Ralph R. Hall [email protected] Ralph R. Hall http://www.brasshausmusic.com
I hope that in my professional life as both player and teacher I don't come across as being quite as one dimensional as some responses hint! To Jonathan I would say that maximum concentration is not confined to difficult, technical passages - far from it. The player who concentrates 100% in the Four Last Songs will be rewarded more than a cavalier approach will bring. And since when did concentration diminish and inhibit musicality? Not necessarily and not often, in my experience. Those who are unmusical will be so whether they concentrate or no but those who do not play accurately enough would certainly benefit from a greater level of concentration. William makes some good points and of course mere repetition can be extremely boring if used at the wrong time and in the wrong circumstances. I hope I am not guilty of this! Teaching is all about problem solving and I am often rewarded by the look on a students face when I used the 'rule of ten' to enable them to conquer a difficult passage. I don't think this is learning by rote and nor do many think that piano virtuosi learn concertos from memory by rote. It is by repetition so that muscular memory alleviates the onus on the player to think of every note as they flash by. Aside from not having to learn as many notes when we prepare solos for performance, we don't have have the consecutive nature of fingering passage work that is an aid to memory. Often we have to think about each note as we play from memory - back to concentration again. William is right to say that we should seek out help, advice and even inspiration from others. Although this is simplistic, there are, broadly speaking, two types of player; the natural, and the player with a basic ability who has to work like mad to overcome what nature has denied him. I count myself amongst the latter and this is where concentration has been so important. You CAN overcome difficulties through sheer concentration - I know, I've done it. There is no sadder sight (or sound!) than a colleague who is a completely natural player with everything coming so easily to him, suddenly crashing and burning because of some problem arising unexpectedly. Those of us who are lesser blessed are better equipped to deal with the unexpected. My professor was a demonstrator - no use to me. I needed things explaining and my problems analysed. Listening to someone play faster, more easily and yes, more accurately without being able to tell me what to do or why I cannot, is of little help. (He had other virtues, though!). Valerie's interjection brings no enlightenment and I hope is merely flippant. If not, she totally misrepresents me and I would like satisfaction at twenty paces! Ralph R. Hall _______________________________________________ post: [email protected] unsubscribe or set options at https://pegasus.memphis.edu/cgi-bin/mailman/options/horn/archive%40jab.org
