Musical Thoughts
Below are some inspiring quotes from a book by the great Russian piano teacher, Heinrich Neuhaus, The Art of Piano Playing, which is considered the one book any pianist should read if they should read just one. Neuhaus, who taught at the Moscow Conservatoire, has taught some of the greatest pianists of the twentieth century including virtuosos such as Gilels, Richter and Lupu.
Diligence
“Mastery of the art of working, of learning compositions…one the reliable criteria of a pianist’s maturity – is characterised by an unwavering determination and ability not to waste time. The greater the part played in this process by willpower (going straight to the goal) and concentration, the better the result. The greater the passivity and inertia – the greater the time needed for learning a composition, while interest in it inevitable flags”.
I also heard an experienced singing teacher say something like, “It doesn’t matter whether you have a lot of talent or a little bit, everyone has to work. Just having a good voice doesn’t make you a good singer”. In the same way, a pianist who owns a Steinway isn’t necessarily an excellent pianist. Neither is perfect pitch, naturally agile fingers or an ability to memorise quickly an indicator of musical talent. Even talent can be nurtured and multiplied through much hard work. It is rare for anyone to ever reach his or her full potential, but you may as well see how much you can achieve through effective practising.
Artistic Image
“Work on the artistic image should begin at the very first stage of learning the piano and note reading”. Often, when students first learn a piece, they do not think about the meaning of the piece and merely play notes, and sometimes even wrong notes, rhythm and dynamics! It is important to be careful with the notes, and rhythm, but it is equally important to regard phrasing, tone quality and balance between the different layers of sound, and to be sure of musical intent. This is what separates the average piano student from the talented artist.
“A performance that satisfies musically, that is interesting, emotional, the holds the attention and carries away the listener, an interpretation that provides food for heart and intellect. If that is lacking, then to perform…is pointless…this, incidentally is what led Anton Rubenstein to lament: “Everyone knows how to play!” meaning: “everyone knows how to play but only a few know how to perform”.
Purpose & Passion
“Our purpose is modest, and at the same time vast; it is to play our amazing, our magnificent piano literature in such a way as to make the hearer like it, to make him love life still more, make his feelings more intense, his longings more acute and give greater depth to his understanding...teaching which sets itself such an objective ceases to be mere teaching and becomes education”.
“Whoever is moved by music to the depths of his soul, and works on his instrument like one possessed, who loves music and his instrument with passion, will acquire virtuoso technique; he will be able to recreate the artistic image of the composition; he will be a performer”.
Diligence
“Mastery of the art of working, of learning compositions…one the reliable criteria of a pianist’s maturity – is characterised by an unwavering determination and ability not to waste time. The greater the part played in this process by willpower (going straight to the goal) and concentration, the better the result. The greater the passivity and inertia – the greater the time needed for learning a composition, while interest in it inevitable flags”.
I also heard an experienced singing teacher say something like, “It doesn’t matter whether you have a lot of talent or a little bit, everyone has to work. Just having a good voice doesn’t make you a good singer”. In the same way, a pianist who owns a Steinway isn’t necessarily an excellent pianist. Neither is perfect pitch, naturally agile fingers or an ability to memorise quickly an indicator of musical talent. Even talent can be nurtured and multiplied through much hard work. It is rare for anyone to ever reach his or her full potential, but you may as well see how much you can achieve through effective practising.
Artistic Image
“Work on the artistic image should begin at the very first stage of learning the piano and note reading”. Often, when students first learn a piece, they do not think about the meaning of the piece and merely play notes, and sometimes even wrong notes, rhythm and dynamics! It is important to be careful with the notes, and rhythm, but it is equally important to regard phrasing, tone quality and balance between the different layers of sound, and to be sure of musical intent. This is what separates the average piano student from the talented artist.
“A performance that satisfies musically, that is interesting, emotional, the holds the attention and carries away the listener, an interpretation that provides food for heart and intellect. If that is lacking, then to perform…is pointless…this, incidentally is what led Anton Rubenstein to lament: “Everyone knows how to play!” meaning: “everyone knows how to play but only a few know how to perform”.
Purpose & Passion
“Our purpose is modest, and at the same time vast; it is to play our amazing, our magnificent piano literature in such a way as to make the hearer like it, to make him love life still more, make his feelings more intense, his longings more acute and give greater depth to his understanding...teaching which sets itself such an objective ceases to be mere teaching and becomes education”.
“Whoever is moved by music to the depths of his soul, and works on his instrument like one possessed, who loves music and his instrument with passion, will acquire virtuoso technique; he will be able to recreate the artistic image of the composition; he will be a performer”.