not going to quote any of you.  I'd just like a peak inside your heads.

Thanks in advance.  I greatly appreciate any help.   

[lostinidlewonder]

How do you feel when you're playing your favorite song on the piano?

You feel disconnected from the world in a sense that all issues in your life vanish and all you are focused on is the solace that washes over you as you create music. Music is like controlled emotion you can feel sadness but not actually feel sad yourself, you can feel great happiness and allow it to warmly fill your soul.

I like looking at paintings of great pianists, pictures can certainly paint a thousand words. In the autobiography of Henry Reeves, Reeves attended a concert of Liszt given in 1835:

"..... As the closing strains began I saw Liszt's countenance assuming that agony of expression, mingled with radiant smiles of joy, which I never saw on any other human face except in the paintings of Our Saviour by some of the early masters; his hands rushed over the keys, the floor on which I sat shook like a wire, and the whole audience were wrapped with sound when the hand and frame of the artist gave way."

What is going through your head as you're playing your favorite song?

There are no words for me, like spoken thought in my head. I am listening to the music just like someone observing would. When I have fully allowed a piece to become a part of me the physical movement is almost completely subconscious and I am merely listening and enjoying every moment of the playing. The body moves to create the sound, the mind caresses the sound and controls the body to produce the sweet sound. The sound feeds our soul and we think how wonderful it is as we are energized, revitalized and refreshed. When you stop it is almost as if you wish to linger in that place longer but like everything in this world it must come to an end.



Could you tell us more about your novel? Sounds interesting.

[ronde_des_sylphes]

Lostinidlewonder, that was quite poetic! Pretty similar to what I would have said, but better put. To the OP, this might seem pedantic, but it's a dead giveaway: it's a piece, not a song. (iTunes et al have a lot to answer for).

[lostinidlewonder]

Thanks ronde_des_sylphes I appreciate that. Yes I think most of us like to play piano because it takes us away from this busy world for a moment. I even find this the same situation for beginner adult students I teach, even though learning the piano can frustrate them they still enjoy being alone trying to create sound and being rewarded when they finally achieve that sweet, controlled sound. The relationship with creating music can be a beautiful one at all levels.

Oh yes and it is piano "piece" not "song", ronde is very correct is pointing that out. If you write a novel you would annoy pianists if they read that. Unless there is a singer accompanying your pianist, don't call it a song. I guess you could call it a song if you want to use a simile that the piano instrument is like a singer.

[ranniks]

The experience can vary, for me: The world around me slips away and gives way to the world of a ballroom where I am the one providing the music while the guests are dancing in beautiful gowns and suites. This while playing Bach though.

While playing romantic music I think about past loves and loves I ma have right now.

Generally speaking though I enjoy the melody going through me and being able to let go and forget the world around me. Performing it is different because you want people to experience the same.

[acm323]

Thanks, guys.  I really appreciate that.

[andreslr6]

To the OP, this might seem pedantic, but it's a dead giveaway: it's a piece, not a song. (iTunes et al have a lot to answer for).

Not pedantic at all , in fact it´s much better that you corrected him instead of just not letting him know the difference. Song is when there´s someone singing, a human voice.