Study

Exercises yes or exercises no

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orlando

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Reply 21 by pianoexpert

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I will keep that in mind. Even if the matter is entirely personal. One can give general indications, but only the Teacher following the student can suggest the right approach and/or the proportion of time dedicated to this or that study.

Let's say we take a piano technique manual (I would suggest Rossomandi, as it is so well divided into fascicles); one can tackle each single little chapter, not just by repeating it, but by trying to understand which pianistic gestures it refers to. For example, today we study the trill. One will try to internalize the movement that must be performed by the hand. Studying 323232 then 313131 ...535353... etc., internalizing and assimilating the movement and identifying what is wrong in our own execution that prevents us from performing it correctly. I would say that this study can occupy half of the available time at the beginning, then decrease to a third.

During study sessions, one must also study a scale. At the beginning, a scale with sharps will be alternated with one with flats. This should serve as an aid to mentally fix the keys. Besides being technical (starting with contrary motion and then parallel motion), they must first be understood mentally. One sits before the keyboard and enunciates aloud the name of the scale, the accidentals, the leading tone, and the fingers with which it begins and proceeds. Be present during the thumb passage! (which will soon be transformed into "displacement"). It can also be played hands separately. When ready, after mental study, one performs the scale in one breath (either contrary or parallel motion) without interruptions, evaluating only afterwards the incidents that occurred during the concentration process. Naturally, the study must begin with one octave, then two and/or four. This must occupy a portion of the time dedicated to study and technical reflection.

Then Bach and Clementi. Naturally, if there are two lessons per week, one can insist on one of the two authors on alternating weeks. This can occupy a good third of the available time.

The remaining time can be dedicated to an Author of choice, choosing from collections like "my first..."

This could be one of many initial study schemes. It is evident that the Teacher, an irreplaceable figure, will advise on the "right doses." This is also because much depends on learning times and technical and musical progress. Everyone has their own timing, even if we must sometimes be amazed by particular capacities for "assimilation." A Polish pianist friend of mine replaced another pianist who was suddenly indisposed and was supposed to play Liszt's first [concerto]. ..."Fortunately" he received the proposal at two in the afternoon!!!! At nine in the evening... you understood correctly... at 21:00, he played the concerto in public.!!!!! It is a true fact!!! To be closer to us, one day, Simone came to my house to let me listen to, as we often used to do, some parts of his eighth year, prepared boldly and alongside his diploma. It was a study by Moscheles, which he performed with truly excellent speed and clarity. "...I believe it—he said—I studied it all night!!!" Incredible!!!!!

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Reply 22 by orlando

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Hello Maestro

Your confirmation is something I needed, as I had my doubts; since I cannot be followed by a teacher at the moment, I have to teach myself for now.

Then, moving on to light music (which I like), I neglected scales and specific exercises where the problems lie.... but I have resumed.

I have resumed Cesi's Kulau, I needed the diet (when I went to the teacher it came out very well, now I have to do it while struggling) and I have resumed Anna Magdalena.

You are very kind with your advice (what do your Polish friend and Simone eat?.....)

Thank you

Orlando Antonio

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Reply 23 by pianoexpert

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Ah, ah, ah! Well, if the Pope invented "misericordina," maybe they take "Musikina".... I will inquire about the dosage.

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Reply 25 by orlando

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Hello maestro

The other night I watched an interview on Sky about the "classic question" where the writer Roberto Cotroneo participated; to the question of who the greatest pianist was,

the answer was Claudio Arrau and so far so good, regarding M. Baremboim Cotroneo replies that someone weighing 80 kg cannot be a jockey, well...

Regarding M. Rubinstein he says he is a Polish peasant, and regarding Langeli only in part...

What do you think? I don't know if these kinds of discussions do good for music

Bye

Orlando

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Reply 26 by ttw

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orlando wrote:

i don't know if these discussions do any good for music

It's not that they don't do any good... they make no sense

Forgive what may seem like a peremptory judgment, but every great performer has said their own ... so I see no problem in expressing matters of taste... but "to the question of who was the greatest pianist"

... the flaw is contained within the question. Rankings in the artistic field are useless...

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Reply 28 by pianoexpert

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I agree with ttw! The question is "shocking" and therefore formulated to become "grandiloquent." But it is totally wrong!......Not to mention the answers!!!! All the names mentioned are or were Greats. We bow our heads to their Art and to the dedication of their lives to Music.

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