PRACTICE TIPS #65: Less Time Wiggling Fingers; More Time
Thinking
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Brent Hugh
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Sep 30, 2001 18:28 PDT
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PRACTICE TIPS #65: Less Time Wiggling Fingers; More Time Thinking
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One of my former piano teachers used to say that pianists should spend less
time mindlessly wiggling their fingers and more time thinking. The
following practice idea, from Daniel Miller in Houston, Texas, shows one
way to put this idea into practice
Daniel writes:
"I have a technique that helps me a lot with difficult passages. First, I
try to isolate the section that is causing me trouble. I try to find the
smallest reasonable unit of the difficult portion. This usually turns
out to be a pretty small section of the piece---often a measure or less.
Then, I play it at the fastest speed I can manage, that is, the fastest
tempo at which I can remain relaxed and play musically. I put my hands
(or hand, if I'm doing this hands separately) up on the keyboard, play
the section, then put my hands down in my lap for a brief time. During
this brief time (5 to 10 seconds, even shorter), I try to hear the
passage in my head the way I want it to go. During the period of silence
while my hands are down, I'm trying to form an aural image. Then, back
go the hands on the keyboard to play the passage again. Then down again.
On and on, I might do this five, ten, fifteen times, depending on the
passage.
"What I have found in doing this, is that it greatly helps with technical
problems. Often, if I'm having trouble with a large section of a piece,
I might isolate a small section of the hard part, practice it this way,
and lo, the whole difficult section will improve greatly. This is true
especially if the section's difficulties are relatively uniform, say, a
fast arpeggiated section, or octave section.
"Your hands have to be down, off the keyboard, preferably in your lap,
relaxed, and during that silent time you are 'aurally visualizing' (an
oxymoron, I know) the music. There's something about the close
juxtaposition of the section played, then visualized, then played, then
visualized, on and on, which seems to correct problems, to give control.
"Also, the alternation of playing hands with relaxed hands; this seems to
help too."
My Thoughts About Daniel's Practice Method
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I have done most of my own practicing for several years using this basic
method. It really does work as Daniel says.
I would emphasize Daniel's point that your hands should be "down, off the
keyboard" as you "aurally visualize" the section. It is during this down
time that learning really takes place.
Try it and you will see.
Happy practicing!
--Brent
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PRACTICE TIPS is by pianist, teacher, composer, and internet nerd
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+ Missouri Western St College Dept of Music, St. Joseph, MO +
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