Someone asks you to play something. What do you play?

[timothy42b]

How is it, that pianists, or members of the forum, play pieces cold, and play it well on the spot? Is there some sort of secret to performing it on the spot?

A magician never reveals his secrets.

Just this once I will, but I have to swear you to secrecy first. 

I'll trust that you did.

Here it is:  They don't play their hardest piece cold. 

Their hardest piece is a bit above your level, so their easiest piece may sound impressive too.  But they're not dumb enough to crash and burn on something hard, cold.  They pick something they know they can nail on their worst day. 

[quantum]

How is it, that pianists, or members of the forum, play pieces cold, and play it well on the spot? Is there some sort of secret to performing it on the spot?

Be prepared.  Practice playing cold.  Can you wake up in the morning and play your chosen show piece, on your piano, in your house, in your pj's cold?  From there you gradually remove familiar items, like changing time of day, playing when your are exhausted, playing on a friends piano, playing on a completely foreign piano.

Choose your show piece carefully.  It should be something you can nail in any condition.  You should be able to play it in an earthquake in a room with glass walls and chandeliers over your head, watching the lava flow outside the window, the weather reporter struggling to stand upright is warning of the hurricane to arrive in 2 hours, and completely enjoy the moment of music your are making.  If that piece is a V I cadence, so be it, but play it well.  (Tomorrow's forecast is sunny, high pressure, calm winds, and 25 C.  Good day for a walk.)

When you are ultimately faced with a real life request to play something, your reaction should not be:  GASP do I have anything decent to play; but rather, I've prepared for this and planed for this, so here is my piece.  Play it, and own it.


This advice comes with similar conditions as timothy42b states. If you tell anyone, snails in black suits that have earpieces and talk into their shells will be watching from their convoy of black limousines.      _@"

[visitor]

Be prepared.  Practice playing cold.  Can you wake up in the morning and play your chosen show piece, on your piano, in your house, in your pj's cold?  From there you gradually remove familiar items, like changing time of day, playing when your are exhausted, playing on a friends piano, playing on a completely foreign piano.

Choose your show piece carefully.  It should be something you can nail in any condition.  You should be able to play it in an earthquake in a room with glass walls and chandeliers over your head, watching the lava flow outside the window, the weather reporter struggling to stand upright is warning of the hurricane to arrive in 2 hours, and completely enjoy the moment of music your are making.  If that piece is a V I cadence, so be it, but play it well.  (Tomorrow's forecast is sunny, high pressure, calm winds, and 25 C.  Good day for a walk.)

When you are ultimately faced with a real life request to play something, your reaction should not be:  GASP do I have anything decent to play; but rather, I've prepared for this and planed for this, so here is my piece.  Play it, and own it.


This advice comes with similar conditions as timothy42b states. If you tell anyone, snails in black suits that have earpieces and talk into their shells will be watching from their convoy of black limousines.      _@"

this. yes. +1 !

[richardb]

You play this, of course

Sorry, couldn't resist!

[visitor]

You play this, of course

Sorry, couldn't resist!

Beatles are gold.
and here's a good encore (or you can lead with it)

The Beatles for jazz piano', published by Wise Publications. All arrangements are by Steve Hill.

[samdm93]

I always play a Joplin Rag (usually Elite Syncopations). I've played them for years and feel comfortable playing them, and even people who aren't familiar with Ragtime are impressed with them and love the sound.

[irrational]

That depends how nervous I feel. 8/.

I play either Bach Prelude in C WTC 1 which people know and quite enjoy, Beethoven Op. 27 No.2 - 1 which people know and always like or Mendelssohn Song without words Op.19 No.1 which I like and is more interesting.
But I am busy adding Bach Prelude and Fugue in C Minor WTC 1.