Ok thanks Bernhard. Since you have seen them, tell me something about the Taubman tapes. I've heard so much about them without much description. Anything you know would be appreciated, ie weight for producing sound. practice speed etc.
Nick
There are ten videos in all:
No. 1 – “Choreography of the hands” – This is not very interesting. It is more like a long advert for the Taubman institute with interviews with people who have done the training, and lips of Dorothy teaching and making general comments about her philosophy. It reminds one of these TV sales programs. It does not give away much, but makes you wish to buy the rest of the videos.
No. 2 – “Introductory principles and concepts” – Here we begin in earnest. Edna Golansky (who was Taubman assistant teacher, and who took over the lessons once Dorothy felt she didn’t have the time anymore), gives an overview of the “system” so to speak. Again, you get a general idea, but you are left wanting for more.
No. 3 – “Forearm rotation” – This is an excellent video. Forearm rotation is the basis on which Taubman builds everything else. The format that is displayed here will be more or less follows in all the subsequent videos. We are in a big auditorium where the annual Taubman seminar is taking place. There is an audience of piano teachers and the tape is basically the movie of the seminar. Edna Golansky reads from a book that Taubman wrote (or has been writing). As far as I know this book has never been published, and she is reading from a manuscript. I believe that you get a copy of the book if you enrol in the seminar. The book consists of espalnations and comments by Taubman on several schools of technique/pedagogy and several excerpts of (advanced) repertory where she demonstrates her way. After reading form the book, Edna goes to the piano and demonstrates. There are several cameras, so you can see the movements from different angles. She also answers questions from the audience and if they request her to do such and such movement she does and comments on its appropriateness or not. Every now and then, the seminar is interrupted by a clip of Dorothy Taubman (not at the seminar) giving further pointers on what we have just seen. Lots of musical excerpts of the standard advanced repertory are covered. And the explanations and demonstrations are usually thorough and clear. Sometimes you cannot quite see what is going on, and the overall quality of the tapes is not very good (I believe these were filmed many years ago). In spite of that, these are excellent resources for any pianist. At the end of the video (the last 15 – 20 minutes or so) they inserted clips of master-classes from Dorothy Taubmann, which are very interesting, as they show her teaching in action.
No. 4 – “In and out movements” – Having dealt with foream rotation, in the second video Edna explains the second basic movement, and when it is appropriate to employ it. The format is very similar to the previous video.
No. 5 – “Walking arm and hand movements”. This video is about using the arm to move the hand and fingers in place and not the other way round.
No. 6 – “Shaping octaves” – Taubman has her own terminology. “shaping” is a good case in point. I will not explain it (will take too long). But the moment you see the vide you will know what she means. The concept/movement is well known for most pianists, but she gives it a name, and puts it in perspective. Edna now starts to emphasise the point that although the movements are presented in isolation, in proper playing they must all be combined and co-ordinated.
No. 7 – “Grouping”. I truly hate seeing concepts I thought I had invented being demonstrated by someone else in a better way. Well, I always called it clustering, but clearly someone thought of it before me (the story of my life). In this video, one starts to move more into the mental side of playing.
No. 8 – “Leaps” – Yes, this is about jumping accurately around the piano.
No. 9 – “Interdependence & memorisation”. Taubman has quite a lot of things to say about “independence” be it of hands or fingers, and all of them are not nice. (Those of you who enjoy Pischna and Dohnanyi are in for a good bash!). During the first ten minutes of this tape I thought I truly disagreed with many of the things she was saying, but it turned out that it was more the way she talked about it, then what she actually did. Upt to his point I truly enjoyed the videos, but this one left me with a vague feeling of uneasiness, in regards to her choice of words and explanations.
No. 10 – “Fingering” – Basically principles of fingering.
All in all these are superb videos and I definitely recommend them. Not only they give a detailed view of Taubman’s ideas and way of working, as they give – as close – to possible – the experience of attending her seminars. Will the video replace the seminar? I don’t think so, because if you go to the seminar, in addition to all that the video offers, you get to work with a Taubman teacher on your repertory applying
under guidance what you have learned during the talks.
Finally, although I would be very interested in getting the book, my feeling is that without the video the book will be near to useless. (Maybe they also thought so and decided not to publish it).
I hope this helps.
Best wishes,
Bernhard.
Topic: The Taubman Institute Videos