My piano playing colleagues and our professors were having some debates about watching concert pianists in the youtubes.. We were actually discussing about speed in playing some pieces.
One of pur esteemed professors mentioned that it would be better if we learn a piece very well first before watching YouTube piano players. He said that everything one needs to learn about speed, rhythm, etc. are all on the score or music sheet, provided, we have a very good piece that are urtext. According to him, some of the pianists we watch in YouTube appear to have exaggerated the speed of the way the play certain pieces and therefore treat the art of piano playing more as if they were athletes in the Olympics. He advised us that we should master the pieces first and then when we know it by heart, then we watch or listen to some recordings just for the expression, and eventually create our own form of expression.
Deep inside, I know he is right. Some of my peers agree and my professors were also debating on this issues. However, sometimes, I do have a dilemma. for instance, I play Debussy's Suite Bergamasque. I have been used to playing Prelude following a speed similar to Cicollini. however, when I listened to Claude Arrau, he was much slower. I am starting to wonder whether those I watch in YouTube are really playing the pieces following the right speed, or are they just pulling my leg (e.g. Freddy Kempf's Sonata Pathetique, or Langlang's rendition of some pieces.)
am interested to know what you think of: Watching Youtube pianisits to copy speed, or just really stick to what the score says?