Posted on 05/24/2012 8:34:23 AM PDT by Borges
Classical Ping
If my students devoted half the time they spend on video games to practicing their piano, I would be happy. :-)
Thanks much for posting...I sent it on to three friends who are pretty good piano players (one can play the Hammerklavier; one can play the Appassionata, and one teaches piano (but I have not heard her play).
I enjoyed the article, and affirm that piano is the foundation for good musical understanding and mastery. While I perform publicly on another instrument entirely, I play piano joyfully (badly) only for me or for very close friends. Piano does indeed make a mode of expression accessible to anyone who will pursue it.
I had a friend a number of years ago with a GORGEOUS 6 foot Steinway grand in her living room. I’d come over after a 3-4 hour gig on my other instrument and play this wonderful instrument for another 2-3 hours. It was a total joy of music, those particular days!
“.... affirm that piano is the foundation for good musical understanding and mastery.”
####
That’s what I had always understood, and thus one of my life goals is to learn to play keyboards first, and if I live long enough, God willing, other instruments.
I can’t remember the specific reasons why the piano is considered so instructive in understanding music, but it is nice to see that concept affirmed.
I think a big part is that a piano is laid out in a perfect row of keys. It maps one-to-one with the musical staff in a way that’s very easy to see. This is different from say a guitar or violin where you can play the same note in different places on the neck on different strings, or from a horn where the pattern of keys that you press doesn’t always relate in an obvious way to the pitch of the note. A piano has a very literal and non-idiosyncratic “user interface”, which makes it easier for learning musical concepts on, especially early on.
Yes, good illustration.
Now to find the time to get started.......again...
My 17 year old son plays pretty well and it is his “leveler” when he has a rough go at it in an athletic event or even if he has a successful game. He is very musically inclined and also talented athletically.
He comes home, sits at the piano in his uniform and plays and plays and plays then he gets up with a smile on his face and heads for the shower. I think it is soothing for him even though he tends to be a “pounder” on the keys.
My piano teacher remarked ‘Your left hand really doesn’t know what the right hand is doing, does it?’.
That was when I decided to take up sports.
LOL!
Sports are good too. :-)
That's true, it IS meditation, and it affects your brain in the same way. However, it is not without a mantra. The mantra, the elemental sound of the universe, exists in every note that is played. I rather suspect it is A440.
The piano is a machine.
I sat and played my piano every morning for well over a year, and then one day I just stopped. Didn’t seem like I was getting anywhere.
Salve
Piano is must to understand musik, is a foundation.
Attach is a links for you who would like know why Piano is foundation.
Merci
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9hx5eYiuyQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S3cB2cwVKiM&feature=results_main&playnext=1&list=PLD87182C7885235C5
Salve
I am musician and create musik, if you know it is like, alphabet but you use two hands, from abcdefg and reverse gfedcba once you do that , then comes minors.
It is hard in beginning but you will get use to it.
You will be surprise or creativity God gave you :}}}}}
Merci
Salve
My most favor
Merci
Enjoy my friends
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I16mgHHoJsk&feature=relmfu
I played string bass, violin, clarinet and tuba at a college or community symphony level but could never get over the piano block.
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