I notice people don't talk much here about actual "playing." Why is that?

I think I said this wrong.

I've presently been going over my Strauss waltzes for a German gig next week. In each piece there is so much room for interpretation and improv. And that's what I've been doing. But I'm frustrated because every time I play each one a different way I have to stop and finger the notes properly.

So.....the conclusion I came up with was:

It's easier to get my fingers to a point where I can play just about any ideas that I think of rather than fumble over the notes every time.

I notice people don't talk much here about actual "playing." Why is that?

Piano techniques do not concern me in the least. Instrument emulations would. I didn't play piano when I was under 30 either!

I've come to this conclusion about playing. You are better off working on finger technique than doing anything else as a performing musician.

Reason: Once you've mastered that, you can then play anything you want to, you can dress it up as you want, you can "fake it," you can improvise and actually "hear" different chord voicings, etc. All in real time. i.e. You can play just about anything you want out of your head.

I've been working hard on the piano keyboard lately, and playing for myself for a change, and I'm finding that the more I (REALLY) concentrate on every note that I'm playing, and how they come together, that my "pitch recognition" has improved considerably....necessary to improvisation, chord voicings, chord substitutions, etc.

Something that helped a lot. Years ago a friend told he made up an exercise that helped him considerably. Play a musical line......any line you want to make up....even a song you know. Play it mentally in your head and THEN lay it on the keyboard slowly, and note by note. Hear the note you want to hit in your head first, then place your finger down on what key you think matches what you hear internally.

Talk about "power of the mind" principles. I wish I started doing this years ago instead of only recently.

I go on about "power of the mind" a lot because I've been using it most of my life in every day situations. Example: I don't ever wear a coat in the winter (short of 10 degrees). You can't be cold if you don't "think you're cold." Same with music. You'd be amazed at how well you could play just by simply concentrating with full force mind power on what you're playing AS you play the music. Even telling yourself what a great musician you are, and hammering that home every day.......that alone will make you play better.

And that conludes this week's radio broadcast.

M

thats a good one, but also hard to discuss. as its done all by ear... however, in general i found that each sound on a keyboard deserves its own aproach with the use of articulations,expression Pedals, sustain, wheels, joysticks and such... this is where you can make arrangers really shine...its also the least documented part..

Piano techniques do not concern me in the least. Instrument emulations would. I didn't play piano when I was under 30 either!