Piano lessons with Claudio Arrau

[symphonicdance]

I found this book in a public library, flipped through 10-20 pages, and immediately borrowed it.  Hope it will give me tips to improve my techniques 

https://www.amazon.com/Piano-Lessons-Claudio-Arrau-Philosophy/dp/0199924341/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1449242210&sr=8-1&keywords=piano+lessons+with+claudio+arrau

Also, there's a companion website to this book.

https://global.oup.com/us/companion.websites/9780199924325/

[louispodesta]

I found this book in a public library, flipped through 10-20 pages, and immediately borrowed it.  Hope it will give me tips to improve my techniques 

https://www.amazon.com/Piano-Lessons-Claudio-Arrau-Philosophy/dp/0199924341/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1449242210&sr=8-1&keywords=piano+lessons+with+claudio+arrau

Also, there's a companion website to this book.

https://global.oup.com/us/companion.websites/9780199924325/

To my knowledge, which goes back over 40 years, that at a certain time Claudio Arrau accepted four students for exclusive and individual lessons, one of which is a former student of my late teacher, Robert Weaver, and who I know personally.  Therefore, unless this author/person was a select part of that group (and even if she was) this book by no means reflects the experience/knowledge of the other students.  The inference that Arrau continually taught and had multiple students is a lie.

Furthermore, this is once more a blatant attempt to market a book, that is relatively new and does not have any peer review, within or without the musical community.  Amazon does not count!

One knows this by the one review which references Arrau's technique of "dropping the wrist," which he totally abandoned in later life.

[symphonicdance]

May be yes, may be not...  Big question mark at least for me...

The author claimed to have worked with these people (which she claimed to be Arrau's pupils), German Diez, Frederick Marvin, Goodwin Sammel, Rosalina Sackstein, Alfonoso Montecino, Ena Bronstein-Barton, Edith Fischer, Ivan Nunez, William Goodrum, Bennett Lerner, Loretta Goldberg, Roberto Euzaguirre, Joseph Ries, Stephen Dury, and Jose Aldaz.  Are they really Arrau's pupils?

I am a slow reader, and haven't reached the chapters on core technique parts.  However, what I was attracted initially was Appendix instead (LOL), which is "Lessons" (with Mario Miranda and Bennett Lerner on works of Chopin, Beethoven, Ravel and Strauss).  Not sure if these lessons are also fraudulent...

[louispodesta]

May be yes, may be not...  Big question mark at least for me...

The author claimed to have worked with these people (which she claimed to be Arrau's pupils), German Diez, Frederick Marvin, Goodwin Sammel, Rosalina Sackstein, Alfonoso Montecino, Ena Bronstein-Barton, Edith Fischer, Ivan Nunez, William Goodrum, Bennett Lerner, Loretta Goldberg, Roberto Euzaguirre, Joseph Ries, Stephen Dury, and Jose Aldaz.  Are they really Arrau's pupils?

I am a slow reader, and haven't reached the chapters on core technique parts.  However, what I was attracted initially was Appendix instead (LOL), which is "Lessons" (with Mario Miranda and Bennett Lerner on works of Chopin, Beethoven, Ravel and Strauss).  Not sure if these lessons are also fraudulent...

To clarify my statement:  Claudio Arrau, only once in his life, decided to teach (weekly) for a period of two years, only four students.  This was in New York.

Did he coach various individuals when his schedule allowed throughout his life?  I am very sure he did.  But, to infer that these people were regular piano students like you or I, is just not true.

In terms of technique, just pull up the earliest Youtube video you can find, and he is dropping his wrist all over the place.  Then, pull up the late performances of his Beethoven playing, and it is not there at all.

Further, as told to my teacher by the former student, Arrau could reach a 14th by simply opening his hand.  That makes playing the piano a very different situation then what this book infers is available to the average student.