Mezzo staccato ?

[nastassja]

Hi!

I am trying hard to play my Bach with a mezzo staccato touch, but I find it extremely difficult to do (and to have a consistent sound). Speeding up is also an issue.
Does anyone have recommendations/exercises for developing this specific articulation?
Thank you!

[iansinclair]

I'm sure if you ask six people you'll get seven answers... for me, however, I treat that as what I call detache, and the relative amount of time I hold the key (or pedal) vs. how much rest I put between notes is very much dependent on the overall tempo.  I was trained as an organist, however, not a pianist, and I really am thinking about organ practice.  Not quite sure how I'd handle it on a piano (I play Bach on the organ, never piano!)!

[outin]

I also prefer the term detached. I remember having trouble with it in the beginning partly because I was so used to playing legato and being very exact with note values. But now it seems natural to let go of the longer notes when playing baroque. For me it's more abot the feeling of letting go a bit early and taking more time with the moves between the notes. Staccato implies a different thing to me...

[outin]

.

[c_minor]

Does mezzo staccato mean something like "less crisp"? I'm currently relearning the G-minor minuet from the Anna Magdalena notebook and my teacher advised rolling my hand forward before releasing the keys (instead of just lifting the hand vertically).

Not sure if this can work for fast passages though..