PIANO PRACTICE, REIMAGINED

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MYTH NO. 2: PIANO PLAYING IS A FINGER ACTIVITY!

The No. 1 technical mistake made by a large majority of piano students and many of their teachers.

Watch previous Myths again

Next Week's Myth

Stay tuned for Myth No. 3, where we will talk about musical expression, technique, and talent… and no, it’s not what you think!

Video highlights:

00:02. Myth No. 2: Piano Playing is a Finger Activity!

01:05. Reality.
01:34. The ‘chain reaction’ involved in pressing a key. Where does the needed energy come from?
02:28. What is the role of the fingers?
02:44. Whole-arm action and weighted playing – an ergonomic symbiosis between the human body and the mechanism of the piano.
04:30. Whole-arm action has countless expressive benefits. A few examples.

05:34. Myth Origin. On evolution, automobiles and dinosaurs .
06:16. A short historical overview. The harpsichord and its ‘light’ mechanism.

07:14. The invention of the modern piano – and the changes it brought. The heavier mechanism of this instrument.
07:36. Who were the first pianists? Applying the old technique to the new instrument.
09:12. The evolution of the piano continues… while technique stagnates.
09:39. A few funny excerpts from piano method books written in the early 19th century.
11:34. Chopin and Liszt step in: the forefathers of whole-arm action and an ergonomic approach to piano technique.
11:49. Nonetheless, the ‘finger’ approach reigned in the 19th century.
12:06. Musical compositions reflect the continual evolution of the piano. A few examples.
13:25. Our habit of judging things by their appearance – another root of this myth.

13:51. Why the Finger-Only Technique Doesn’t Work.
14:32. Wrist tension and arm rigidity – two ‘inseparable companions’ of finger-only action.

16:37. Myth Dangers. Misinformation.
16:54. Piano methods that promote the harmful ‘5-finger-position’ approach.
18:23. Jumping as a space travel strategy LOL.
19:05. Can we compare piano playing with computer typing?

19:56. Solutions.
20:09. The progressive Russian approach to whole-arm action. Learning how to use the arm first. The importance of non-legato.
21:14. Gradually ‘zooming in’ and activating the fingers. The cycle of effort/relaxation.
22:20. Our PCA tutorials focused on whole-arm action and weighted playing.
22:55. Is whole-arm action compatible with finger strength and velocity? Understanding the symbiosis.
23:12. Weighted playing is the best finger strengthening exercise! Wrist navigation vs ‘finger stretching’.
23:50. Relaxation – the secret behind finger velocity.

25:29. Should we always play with ‘heavy’ arms? Adapting the weight to our expressive purposes. A few examples.
27:24. “Is this technique for me”?
28:39. In the next episode…
28:55. Bloopers!

By the way, if you’re interested, here is that image depicting the evolution of the piano (in high resolution):
Evolution of the Modern Piano (Source: Wikipedia).

Tutorials mentioned in this video:

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‘Ilinca’s teaching style is warm, exciting, and fabulous for beginner and advanced students alike’

As a piano instructor and performer, I’m so grateful to be able to continue honing my own practice regimen and musical exploration by studying with one of the greatest piano teachers of our time – literally every day if I like! All from the comfort of my own home via the internet and my tablet.

Ilinca leaves no stone unturned in your piano / musical journey and you can go at your own pace while she shares practice recommendations and inspirations to keep you going and keep you committed to your study.

I’ve tried other sites, but here you have the entirety of what you need, from the downloadable-as-you-go sheet music (all the music you need is included in your membership!), to the step-by-step video tutorials covering every piece in the Russian School of Piano Playing.

And Ilinca’s teaching style is warm, exciting, and fabulous for beginner and advanced students alike. She is a true role model of every aspect of this beautiful art form. She has tweaked and transformed my playing, all online. I highly recommend learning piano or polishing your skills within the encouraging container Ilinca has created and within this holistic piano coaching experience!

Carla Fleming – Erie, Pennsylvania, USA. Piano Instructor, Performer, & Certified High Performance and Mindset Coach