Does good sound come from the ear or from one's delight in playing the keys?

[pianosfun]

Hello,

I'm posting this because I really feel that good sound and dynamics from the piano result cheifly from delight in using one's fingers to play each key. (Notice each. Special care is given to every movement by the fingers. Or say a group of keys, like a chord.). Just sinking down with glee into the keys...

The piano is a keyboard instrument and is thus used cheifly with the fingers to find access to music. The mind is also used with the piano, as it comprehends the written notes and tempo and looks around the keyboard to see the keys, and understands how these keys represent distinct pitches.

[pianosfun]

And it is because of this reason that I think "Technique" should be approached with patience. Before anything can be done, a propper respect for each finger and it's key must be established.

So to play 5 notes (1 per finger) carefully might actually do you more good than playing a 4 octave scale recklessly. And also, technique is perfected not with speed, but with slow, careful movements for each finger.

[hardy_practice]

You're right.  Too many aren't aware you can make a beautiful sound on the piano.  Maybe they think it'll happen anyway along the way?  But it won't if you are not constantly listening to/for it.  If you don't have the correct fingering for Chopin and play sensitively you miss out the core.  He's not about nailing this or that arpeggio or run, he's about the conformation of the fingers (and hand, wrist, arm etc).

[pianosfun]

Haha, my bad. So I guess it does also involve listening with the ears for the good sound. But I know what you mean. I feel that many people waste much of their time. If they could instead master this, then they would become more like virtuosos. Virtuosos can play one section of a piece in about 10 different ways in one setting because they've learned what is really important for piano playing...

The word "Constantly" listening is the key.

[j_menz]

I think the goal is not to separate the various elements (ears, hands, senses, feelings, mind, body and instrument) and create a false conflict between them. It is instead to fuse them into a seamless whole.

[theholygideons]

if you know how to produce the sound, but lack the musical judgement and willingness to respond to the feedback via the ears, then what is the point? since one would want to avoid a weakest link, you do realize that both the ears and fingers form part of the network for communicating musical ideas. 

[pianosfun]

Thanks, Mr. Gideons and Mr. Menz. That is true. It all is one thing or it doesn't work.