VIDEO: Saint-Saens. Concerto no. 2 1st mvt.

[cadenceiiv7i]

Hello everyone,
This is a video of a performance of Saint-Saens' Piano Concerto no. 2, 1st mvt. I was playing at a concerto competition. Accompaniment by my brother, Arthur Wang.
Please give suggestions!! I'd really appreciate it!!
Thanks!

[andrewkoay]

First thing,

Please ask your brother to fix his back posture at the piano, he really shouldn't be curving his back like this at such a young age! He will thank you for it later on!

I thought the performance was fantastic and you did bring out the melodies very well. Very beautifully played! You really do have flying fingers and a very relaxed technique, lots of potential in you. I saw in the youtube comments that you have won a concerto competition with this, and you're already having public recitals with orchestra at this age!

I was once your age too and playing like this (won a regional competition playing the Chopin etudes, scherzos and the 1st concerto at 14 years old), but back in my country opportunities were really rare and the classical music scene was close to non-existent. Also due to disappointment in unfair competition fixing in the piano competition I went for, I gave up and studied a more practical field called civil engineering (so did most of my fellow talented competitors). So I really do envy the opportunities that you have. So do make full use of them and don't waste it away like I did. 

Again, I would give the same advice as the other video. You sound a little too "trained" and measured at the moment. I would like to see more fire, more passion and more creativity and musical genius from you. Try tampering even more with the tempo/rhythm and sound, you need to learn how to create more "extreme" effects in your playing. I can't really explain this, but I would strongly suggest that you get away from competitions/recitals for a while (when you can afford to do so), spend some quality time alone with the piano, where there are no standards to achieve, no expectations, nobody to please, no one to judge your playing. Ignore what your teacher told you, what the composer written. Improvise. Compose. Try around with different chords, different sounds. Do whatever and everything you can think of. Let go of all your restraints. Then you will start to discover your inner voice, what you REALLY want to express in your music. You will also discover a LOT of sounds and effects from the piano that you have never thought you could do.

Also, listen to more genres of music including jazz, pop, rock, etc... Feel what makes the music in these other genres so attractive. Perhaps you should also start learning how to sing and compose too, it will really make you a more well-rounded musician.

I had a period of time (few months) when I was in college where I regularly spent time alone with the piano in the quiet unearthly hours. It is where I started to hear new sounds in my head and my imagination started to bloom. Special sounds that you will get nowhere else. I started to feel that during that period of time, when I was practising, I already have a sound in my head that I want to recreate and the effect that I want to achieve on the listener's ear and mind. It was only then I really grew the most as a musician, more so than all my tough training.

The classical world often tries to make musicians bland and non-offensive (you must always follow the composer's intentions and markings strictly! Which leads to everyone playing in the same boring way unfortunately). IMO, the composers are not God, there is no need to follow the score strictly (I view them simply as guidelines) and as an artist we should aim to create our own unique style and sound. They don't understand that composers like Beethoven and Chopin were the trailblazers in their era, the non-conventional geniuses who break tradition and I think that we as artists should aim to be like them.

Sorry for the long reply haha, I just had lots of thoughts and opinions in my mind today....

[cometear]

Please ask your brother to fix his back posture at the piano, he really shouldn't be curving his back like this at such a young age! He will thank you for it later on!

I just thought I'd mention that her brother is a very talented performer as well.

[andrewkoay]

I just thought I'd mention that her brother is a very talented performer as well.

Both of them are absolutely fantastic pianists! But I still think he should fix his back posture, a straight back is really important in terms of ergonomics and health, probably should start developing the habit sooner rather than later in his life, where he would have done some damage to his posture.

[ronde_des_sylphes]

Firstly, you play tremendously well for your age. It is hugely impressive.

Again, I would give the same advice as the other video. You sound a little too "trained" and measured at the moment. I would like to see more fire, more passion and more creativity and musical genius from you. Try tampering even more with the tempo/rhythm and sound, you need to learn how to create more "extreme" effects in your playing. I can't really explain this, but I would strongly suggest that you get away from competitions/recitals for a while (when you can afford to do so), spend some quality time alone with the piano, where there are no standards to achieve, no expectations, nobody to please, no one to judge your playing. Ignore what your teacher told you, what the composer written. Improvise. Compose. Try around with different chords, different sounds. Do whatever and everything you can think of. Let go of all your restraints. Then you will start to discover your inner voice, what you REALLY want to express in your music. You will also discover a LOT of sounds and effects from the piano that you have never thought you could do.

I think this is good advice. Try to develop your sense of fantasy and imagination - sometimes the playing seems a little bit literal. You play so well on the technical/mechanique side of things that you will have a lot of scope to work with ideas.

Bravo, to both of you!

[polaricecap]

Please ask your brother to fix his back posture at the piano, he really shouldn't be curving his back like this at such a young age! He will thank you for it later on!

Hi, I am her brother, and I just want to say, thank you for your advice I will pay attention to that in the future.

[emill]

Hello Angeni, Hi Arthur!!

Its been years now since a good number of parents including your parents have been "bonding" in the other side (YT) ... and it is quite obvious that many of the then "KIDS" have matured very well in their piano skills, including both of you.  I would strongly advise that you start posting more of your pieces here in order to have more realistic and frank feedback.  Unlike in YT, many here call a spade a spade and it will be good if one has an open mind.

Welcome to PianoStreet!!! 

emill  or  Enzo/blueyoyi on the other side 

[cadenceiiv7i]

Hello Angeni, Hi Arthur!!

Its been years now since a good number of parents including your parents have been "bonding" in the other side (YT) ... and it is quite obvious that many of the then "KIDS" have matured very well in their piano skills, including both of you.  I would strongly advise that you start posting more of your pieces here in order to have more realistic and frank feedback.  Unlike in YT, many here call a spade a spade and it will be good if one has an open mind.

Welcome to PianoStreet!!! 

emill  or  Enzo/blueyoyi on the other side 

Hello!!!! I didn't know you were in PianoStreet too!! Yes, I noticed that the feedback here would be more beneficial to me in terms of improving my playing. I will definitely post more stuff here!

angeni or aawpiano2007 on the "other side"