Fundamentals of Piano Practice

[CC]

I have now nearly finished my 3rd edition book, which can be downloaded at my web site:
https://www.pianopractice.org/
Your past remarks have greatly helped to improve it, and please send in your comments (I prefer direct email although discussions among members here are also valuable), as I will soon finalize it for print and ebook. Chapter two probably needs more editing.

[adodd81802]

just a heads up. Your advertising in every forum is annoying and just going to put people off reading or taking you seriously. You need to put a bit more effort in than a "copy / paste" message or "take a look at my website" pleas to get anybody to take you seriously.

[CC]

I'm not advertising; I'm doing this, contributing my time for free, because everything on my site is free, I'm doing this for the benefit of everybody -- people who have been here already know this, since many years ago.  The faster people get suggestions to me, the faster better material gets to more people.  At least, that's my end of the logic.  I know advertising should not be tolerated here, but there should be legitimate exceptions for the good of all.

[CC]

You are right; THX!! nobody should be "above the law"; I haven't been here for years and am forgetting. I'll try to delete the others.  Besides, three posts is actually a disadvantage for me because then I have to monitor three threads instead of one.  Wouldn't it be better to have just one forum instead of three?  That would absolutely eliminate multiple posts 100%. You can't ignore any of the sub-forums, so you end up checking all three anyway, except, perhaps the tuners and restorers.

[adodd81802]

I read a small section of the 3rd version of your book and also researched a number of reviews towards your information.

Am I right in saying you don't actually play the piano yourself?

[dcstudio]

Am I right in saying you don't actually play the piano yourself?

I was going to read the material... but that's kind of all I needed to hear.  Thanks adodd.

come on, really?  are you freakin' kidding me? lol. 

[adodd81802]

Haha!

DC I could be wrong, I've been going off a lot of very mixed reviews, some indicating that the book was developed from the idea of the author watching their daughters be taught at the Piano.

However in the information regarding author here -

https://www.amazon.com/Fundamentals-Piano-Practice-Chuan-Chang/dp/1419678590

It looks like he may have played.

However without being (trying) cynical, as previously stated the author has posted 4-5 times throughout this forum (and in Pianoworld?) to push their book out there, if it's the holy bible of the piano:
a - it should sell itself, this is now a 3rd edition so the book in principle has been out some time
b - a genuinely good thing doesn't come for free, regardless of a person's good nature, if you have the answers to the piano virtuoso - You don't give them for free.

Lastly, has anybody heard of the author as a pianist? Don't get me wrong, they may be a fantastic writer (although not supported by the reviews i've seen) However I go through all the books and even diaries and memoirs of proven piano professionals before reading somebody i've never heard of (no offence to the author)

However in their defense, Dorothy Taubman is regarding by some as a Pioneer in safe piano technique and I never did see her playing. Who knows, have a little read and let me know what you think.

I read a couple of chapters, some of it common sense, some of it the author seems to argue their own point with themselves and so leaves too much open to interpretation or guessing. No book will compare with a 1-1 piano teacher.

Author, feel free to question my opinion.

[bronnestam]

I owe this book and the author a lot of gratitude. When I rebounded to piano playing 4 years ago I was determined to NOT repeat the same mistakes that had made me abandon piano practicing a few decades earlier. I knew that practicing was not just about "trying to learn" some new pieces and repeat the old Hanon exercises some 7 million times more. I needed some advice on HOW to practice.
And I had no teacher by then. There was none for me. So I searched the net and somehow, don't remember how actually, I stumbled over this book and I read it and tried what was written there. Some tips were unvaluable to me, some I discarded when I found they did not work for me. But without a doubt, it was this book that got me going. Later on I have found the works by Graham Fitch, and also a real piano teacher, and also summer schools with even more piano teachers, so now I have plenty of valuable resources.

But still, it was this book that helped me to start. The idea of starting to play the piano again was not from this book, but without it I suppose I would have got nowhere.

And it was, indeed, for free.

[dcstudio]

It looks like he may have played.

then my apologies to the author...  so I clicked the link and it said... "this is the first book ever written on how to practice the piano.."

lol...come on.

bronnestam... a recognized member name vouching for this guy and his material...  

hmmmm... gotta say that does make me more inclined to look at it again.

[adodd81802]

Well with that in mind i'll continue reading and give the book a full Analysis.

DC I agree, some of the points made in the book, in combination with the reviews I have seen and the way in which this book was "advertised" on the site put me off.

But again it wouldn't be fair if I didn't go through the whole thing and see what I thought. In contrast I previously began reading through Hoffmans book on Piano technique and admit there are some points in there I also disagree with also.

[dcstudio]

Well with that in mind i'll continue reading and give the book a full Analysis.

DC I agree, some of the points made in the book, in combination with the reviews I have seen and the way in which this book was "advertised" on the site put me off.

But again it wouldn't be fair if I didn't go through the whole thing and see what I thought. In contrast I previously began reading through Hoffmans book on Piano technique and admit there are some points in there I also disagree with also.

well,  now that bronn said he has heard of this guy and used his stuff...  that adds a degree of legitimacy that wasn't there before.   I understand the finer points of marketing these kinds of books--but to claim that this is the first book ever written on how to practice...  that is pretty off-setting to just about anyone because it couldn't be farther from the truth.

It doesn't really matter to me... in fact--more power to anyone who can sell a music book, really... whatever it takes...  but that just keeps jumping out at me.   Surely the author would have consulted other sources or at the very least he would have performed a search of existing material before making such a claim... no?  Amazon has plenty of books on this subject.  Why is his better or different then any of these is my question...  and how can he answer it if he believes he has written the first book on the subject...  and if he can answer it and is aware of these other materials... why did he make such a claim in the first place.

see...?

[ianzilla]

Are you kidding me? you two members are being so critical of this guy who wants to share his free book with the forum.  I've read on this forum and on reviews and I've seen people say he helped them a lot. And his techniques have helped me too.   He's clearly helping people, but you guys are not by being a bunch of pessimists criticizing every little thing.  So what if he doesn't play the piano?   Yundi Li and Lang Lang's teacher in China doesn't play much either and look where it got them?

[ianzilla]

Mr. Chang I really respect you for contributing your time to help others with this book!  I have enjoyed reading it in the past and applying some things to my playing

[dcstudio]

Are you kidding me? you two members are being so critical of this guy who wants to share his free book with the forum.  I've read on this forum and on reviews and I've seen people say he helped them a lot. And his techniques have helped me too.   He's clearly helping people, but you guys are not by being a bunch of pessimists criticizing every little thing.  So what if he doesn't play the piano?   Yundi Li and Lang Lang's teacher in China doesn't play much either and look where it got them?

I am simply  saying the author needs to find another angle other than "this is the only one" to market his book.

it was not meant as a personal attack -- he asked for opinions


why are you defending him?

[dcstudio]

Mr. Chang I really respect you for contributing your time to help others with this book!  I have enjoyed reading it in the past and applying some things to my playing

Ianzilla...and your less than 40 posts in how many years? hmmm... appears out of nowhere...  I know that user name..  you made a comment on something I posted years ago... and claimed to be brand new to the forum..

you are not helping matters

[ianzilla]

Ianzilla... hmmm... appears out of nowhere...  I know that user name..  you made a comment on something I posted years ago... and claimed to be brand new to the forum...in fact you only seem to appear in an effort to engage... or say something you don't want to be held accountable for.


and you are not helping Mr. Chang by using a sockpuppet account

You're ignoring things that I just said, what I posted in the past is not even relevant to this topic. I post when I want to, do you have a problem with that?  I don't post a lot because I have a busy life unlike you retired 50+ folk that lurk the forums all day

I'm adding my testimony to help him because I really like his work.    And you said he doesn't "play" so you wouldnt listen to him which I believe is wrong. and I defended him for that.

[dcstudio]

You're ignoring things that I just said, what I posted in the past is not even relevant to this topic. I post when I want to, do you have a problem with that?  I don't post a lot because I have a busy life unlike you retired 50+ folk that lurk the forums all day

I'm adding my testimony to help him because I really like his work.    And you said he doesn't "play" so you wouldnt listen to him which I believe is wrong. and I defended him for that.

pardon me...but  I didn't say he didn't play.. Addod did...and in fact I apologized for that.

and you do know that he's not the first person to write a book about this... right? why don't you address that issue.



to the op... I don't think you need to make such a claim.. especially since it isn't true.  How am I to take you seriously if you are unaware of other sources on this subject.

[keypeg]

I would actually be interested in other books on practising.  The only one I know of off hand is Practiceopedia which btw I thought had some excellent ideas.  What else is out there? 

[outin]

I would actually be interested in other books on practising.  The only one I know of off hand is Practiceopedia which btw I thought had some excellent ideas.  What else is out there? 

I am not sure what you mean by books on practicing? Most books I have about playing the piano do address this subject as well, just from different angles.

I have read Chang's book a few years ago and it is serious and well written, although I didn't find it helpful myself. So definitely not a scam of any kind.

[dogperson]

I would actually be interested in other books on practising.  The only one I know of off hand is Practiceopedia which btw I thought had some excellent ideas.  What else is out there? 

RachFan lists his favorite books on practice here
https://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php?topic=31571.0 

[adodd81802]

Are you kidding me? you two members are being so critical of this guy who wants to share his free book with the forum.  I've read on this forum and on reviews and I've seen people say he helped them a lot. And his techniques have helped me too.   He's clearly helping people, but you guys are not by being a bunch of pessimists criticizing every little thing.  So what if he doesn't play the piano?   Yundi Li and Lang Lang's teacher in China doesn't play much either and look where it got them?

DC strangely these were the sort of rants that went on the Amazon reviews, which I thought was strange that every 1-2 start ratings with the reader stating their reasons, somebody commented to slander their opinions almost like this was the bible of piano playing...

As mentioned i'll give it a read and have no doubt there may be some information in this book that is useful to beginners, but what I read so far seemed like common sense and as I have done a LOT of research on piano playing already, this hasn't presented anything new to me as of yet - including rotation.

[dcstudio]

DC strangely these were the sort of rants that went on the Amazon reviews, which I thought was strange that every 1-2 start ratings with the reader stating their reasons, somebody commented to slander their opinions almost like this was the bible of piano playing...

As mentioned i'll give it a read and have no doubt there may be some information in this book that is useful to beginners, but what I read so far seemed like common sense and as I have done a LOT of research on piano playing already, this hasn't presented anything new to me as of yet - including rotation.

Thanks Addod )




so ok...

just to clarify matters..  THANK YOU DR. CHANG for sharing your work.  I understand your degree is in science not music -- so I am pretty amazed that you wrote this in the first place.
I do not think that your offer is a scam--just to clarify.


I have a problem with one sentence in the ad for this book which does not state accurate information... that is my one and only issue... and it is a valid one...  

this is not meant as a personal attack to the author.
I do not believe it is rude of me to state this issue as it is completely factual and can be supported with a simple google search.

this issue has yet to be addressed by the OP...who asked for opinions about his work... which I have made NO comment on one way or the other.  

I have only addressed his marketing...

so what is the problem?  

[keypeg]

I am not sure what you mean by books on practicing? Most books I have about playing the piano do address this subject as well, just from different angles.

Well, this is a book about piano practice.  I read a comment that there are many other books of this kind - which I assumed meant, other books on piano practice.  So I asked what other books on practising (piano practice) might be out there.

[dcstudio]

Well, this is a book about piano practice.  I read a comment that there are many other books of this kind - which I assumed meant, other books on piano practice.  So I asked what other books on practising (piano practice) might be out there.

In response to you and to the claim that this is the only book available on this subject.  This is just from a simple search... this is just at amazon.. and only a few.

https://www.amazon.com/How-Practice-Piano-Veteran-Teacher/dp/1477693866

https://www.amazon.com/Practice-Hacks-Piano-Shortcuts-Pianist-ebook/dp/B00RSKUYVK/ref=sr_1_3?
s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1446155076&sr=1-3&keywords=piano+practice

https://www.amazon.com/Piano-Practice-Effectively-Exercises-Book-ebook/dp/B00K3E38HK

https://www.amazon.com/Playing-Piano-Pleasure-Improving-Discipline/dp/1616082305/ref=sr_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1446155129&sr=1-4&keywords=piano+practice



I do believe at this point, although this undeniable fact seems to be quite unpopular among many members here--that I have quite clearly and accurately supported my statement that this is not the only book available on this subject as the author claims.  

and again... I mean no personal attack to the author... I am simply trying to understand why he is saying this.  I do not believe this is a scam or that he is not helping people... nor do I believe that questioning inaccurate information is in any way pessimistic as was previously asserted.

thank you Dr. Chang... for sharing your information with the forum... you are obviously quite popular among some members here.  However, this does not change the fact that yours is not the "first and only" book on this subject and since it doesn't seem to bother anyone at all that you are claiming that it is...well hey, more power to you...!!   I hope you sell a million copies... and I mean that with the utmost sincerity.





 

    

[dogperson]

RachFan lists his favorite books on practice here
https://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php?topic=31571.0 

This was previously posted as a response.

[keypeg]

Thank you, dctstudio.  I never really looked it up since I have a teacher who gives more than adequate information on practising and approaching music.  Not all do.  I read through Chang's book when I first joined the piano forums when I had just gotten a piano before I studied with anyone.  It may be that he has a unique angle, or a more detailed angle, or maybe it is "the only one" that is not written by people who are not already music professionals.  My memory is hazy after such a long time.  I think that some things were more clear to adult learners because they were explained from "the other side" - more from where they were coming from.  So it's not "the only one" in terms of a book on practising or practising piano but maybe the only one of that kind.  Whether or not that is a good thing I don't know.

As I recall from way back when, Chang also plays piano himself and has had lessons.  He observed the lessons his daughters were receiving from a very good teacher, and found what was being taught to be valuable and not what one usually sees.  He then set out to capture this advice in language that a non-musician wishing to enter this world of music might be able to understand.

I browsed through the book back then.  I did not study it or work with it.

[dcstudio]

"The only book available today that teaches how to practice at the piano, not just what techniques you need (scales, runs, hand/finger independence, endurance, jumps ..."

This is what it says but not what the author meant--guess I got that confused... oh well.

Like I said... it doesn't seem to bother anyone..  so Go Dr. Chang

[keypeg]

"The only book available today that teaches how to practice at the piano, not just what techniques you need (scales, runs, hand/finger independence, endurance, jumps ..."

That would be an incorrect statement, and it is good for you to point that out.

It may be that the author did not check whether there were such books before writing that and genuinely believed it to be true.

[dcstudio]

It may be that the author did not check whether there were such books before writing that and genuinely believed it to be true.

then we can agree that at the very least he is not very well-informed...   and I am curious--since his degree is in science and not music and he has no teaching experience or professional experience what sources he did consult.  How can he know that his ideas are original if he has no knowledge of other authorities in this area?  

forgive me for asking the obvious... and with all due respect-- what qualifies a scientist who watched his daughters take piano lessons to write such a book and claim it is the first of it's kind?  I am not disputing his conclusions... I am only asking how he arrived at them....
and how he could have written 3 editions of this, claim to be an authority on this subject and yet not be aware of these other books?

but hey... he's doing the favor by providing all of this free of charge... so who am I to question this...

go Dr. Chang

[schumaniac]

Maybe we should read the book!

For a 2323.... RH trill, start by practicing the 23
parallel set (PS). To speed up this PS quickly, use the 2.3 PS
#1 [(10) Parallel Sets Catalogue], the repetition of 2 and 3
played as an interval. Alternate between 23 PS and 2.3
repetition as speed is increased and practice relaxation. When
the 23 PS is sufficiently fast, practice the 32, then 232, then
2323, etc. Starting the first two notes fast is the trick to
playing fast trills, and a 23 PS is the best way, even after you
have become expert at trills. Fast trills are fundamentally
different from slow trills because momentum becomes important in
fast trills. Therefore, expect a change in the feel of the trill
as it is sped up. One consequence of momentum is that fast
trills work best at resonance frequencies. Don't be surprised if
some frequencies (speeds) work better than others — this is
normal.
Relaxation is more critical for the trill than almost any
other technique because of the need for rapid momentum balance;
there are too many conjunctions to rely solely on parallelism to
attain speed. The momentum of the finger motion must be
counteracted by the arm rotation.
Stress will lock the fingers to the larger members such as
the hands and arms thus increasing the effective mass of the
fingers. Larger mass means slower motion: the hummingbird can
flap its wings faster than the condor and small insects even
faster than the hummingbird (the low hum of the hummingbird vs
97
the high pitched whine of the mosquito). It is therefore
important to incorporate complete relaxation into the trill from
the very beginning, thus freeing the fingers from the hand.

As far as I see, this is definitely NOT the first book to have said this. But nothing is terribly wrong about this book, and if I didn't know, I would've assumed that it was by a decently qualified teacher.

[outin]

Well, this is a book about piano practice.  I read a comment that there are many other books of this kind - which I assumed meant, other books on piano practice.  So I asked what other books on practising (piano practice) might be out there.

As I said, many of the books I have do include practice tips or discussion about practice methods. I just don't see following just one book on piano practice (whatever that even means) that useful because people are different and it's always best to find you own working methods. But in some cases it clearly works and at least the players themselves think they have achieved good results.

If I remember correctly Chang's book focuses on how to achieve results fast with music that normally would require solid background in pianism, so it's main target group probably are adult beginners and amateurs with little formal lessons. There's technique included as well, as the quote above shows. I did not find the book very useful partly because I found his way of explaining things tiresome to read. As I do find most "scientific explanations" of piano technique, because for me it all starts from the idea of sound and the music in my head and the movements are built from that, not the other way round. But then again, my aim was never to learn to play a few pieces as fast as possible. Many amateurs do have such goals, so they probably find this sort of book just what they ordered.

[dcstudio]

 Chang's book focuses on how to achieve results fast with music that normally would require solid background in pianism,

now there's a good selling point for this book

really, I have nothing against this material at all.. if he's helping people and making money then great.  

[timothy42b]

That would be an incorrect statement, and it is good for you to point that out.

It may be that the author did not check whether there were such books before writing that and genuinely believed it to be true.

The focus of CC's book is on practice approaches, and that is a bit different from most of the other pedagogical material out there.  He is guilty of a bit of hyperbole in how he describes it, but he is not completely inaccurate.

He also has a highly useful bibliography at the end, where he cites a list of noted piano pedagogy texts, and I've found it useful to go back to those sources and read some of them as well.  So yes, he does know what other books are out there.

I've found a good bit of his specific advice useful.  Also, it aligns with Whiteside's theories (his daughters's teachers were from the Whiteside tradition) and you know I'm one of Abby's fans.

His daughters did play to a very high standard on less than the usual hours per day practice, which is evidence her teachers taught some very efficient practice habits, and suggests there is something we could learn from his book. 

[rmbarbosa]

Mr. Chang is one of the most brilliant "brains" I know in all my life.
The criticism about his book has a cause : years and years of routine methods of teaching piano playing and the conservatism of most of the piano teachers who teach with the same methods they have learn.
Mr. Chang offers another aproach. A cleaver aproach, based on the new conceptions about learning. Neurologic conceptions. Advanced conceptions. Clever conceptions. Cientific conceptions, because Mr. Chang is a cientist.
And yes, Mr. Chang plays piano. He knows very well about what he says.
Bernhard has some posts that could be posted by Mr. Chang. And all we know how Bernhard is a wonderfull piano teacher.
By the way: we`ve all seen this little wonders chinese - 7 to 10 years old - playing pieces grade 8 or 8+. How are they taught? With hours and hours and hours of scales, harps, Czerny, Hanon? I doubt...
So, the book of Mr. Chang represents an invaluable contribution.
And last but not least, Mr. Chang offers his work free.
He deserves, if nothing else, our respect and gratitude.

[dcstudio]

I will say one thing for you Dr. Chang you have some very outspoken support.   

[adodd81802]

I must also add i'm now a little intrigued. Apologies to Chang and my original negativity.

Put hold on my original assumptions and i'll give a full read through (taking into account that the book is free and also everything I know about the piano so far). I'll update this post with a full review Monday.

i'm certainly not one to hesitate in being proved wrong, and often delighted when I am.

[adodd81802]

I must also add i'm now a little intrigued. Apologies to Chang and my original negativity.

Put hold on my original assumptions and i'll give a full read through (taking into account that the book is free and also everything I know about the piano so far). I'll update this post with a full review Monday.

i'm certainly not one to hesitate in being proved wrong, and often delighted when I am.

Plot Twist, Chang is actually a massive cyber hacker using peoples accounts to promote his book.

OK i'll stop now.

[timothy42b]

I must also add i'm now a little intrigued. Apologies to Chang and my original negativity.

Put hold on my original assumptions and i'll give a full read through (taking into account that the book is free and also everything I know about the piano so far). I'll update this post with a full review Monday.

i'm certainly not one to hesitate in being proved wrong, and often delighted when I am.

I did not like his grandiose hyperbolic style.

I liked what he said a great deal.  While it isn't original, he did gather a lot of ideas into one place, and few teachers I've met have done a good job teaching how to practice.  (aside from the pros that hang out here and PF of course, you are excepted!) 

I did not read the section on piano tuning and can't comment on that. 

[pianoplunker]

I have now nearly finished my 3rd edition book, which can be downloaded at my web site:
https://www.pianopractice.org/
Your past remarks have greatly helped to improve it, and please send in your comments (I prefer direct email although discussions among members here are also valuable), as I will soon finalize it for print and ebook. Chapter two probably needs more editing.

I remember you CC Chang from back in the Usenet days. although I have only read bits and pieces, I think the book has alot to offer to many questions I have seen posted here on PS.  But I do think this would be even better with a teacher who gets it.  I like the section on Mental Practice  - it works for many things in life as well as piano

[CC]

I certainly do play the piano; took lessons for 7 years from age 10 until I had to leave home for college, and have kept playing all my life. Even practiced for 8 hrs a day on weekends. Tell me, how else could anyone write such a book???  I have two Steinway grands and two digital pianos in my home, and keep them in tune myself.

[toughbo]

CC, have you made any videos to demonstrate any examples from the book?

[CC]

 I understand the finer points of marketing these kinds of books--but to claim that this is the first book ever written on how to practice...  that is pretty off-setting to just about anyone because it couldn't be farther from the truth.

It doesn't really matter to me... in fact--more power to anyone who can sell a music book, really... whatever it takes...  but that just keeps jumping out at me.   Surely the author would have consulted other sources or at the very least he would have performed a search of existing material before making such a claim... no?  Amazon has plenty of books on this subject.  Why is his better or different then any of these is my question...  and how can he answer it if he believes he has written the first book on the subject...  and if he can answer it and is aware of these other materials... why did he make such a claim in the first place.

[/quote]

THX, to you and everyone else; since I am still working on this edition, any comments will be appreciated. First, I am not selling my book because it is free, and it sells itself. Second, I made the mistake of multiple posts because I did not want people buying my 2nd edition on Amazon when the 3rd edition may come out within months, so I posted in many places just to make sure. Third, it is not fair to say that I wrote that "this is the first book on how to play the piano" because I did not. The complete sentence ends with "because all the other books do not treat practice methods adequately"; I support this statement by reviewing most of the popular piano books available, in the book review section of my book. Please read these detailed reviews, it took me many years to read through them all! There are a few smatterings of practice methods here and there, but nothing as comprehensive as my book, all in one place.  What is so amazing is that there is practically nothing from Franz Liszt, although there are over 10,000 publications on Liszt, many touting him as the greatest teacher whose teaching methods have been "most widely analyzed"!!!, as also reviewed in my book.

[dcstudio]

"The only book available today that teaches how to practice at the piano, not just what techniques you need (scales, runs, hand/finger independence, endurance, jumps ..."

This is what it says but not what the author meant--guess I got that confused... oh well.

Like I said... it doesn't seem to bother anyone..  so Go Dr. Chang

Dr, Chang... I cut and pasted this from the blurb for your book...  I didn't say you said this was the only book on how to play...  This is how your book is advertised.. this is a quote.

but like I said ... it really doesn't seem to bother anyone and your book is free... so you go Dr. Chang... in fact I have had some heated comments for even bringing this up...

you obviously have many fans... or you have helped many pianists..  I have nothing whatsoever against you or your materials, sir..  I am simply inquiring why it says this in the ad--but it's really not important...  your intentions are good enough.

[CC]

I just posted this, but don't see it, so am posting agin (sorry if it is a double):
Before you buy any book on piano, please check to see if I reviewed it, because I have reviewed quite a few, so you will know what is, or is not, in it.  For those who were doubting if I new my material, this should give some assurance -- you can't read and write extended reviews without learning something.  What is surprising is that most of those "favorite" piano books had little or no references, whereas I reviewed 42 books and have over 50 references.  Anyone who has done any research knows that the quality of a work can often be measured by the number of references and bibliographies (book reviews).  It is a sad reflection on piano books that most of them don't even have references, let alone book reviews, which simply means that they did minimum work towards writing the books.

[outin]

I just posted this, but don't see it, so am posting agin (sorry if it is a double):
Before you buy any book on piano, please check to see if I reviewed it, because I have reviewed quite a few, so you will know what is, or is not, in it.  For those who were doubting if I new my material, this should give some assurance -- you can't read and write extended reviews without learning something.  What is surprising is that most of those "favorite" piano books had little or no references, whereas I reviewed 42 books and have over 50 references.  Anyone who has done any research knows that the quality of a work can often be measured by the number of references and bibliographies (book reviews).  It is a sad reflection on piano books that most of them don't even have references, let alone book reviews, which simply means that they did minimum work towards writing the books.

You are right, most books on playing the piano have little references. But that is natural, since very few of them claim to be any sort of scientific publication. While I agree that references are important, I would say quality is more important than quantity, unless you are actually doing meta-analysis. If I understand you correctly you have aimed to create a piano method  based on both thorough research of existing literature and your own experiences on learning the piano. Most other books are based simply on the writer's own experiences as a student, pianist and teacher. I highly appreciate your attempt to objectively review pre-existing literature and apply your findings to the learning process. But in the end I think it's quite impossible to avoid the subjective nature of the learning experience itself.

For example what I remember from your book is that I could not relate at all to your methods of learning the pieces. So while it clearly is a valuable source of information, as a method the book probably works well for those who can, but not so well for those who have different issues and a different mind-set. Which is true of every piano method I have encountered. So I treat them all as something to complement good teaching and self-experimenting, rather than an answer to the question "How can I learn to play?". I think anyone who thinks he can just find one book that will enable him to play is going to be disappointed

But I really should review your book again to continue this discussion in a more informed manner, since I don't remember that much about it and what I read was not the latest version.

[CC]

I want to make sure I don't give the impression that all the 42 books I reviewed are not worth reading from the point of view of learning practice methods.  Some are excellent.  I have listed 9 as must reads, and another 5 are recommended reading.  What I wanted to convey is that none of them give as complete descriptions of efficient practice methods as students should have, although this obviously depends on the student.

What I am hoping with my book is that teachers will use it to save them time, and to provide the minimum set of practice methods every student should know. At least one conservatory is using my book as their piano textbook. At another conservatory, the students discovered my book and started asking questions to their professors about why certain methods described in my book were not taught there. This embarrassed some profs, so the conservatory banned my book!  Of course, this probably meant that all teachers had to read my book, and all the students immediately downloaded my free book; that conservatory is probably producing more good pianists than ever!

[dogperson]

Hello Dr. Chang,
Would you kindly clarify your references to your 'free book for download'?  On Amazon, it is for sale at $25.35.  When this new edition is finalized, will it be available for free download or for sale, or both?
Thanks in advance.

[keypeg]

Hello Dr. Chang,
Would you kindly clarify your references to your 'free book for download'?  On Amazon, it is for sale at $25.35.  When this new edition is finalized, will it be available for free download or for sale, or both?
Thanks in advance.

There is a free downloadable PDF version.  I'm surmising that a hard copy (paper, printed) version is what is for sale.  I wondered about that myself.

[keypeg]

The first time I read through this book was when I started piano again.  First time round I had self-taught as a young person, and then had no piano for 35 years.  I had just had a few years of lessons on another instrument - my first lessons ever - and that experience had me thinking about the nature of music study and lessons.  I haven't looked at the book since then.  In the meantime I have been receiving instruction by a good teacher, and that includes pedagogy.

The book has some general principles that I absolutely agree with.  One is that ideally music study should be complete, and include such things as theory for understanding - "total music education". 2. "Discover how the hands etc. move, then condition them to move that way, and a way of achieving this." - the need for this.  We need to have a "how" to the physical side of playing, which is an interaction of the body and the instrument.  3.  Certain principles of practice, such as starting at the hardest parts = usually starting at the end, working in small sections, and overlapping those sections.  This is definitely taught by some teachers (I learned it) and is probably used by musicians.  4. "Post-practice improvement" provided that you have practised in an effective manner.  I have experienced this myself.  It is important to know, because it is encouraging, versus the thought that what you reached at the end of a session is the only thing you'll get out of it.

One danger of this book is if it is taken as a combination bible and cookbook, and followed absolutely.  Somewhere near the end Dr. Chang warns not to do that, but there is also a reference to it as a "textbook".  It should not be done for several reasons.  One is that an instruction may be misunderstood and thus misapplied; or it is not appropriate for that learner and learning style.  Also, there are some different ways of teaching and approaching which are all quite good; the same for learning - a same teacher may suggest various paths for various students.  So getting locked into any one way and seeing it as the only way, could be detrimental.  I would rather see the book as a resource of ideas to explore.

I read references to "intuitive" playing as a negative, but what I see described as intuitive seems to me more like knee-jerk reflex than intuition.  I believe strongly in effective ways, and that a good teacher can bring us to things we would not come up with on our own.  But there is also an inner voice that can lead us in the right direction, getting us to ask the right questions and seek the right things.  That voice also guides us in practising and in working with a good teacher.  We must separate knee-jerk from actual intuition.

I see instructions of a sequence for learning things, a day 1, 2, 3, 4, and specific approaches and order to them.  I would not want to see any of this followed rigidly.  And perhaps that was not the intent.  (Dr. Chang?)

Among the various things: - HS - I disagree with this as an "always".  It depends on the music, what you are doing, and where you are at.  2. that non-musical practice is an absolute no-no --- actually I want to explore this separately.  3, about memorization vs. reading, and that non-memorizers or poor memorizers abandon pieces after learning them etc.  If you learn effective reading, so that you can truly read and there is a musicality that attaches itself to it as well as freedom, that will not happen.  But the experience of "reading" probably led to that conclusion.  What I am trying to say is that there are other realities.

There is a section about children, written for parents, and here the parents are told how to guide their children, including when the children are studying with a teacher.  One thing refers to "instructions given hurriedly in lessons".  I know some teachers who are very particular about how they instruct, how they prepare the student, and how they want the student to work at home.  Some of the advice given in this section would undermine what some of these teachers do.  It also states that the book should "serve as a textbook" for the parent.  I've already written about it being a textbook.  But when there is a decent teacher who is working in a particular manner, then you do not want to be working along a different system.  It frustrates the teacher's work, and confuses the child.

Recitals as motivating children?  That is an opinion, not an absolute truth.  It works for some students.  It is a disincentive for some, an absolute turn-off for others, and where there is intrinsic motivation in the student, it may frustrate that motivation.  I have also raised children who are now adults, and I was a child myself.

There is reference to books that have been written on practising, but what is missing - for good reason - is how teachers teach practising and how to work on music.  Often these books are not written by the teachers because teaching is more fluid than that.  It is an interaction and a back and forth.  At least two senior teachers I have conversed with at length have decided against putting down their approaches and teachings, for fear that they would be turned into something rigid - which does not reflect what they do.  We cannot, and must not, assume that all teachers do stereotypical things when they teach.  I DO AGREE that the common way of teaching, which is to assign piece after piece (identified in the book), that does not work well.  It is that kind of thing which got me to question how effective learning, practice, and student-teacher interaction might actually occur, after my first period of lessons stopped.

As a general resource giving food for thought and brand new insights - since so many things are in fact so narrowly done "out there" - it is an excellent book.

[keypeg]

quoting myself:

2. that non-musical practice is an absolute no-no --- actually I want to explore this separately.

The explanation given against non-musical practice is that a student practices non-musically at home (I think described at getting the right fingers and notes - I forget), and then tries to play musically in front of the teachers and it falls apart.  He cannot do in a lesson what he did not practice at home.  In another section reference is made to a student practising without listening to himself - the quality of notes - I don't know if this also comes under musical practice.  If so, then my concept and therefore understanding of the premise may be off.

Exploring this:
When I played strictly self-taught = most of my life, I always pursued musical expression.  In my head I heard melodic line, call-answer between them, crescendos, sharp punctuating staccatos - all kinds of things - and strove to produce them.  I came to "technique" that let me produce these things after a fashion but what I did was ineffective.  When I took lessons as an adult on another instrument I largely did the same, and advanced quite quickly through grade levels before it fell apart on me, then fixed itself, then stagnated.

A major effective practice for me is to aim to play UNmusically.  To get certain skills under control.  As soon as the musical line and emotion are felt, this goes out the window.  Say you are learning an effective motion for playing loudly without strain, or say you are learning to move smoothly to this location on the keyboard, or say you are learning to coordinate pedal.  When learning a new skill you can only concentrate on one thing at a time.  I may want to let go of timing, or any musical element.  I may want to work 100% on this mechanical thing that I want to master so that it is in my body and mind.  Then when I have it, I can draw on it, use it, and have it help me play musically.  The same is true for some intellectual skills -- being able to hear pulse or timing when you just imagined you were hearing it.  I definitely do not want to be always practising musically.  By musically I mean expressively etc.  I don't know if that was meant.

Now an "unmusical" thing which might actually be meant under "musical" might be concentrating on playing each note evenly, rather than having some faded notes and some super-loud notes.  This is not expressive i.e. "musical" but perhaps this kind of thing got included in "musical".  In that case I do agree.

For the scenario of the student playing badly in front of the teacher because he's expected to play musically but has been practising unmusically I have various thoughts.

The first is that the aim in a lesson may not be that of playing musically.  This depends on the teacher, how he teaches, and which stage they are at in that lesson.  A teacher can be aiming at a particular skill, and not actually want musical, expressive playing in that lesson.  This may be your own experience with teachers at play, without knowing what other teachers do.

Other factors can also cause a student to bomb in lessons.  One is if practising was done in a spaced out manner, without focus on solid goals, then the student may have spent time at the piano but not absorbed anything.  He may not be playing as well at home as he thinks.  Or he may be playing a passage temporarily well after running through it 100 times (the poor practising approaches mentioned in the book).  2. The expectation that every lesson session is a performance in which you must woo and impress the teacher can create such nervousness, that this can cause a student to bomb.  If you turn this around into "We're building a chair together.  We're examining that chair and seeing where to sand off the rough edges.", then that kind of paralysis vanishes.

There can be various reasons for playing to fall apart in lessons.