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PRACTICE TIPS #70: Principles of Phrasing, part 4
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Brent Hugh
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Mar 07, 2002 18:53 PST
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PRACTICE TIPS is an occasional email newsletter with practical
piano practice tips and ideas, by Brent Hugh
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PRACTICE TIPS #70: Principles of Phrasing, part 4
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In the last three newsletters we have talked about
* how to tell where the points of intensity/relaxation are in a phrase
(listen to the harmony, the rhythmic activity, and the melodic contour)
* how to communicate the shape of the phrase
(dynamics, tempo, articulation)
* how these ideas might play out in real life
This week . . .
Basic Music-making vs. Artistic Music-making
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The ideas discussed in the previous three newsletters are basic and
simplified "rules of thumb" that can (and should!) be taught to every
beginning musician.
Artist-performers understand these ideas about phrasing as forming part of
the basic musical expectations of their audiences. But they can choose to
*play into* or *play against* these expectations. In making this sort of
choice, they often reach a higher level of artistry. For instance
* The high point of a phrase could be accentuated by playing it softly.
* The tempo could be held back at the high point, rather than pushed
forward.
* According to the principles we have discussed, a certain phrase has a
very obvious choice for its high point. The artist chooses to communicate a
different and less obvious high point.
* Tempo, dynamics, articulation, and agogic accent can be manipulated at
a level so subtle that the audience is not even consciously aware of their
use--only of the effect they create.
So often in practicing, we spend all our energy thinking about
mechanics--which finger goes on which key; how to get a certain passage up
to tempo.
But music isn't about mechanics--it's about communication! More of our
practice time should be spent thinking deeply about musical issues. Does
the music say something to you, the performer? Can you find a way to
communicate this to the listener?
If you change your practice habits to consider these Principles of
Phrasing, in every phrase you play, every single time you play that phrase,
you will find that your playing will change for the better in a very
fundamental way.
These Principles may not give you every answer, but they *can* help you ask
the questions and explore the issues that matter most in music.
Happy practicing!
--Brent
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PRACTICE TIPS is by pianist, teacher, composer, and internet nerd
Brent Hugh. Brent knows about practicing mostly because he *does*
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elephant that is "how everyone in the whole world should practice
the piano".
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+++++++++++++++++ Brent Hugh / bhu-@mwsc.edu +++++++++++++++++
+ Missouri Western St College Dept of Music, St. Joseph, MO +
+ Piano Home Page : http://www.mwsc.edu/~bhugh +
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