Technique Series: 2. How do we really play softly?

How can you cultivate a secure technique in students which enables them to play softly with confidence at the piano? Playing softly in performance can be a scary experience for student pianists (and professionals!) who need to know that they can play on right to the edge of the piano's sound, whilst also being sure the note will project and won't fall silent. In this video, Kris Worsley demonstrates some fun and engaging ways to develop a technique for soft playing right from a student's earliest lessons (you'll need a glass of water and a ping pong ball!), and explores the importance of this technique for more advanced students. He also opens up his piano to find a playground inside, and explains how this playground can help even a young child feel calm, relaxed, and completely at one with the piano.

[@mariagalloway2972]

Good evening,
I am an 80 year old Lady in Texas and begging to refresh the piano classes of my teenage years. It has proven a little difficult to restart but I love it. Therefore I absolutely love the way you explain the subtle things we have to learn to play decently. I am looking forward to be more than a keyboard player.
Thank you so much!!!
Maria Galloway
From Texas

[@lawrencetaylor4101]

Merci beaucoup, bien expliqué.
In French they call the see-saw a balançoire, a balance.
Kids call it a tappe-cul, smash the butt.
First time I've seen your channel, very impressed.
I laughed my whole life that I was born with two left ears. In choir class I was the one that teachers told to move my lips and not make a sound.
So at 65 years old I bought a piano (like my Mom did) and wandered around on You Tube videos and dived in with a Faber book. But since I live in a French area, I also bought La Méthode Rose, bilingual French-British.
I finally started with a teacher, earlier this year. I bought a John Thompson book (in French) and that helped me make better progress. But I was having problems with sightreading and especially Alberti Bass since I have an inner ear problem.
Last week I decided that I should be more musical, and so started on page 1 of LMR, doing each exercise striving for musicality and to really learn what it means to play. My teacher noticed the difference after a couple of days. This week we went over several of the Thompson songs, working on dynamics. I'm excited to soon really finishing the Level One books, but if I ever feel the need I will do it again.
I had the same approach when I started learning Applied Kinesiology to help in treating patients. I took a 100 hour basic course in America, and never used it. I took another one from David Leaf in Europe, and then started his advanced refresher courses he gave once a year. But I went back and took the basic course 8 times.
I have a video of my exercises and treatments for the low back, as well as the upper extremity.
Oh My Aching Bach
And if anyone is near Suisse Romande and wants to really evaluate why they might have aches and pains that are rebellious to treatments....

[@satomlin1]

Thank you. I played piano some years ago. Church pianist. I learned hymns on my own. I begin studying classical music of which I am a huge fan.
One of the things I realized was I did not have skills to play the notes in a certain way. I’m learning. Thank you

[@kpunkt.klaviermusik]

The see-saw is such a cute analogy to pressing a key at the piano! I never thought about it that way.
Another way of thinking about it is trying to play a soft but LONG sound. Not just the moment when the hammer hits the string - but the full time the tone is ringing. Like a magician :-)

[@Nadzap]

Awesome analogy. Thank you for this.

[@me_607]

Wonderfully explained!

[@stevenbeer6005]

Well explain!
Cheers!

[@ciararespect4296]

Waste of time