Pianist "fluff"?

[in31l]

I'm not sure exactly what you call it, but I call it fluff. It kind of irks me when I see people playing the piano and they're flinging their arms in the air, doing really erratic movements, and doing that 'floaty' motion with their hands when they're in the air. It's especially weird when people who aren't that great at playing the piano do all this extra fluff. Like, maybe you should be working on your piano playing skills before you do all those movements. It can come off as pretentious at times. Of course, concert level pianists can do whatever they want, they are concert pianists, after all. Let me rephrase that, anyone can do what they want, this thread is just me wondering what this fluff accomplishes, and if it's really that natural.

Does it come naturally? I've attempted to do that stuff before (for fun) but all it really does is make me lose focus on playing.

For example, I like this guy because he just plays, and plays well. He doesn't do anything extra, he lets his music do the talking, nothing too distracting really, just music:

However, this guy is a different story:

He is obviously very talented but I can't help but be distracted by his awkward movements and floaty hand gestures (kind of like what I mentioned earlier in the thread).

Maybe I'm the only one that doesn't really appreciate all the extra stuff. But is this all really necessary? Is it just them "feeling" the music? Is it truly 100% natural?

[outin]

I am always bothered by too much movement when I watch pianists play. But I also have experience how difficult it is to avoid some of these movements as a beginner and one may develop a habit if it's not controlled by a teacher. Sometimes these movemenst are involuntary, when one is insecure or something is difficult, one may try to emphasis by extra body movements, "overdo" things. I'm sure not everyone has this tendency, but if you look at people in everyday life, some of them actually present such erratic movements all the time. So sometimes it's for show but sometimes it may be just a habit.

BTW. The playing in your first link sounds boring and monotonic to me. Please search the Youtube for someone like Michelangeli play Debussy...no show but the music speaks for itself...of course it could just be a matter of taste...

[bronnestam]

Well, when I listen to a decently good performance, I normally close my eyes. Then the pianist can play with her toes while standing on her head, or play naked, or perform a complete aerobic class while playing, or be the most gorgeous person in the world, or look like a horse - I DON'T CARE. I am there for a musical experience, not a visual ...

Ok, if the pianist is a real good one I am often very interested in watching how the hands move over the keys. I often position myself so that I can watch the keys, if I can choose. So, there is sometimes a conflict between my desire to watch the hands, or to close my eyes. The latter is normally the final outcome ...
I also know that some pianists make a show at the piano, which can be a bit annoying, but that many, many also have movements they are not aware of. I make them myself. Sometimes I try to restrain myself, with the result that I don't play well because I'm thinking of my face instead ... I used to feel silly, because I supposed I looked like I thought I was some Great Master, while my actual skills were on a beginner's level ... but in these days I don't care. I play good enough to justify my "faces". 

At least I don't grunt while I'm playing!  Or SING - heavens, I hate when some pianists - often female - start to hum and even howl while they are playing.

[larrys]

True pianists do it because they feel the music,  they really get into the zone-look at the expressions on their faces! Some people just do it for effect I feel.
What's worse is players who hum along while playing.
I have a Glenn Gould disk of Bach and while I like the music I cant play it because I hear Gould humming all over it! So annoying.

[gregh]

Performance art, like the drummer who twirls his sticks?

When I attend a musical performance after a buffet, my eyes tend to close.

[quantum]

Watching any pianist with so called "fluff" doesn't bother me one bit.  They can make whatever bodily acrobatics they want, as I prefer to tune into the music. 


There is something to be said about involving the entire body in the creative experience.  We could dig up many threads about teachers trying to get students to learn pulse, or scenarios where the student's posture is stiff as a board where they only engage the piano with their fingers. 

Are these sort of polar extremes of the topic in question?  Is something more going on here beyond what people superficially pass off as an aesthetic faux pax?

[Bob]

I've heard it referred to as mannerisms.

[perfect_pitch]

For example, I like this guy because he just plays, and plays well. He doesn't do anything extra, he lets his music do the talking, nothing too distracting really, just music:

No offense, but Cory Hall isn't a reputable pianist. He's a pretentious tosser who thinks that the only thing bigger than his ego is the earth. I critiqued his playing of an etude one day, and when a few more people agreed with my statement - he started disabling comments on all his videos.

Watching any pianist with so called "fluff" doesn't bother me one bit.  They can make whatever bodily acrobatics they want, as I prefer to tune into the music. 

I'm not so sure about that statement. There are mannerisms that help the pianist achieve a required dynamic level or touch etc..., but then there are those that go over the top, and I think when someones physical actions go a little overboard - it can affect their playing.

[gyzzzmo]

I'm not so sure about that statement. There are mannerisms that help the pianist achieve a required dynamic level or touch etc..., but then there are those that go over the top, and I think when someones physical actions go a little overboard - it can affect their playing.

You can't really tell since you dont know how they would have played it, like they wanted to, without the physical actions.
However one thing is sure: It definitely affects the public, and in case of the western public it is more negatively than positively.

[quantum]

I'm not so sure about that statement. There are mannerisms that help the pianist achieve a required dynamic level or touch etc..., but then there are those that go over the top, and I think when someones physical actions go a little overboard - it can affect their playing.

Don't see how that relates to my statement.  Perhaps I should clarify: in my opinion a pianists mannerisms do not add or detract to my enjoyment, perception or critical evaluation of a performance. 


I agree that mannerism can affect playing, but what one needs to take into account is the intent of the artist: do they make those mannerisms because they choose the sounds that result from them. Without taking into account this perspective, we would be making the unfounded assumptions that our own interpretative orientation of the music is equated with their interpretive intent.