I am so pleased your series is continuing. You are a superb teacher. I wish I could have you as a tutor. You explain the subtleties of piano playing clearly. This programme has made me reappraise my own playing and I'm hoping I can stop sounding so clunky. I'll now move on to part 2 and pedals - my bugbear.
*Forte playing* What we have to do when playing fortissimo is respond to the bottom of the key the moment we sense it. The moment I sense that I have gotten to the bottom of the key I switched off the efforts, it happens very fast. So it's an effort, followed by instantaneous release. When I practice something loud like this, I have to practice the moment where I switch from effort to release(resting). You have to have your fingers in contact with the keys and then use energy from your upper body. *Piano playing* One of the biggest faults when playing soft is not getting to the bottom of the key. I feel as though I am already in the keys before I play - and I’m very much in contact with the keybed - I’m not pushing, but I am aware of the sensation of the felt(under the key). A very powerful practice technique, play the key with the level of sound that you want, and then just a little bit of contact afterwards. Feel the bottom of the key - release - feel it - release. After a while, this will glue you to the bottom of your key. While it is very soft, it is very focused.
Great question. I'm very curious to know how. I believe the main way is to play soft and slow and speed up while still having a solid control, it's so easy to tell when you lose control since you're playing soft. Another method that I'm experimenting with is to play without pressing the keys down. You'll find that you can play fast but with no sound, gradually add more strength (and hence speed of descend), and you should be able to sound soft and quick although a little uneven. I believe playing loud is easy because it requires more muscular strength, I believe if we train to play with minimal strength such that the keys won't go down, it'll be easier to add more strength such that a soft tone is acquired.
Not a direct answer, but I find practicing the section with all staccato notes (and accurately at a decent speed) will allow you to play softly and quickly.
You do a fantastic job of demystifying the artistry of piano playing. It has been a mystery as how the concert artist create great performances when playing the great works. I wish I had you as a piano teacher when I majored in music decades ago. Thanks for the great videos.
this is such an amazing advice. I feel so blessed to have stumbled upon this channel. A very precious advice from a professional pianist. Thank you so so much!
Thank you so much Graham! Your lessons are every bit as valuable as my lessons from my teacher, but from a different angle, so to speak. I couldn't do without you now! 😄😘
Merci for this great lesson. You talked about focusing light; there is a software program used by sound engineers in the film industry that gives sound three dimensions. They use colour to show overtones. It would be interesting to record various dynamics and use this as a visual aid.
my left hand always overpowers my right hand especially in the start of the fast part in clair de lune and its sounds awful. if i force my left hand to play soft it dosent create a sound :(
For anyone having this problem: It is important to play the left hand WITHOUT the right hand and play it *slowly.* Even if you can already play both hands together. Many pianist just skips this part because they find it boring but it is really important to do especially in Debussy where you wanna play very delicate. You can practice by playing the left hand accompaniment without pressing down the keys while you play the right hand.
I would suggest trying to play one note starting from ppp to fff to ppp again. Try to feel the keyboard. And then with two notes (thirds,octaves...) after that try with chords and at the end with 5 notes together (tone cluster). ppp
In part one he said. Always play the keys to the bottom. Also in pianissimo. It's a common mistake to not fully play the keys to the bottom and it will be risk of not getting sound on each note.
On the piano example, the difference was marked to me as a more singing sound. People tell me to sing with Chopin, but never say how... is this the missing link? Or a part of it?
Great video! I just had a thought pop into my head: Why isn't ppp/fff called triple piano or triple forte? Triple fortissimo or triple pianissimo would be ffffff or pppppp, right??
О чём рассказывает этот пианист? Я думаю, что пора уже считаться с русскоязычной аудиторией. Нигде не нашёл перевода субтитров на русском языке, а так хотелось узнать о чём рассказывает пианист за роялем. Можно подумать, что на всём земном шаре живёт только англоязычная аудитория. Обидно. Вот это самый большой минус вашему сайту. Это необходимо исправить. Ведь это ИНТЕРНЕТ, а не клуб английских пользователей интернета. И почему не добавляется мой комментарий? Четвёртый раз отправляю сообщение.
Анатолий Иванович Пирогов Рассказывает о том, как правильно играть пианиссимо и фортиссимо, какие приемы и техники использовать, чтобы правильно сыграть - например при пианиссимо обязательно касаться клавишами "дна" клавиатуры, при фортиссимо не наносить "удар" сверху по клавишам, а использовать вес рук и туловища, давя рояль "вперед".
I am so pleased your series is continuing. You are a superb teacher. I wish I could have you as a tutor. You explain the subtleties of piano playing clearly. This programme has made me reappraise my own playing and I'm hoping I can stop sounding so clunky. I'll now move on to part 2 and pedals - my bugbear.
*Forte playing*
What we have to do when playing fortissimo is respond to the bottom of the key the moment we sense it.
The moment I sense that I have gotten to the bottom of the key I switched off the efforts, it happens very fast. So it's an effort, followed by instantaneous release.
When I practice something loud like this, I have to practice the moment where I switch from effort to release(resting).
You have to have your fingers in contact with the keys and then use energy from your upper body.
*Piano playing*
One of the biggest faults when playing soft is not getting to the bottom of the key.
I feel as though I am already in the keys before I play - and I’m very much in contact with the keybed - I’m not pushing, but I am aware of the sensation of the felt(under the key).
A very powerful practice technique, play the key with the level of sound that you want, and then just a little bit of contact afterwards. Feel the bottom of the key - release - feel it - release. After a while, this will glue you to the bottom of your key.
While it is very soft, it is very focused.
Mr. Fitch is amazing as always!
The difficulty for me is playing faster passages softly. How do you quickly bed the key without it becoming loud?
Great question. I'm very curious to know how. I believe the main way is to play soft and slow and speed up while still having a solid control, it's so easy to tell when you lose control since you're playing soft. Another method that I'm experimenting with is to play without pressing the keys down. You'll find that you can play fast but with no sound, gradually add more strength (and hence speed of descend), and you should be able to sound soft and quick although a little uneven. I believe playing loud is easy because it requires more muscular strength, I believe if we train to play with minimal strength such that the keys won't go down, it'll be easier to add more strength such that a soft tone is acquired.
Not a direct answer, but I find practicing the section with all staccato notes (and accurately at a decent speed) will allow you to play softly and quickly.
You do a fantastic job of demystifying the artistry of piano playing. It has been a mystery as how the concert artist create great performances when playing the great works. I wish I had you as a piano teacher when I majored in music decades ago. Thanks for the great videos.
Thank you Graham for an excellent masterclass
Every single one of these videos is an absolute gem
this is such an amazing advice. I feel so blessed to have stumbled upon this channel. A very precious advice from a professional pianist. Thank you so so much!
1:12 rach prelude
4:50 chopin trio funeral march sonata
7:25 rach elegie
9:25 chopin ballade G minor
Thank you!
Thank you so much Graham! Your lessons are every bit as valuable as my lessons from my teacher, but from a different angle, so to speak. I couldn't do without you now! 😄😘
This lesson is so inspiring . Thank you so much!
I'm struggling with this issue, very helpful! Thanks a lot!
Thank you, you are wonderful!!
Excellent tuition as always!
Very good lesson.
Excellent as always, thank you
This is so wonderful how do you explain and show your examples. Thank you very much!
this is really helpful ! Thanks !
How serendipitous. I was just starting work on this! Thanks!
Fantastic lessons Graham.
Merci for this great lesson.
You talked about focusing light; there is a software program used by sound engineers in the film industry that gives sound three dimensions. They use colour to show overtones. It would be interesting to record various dynamics and use this as a visual aid.
my left hand always overpowers my right hand especially in the start of the fast part in clair de lune and its sounds awful. if i force my left hand to play soft it dosent create a sound :(
That's a problem many face. Hope you finally fixed it.
@youyourAnxiety Its been 11 months were u able to improve on that?
sigh same
For anyone having this problem: It is important to play the left hand WITHOUT the right hand and play it *slowly.* Even if you can already play both hands together. Many pianist just skips this part because they find it boring but it is really important to do especially in Debussy where you wanna play very delicate. You can practice by playing the left hand accompaniment without pressing down the keys while you play the right hand.
私は日本人ですがphilippineに移住して、英語でピアノを教える必要があり、とても役に立っております。有難う御座いま〜す......
Great video, thanks!
Thank you!
This was a great video, one I'm sure I'll come back to. Thank you.
I enjoyed your lesson very much. Steinway and Sons, since 1853. The world's best piano.
Thanks maestro !! Good and profitfull lesson as usual..
Pls , How much is that piano grand CIF Valencia (Spain).???
May be interested.
Thanks.
Well presented. Thank you. :)
would all this be different on a digital keyboard? the one I use I believe is semiweighted
I have difficulties playing pianissimo - often notes don't sound. Anyone have advice or exercises on how to improve this?
I would suggest trying to play one note starting from ppp to fff to ppp again. Try to feel the keyboard. And then with two notes (thirds,octaves...) after that try with chords and at the end with 5 notes together (tone cluster). ppp
In part one he said. Always play the keys to the bottom. Also in pianissimo. It's a common mistake to not fully play the keys to the bottom and it will be risk of not getting sound on each note.
@@oysteinsoreide4323 Play the key; try not to press the key. Kind of like digging a little hole in the sand.
What is the name of the first piece of music introducing the video ? :o
On the piano example, the difference was marked to me as a more singing sound. People tell me to sing with Chopin, but never say how... is this the missing link? Or a part of it?
4:47 soft playing
6:37 9:30
Great video! I just had a thought pop into my head:
Why isn't ppp/fff called triple piano or triple forte? Triple fortissimo or triple pianissimo would be ffffff or pppppp, right??
because it's an italian term not English?🤔 maybe 😅😅😅
Can always shut the lid too. If it’s a smaller room, no reason to have it open
Very nice outfit ☺️😎
Is it just me or was this audio not leveled before recording, and then mastered to prevent digital analog clipping?
Who else thought the beginning was the Mario theme song
Wish you have giveaways and international shipping and I win one Upright or baby grand :)
О чём рассказывает этот пианист?
Я думаю, что пора уже считаться с русскоязычной аудиторией. Нигде не
нашёл перевода субтитров на русском языке, а так хотелось узнать о чём
рассказывает пианист за роялем.
Можно подумать, что на всём земном шаре живёт только англоязычная
аудитория. Обидно. Вот это самый большой минус вашему сайту. Это
необходимо исправить. Ведь это ИНТЕРНЕТ, а не клуб английских
пользователей интернета. И почему не добавляется мой комментарий?
Четвёртый раз отправляю сообщение.
Анатолий Иванович Пирогов
Рассказывает о том, как правильно играть пианиссимо и фортиссимо, какие приемы и техники использовать, чтобы правильно сыграть - например при пианиссимо обязательно касаться клавишами "дна" клавиатуры, при фортиссимо не наносить "удар" сверху по клавишам, а использовать вес рук и туловища, давя рояль "вперед".