Mood of the piece

[Fasolatido]

My friend at school said he likes to "get into the mood of the piece" before he plays it. I was like...wha? How do you do that? do i suck as a pianist because i cant? does anyone else do that and how do you achieve it? is this important at all or to each his own. i've never done what he described, i just enjoy the music as i'm playing. is this total bullshit or what...(what is a valid answer, but please expound!)

[donjuan]

well, I guess it depends on the music.  I typically like to start on the same level as the audience and work the music up at the rate the listener can follow along with. 

and what exactly do you mean by "before he plays it"? do you mean before playing the first note in a performance or before actually learning the piece?  If you get too much into a mood when learning a piece, it tends to stunt progress..

Your friend at school has his ways of doing things - they are his ways, maybe not yours, but for sure you shouldnt say it's all bullshit.

donjuan

[Fasolatido]

Your right im sorry. that was immature of me i guess i just had no idea what he really meant, i thought he was just trying to be all...i dont know.  before he plays the first note by the way.

[anda]

it depends on the pianist - i.e., i need to play in my head at least the beginning of the work before i start playing it on the piano - that "gets me in the mood" (as you say). but you aren't necessarily a poor pianist because you don't do that. eventually, all that matters is how the work sounds.