7 years student playing Chopin etude blindfolded

[yadeehoo]

What do you guys think about that now?

This guy's got some kinetic touch

[philolog]

Impressive and amusing at the same time. I wonder if he knows that Nyiregyhazi once contemplated playing a concert with a bag over his head as "Pianist X?"

[visitor]

i don't get the point. is he that ugly?
i think this makes more sense. obviously

[adodd81802]

I think this child is obviously talented and as far as piano playing goes "gets it"

But it does raise and confirm 2 points.

Piano playing is not alone about finger or hand size, it's the full motion of back to shoulder right down to finger tip that's required to achieve sound. A 7 year old child can play a piece that adults that can span a 10th with no problem complain about stretches. I arguably think it's better if you cannot reach notes because you are then not tempted to stretch, but to think of other movements required to get you to be able to play a combination of notes. If anything hurts or feels unnatural, chances are you're not doing it right.

Next the bag is a stunt, that while impressive, simply confirms that the work required to play this piece is A LOT. Ultimately by the time you're playing every note 100% accurately and 100% speed, you don't really need to look at the notes.

2 reason's I think pianists (myself included) look at our hands when playing.
- We have not practiced enough to know without doubt we cannot miss.
- We don't have a natural motion with every note we play and so watch to make sure we can correctly make the unnatural motion do what you tell it - sort of like your boss coming to watch you work so you make sure you work harder, more meticulously.

I think taking on difficult pieces either too early or without correct training leaves us to "guess" the motion required to achieve the end result, and while it may still do it, doesn't mean it's correct, how many different ways can you hold a pen to right your own name... Furthermore, even when you find out how to hold a pen, how many still revert to what feels comfortable, rather than leaving their comfort zone.

There was another post about what happens to "child prodigy's" after growing up. And I think the answer is simple, there's no such thing in context of a child being "super natural" or beyond their normal ability.

A child prodigy is simply a child that "get's it" either through, luck, genetics or hard training.

[yadeehoo]

I agree playing without looking at your hands is a sign of inner confidence, feeling the keys is also a sense. Eventually, when you know a part so well, you don't even need to look at your hands

Still playing this whole piece blindfolded is quite a feat

[toughbo]

It's not a 7 year old child, it's somebody who has played the piano for 7 years and studied this piece for 1 year according to himself in the YouTube comments. Still impressive.

[dogperson]

It's not a 7 year old child, it's somebody who has played the piano for 7 years and studied this piece for 1 year according to himself in the YouTube comments. Still impressive.

He also includes in the YouTube comment about the preparatory repertoire he used before he tackled this etude, so the learning of the etude was 7 prior yrs of other learning including specific repertoire.  Impressive result and planned approach.

[yadeehoo]

I read his blog, lots of good  tips. Also very inspiring

[leemond2008]

Maybe that isn't a bag on his head, maybe he just has an unfortunate looking head that happens to look like a paper bag, they could be his real eyes...in which case he is looking at his hands far too much

[chechig]

Mistake, sorry

[CC]

Gosh!  Don't any of you know that it is EASIER to play with the eyes closed once you learn a piece? Concert pianists, jazz players, etc., do it all the time, sometimes looking at the audience and even talking.  No indication of any special talent.  When eyes are open, a tremendous amount of video bandwidth enters the brain, requiring enormous amounts of mental processing. When eyes are closed, all this brain power is released to play the music and makes the task easier.  Try it yourself; with just a little practice, you will soon be playing with eyes closed just like this fellow. It is especially simple if you know Mental Play and memorize using what I call keyboard memory.

[yadeehoo]

Gosh!  Don't any of you know that it is EASIER to play with the eyes closed once you learn a piece? Concert pianists, jazz players, etc., do it all the time, sometimes looking at the audience and even talking.  No indication of any special talent.  When eyes are open, a tremendous amount of video bandwidth enters the brain, requiring enormous amounts of mental processing. When eyes are closed, all this brain power is released to play the music and makes the task easier.  Try it yourself; with just a little practice, you will soon be playing with eyes closed just like this fellow. It is especially simple if you know Mental Play and memorize using what I call keyboard memory.

I agree with that. Some people are really kinetic. Eventually it's a skill anyone can master

[adodd81802]

Gosh!  Don't any of you know that it is EASIER to play with the eyes closed once you learn a piece? Concert pianists, jazz players, etc., do it all the time, sometimes looking at the audience and even talking.  No indication of any special talent.  When eyes are open, a tremendous amount of video bandwidth enters the brain, requiring enormous amounts of mental processing. When eyes are closed, all this brain power is released to play the music and makes the task easier.  Try it yourself; with just a little practice, you will soon be playing with eyes closed just like this fellow. It is especially simple if you know Mental Play and memorize using what I call keyboard memory.

I read this in your book (I am still reading) and I agree more concentration can be applied to the performance and correct motions rather than relying on your eyes watching, which for most high level pieces is practically impossible anyway.