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The piano is a beautiful instrument. Its players often come across as mysterious; these people who have spent hundreds of hours practicing scales and repeating phrases over and over again to reach sheer aural perfection. To an audience member it can have a similar effect to watching a magic trick or a ballet: it is so skilled and beautiful it almost seems impossible, a feat of the Gods.

But what is going on underneath all of this hard work and magic? It certainly isn’t luck that such an effect can be made.

The little bolts of electricity running through their neurons as they play are not connected the same way as concert goers’. Piano players brains even work differently than the way musicians’ are wired ^[1]. And this is all because of the instrument they are playing. The piano makes them and their brains unique.

So, read on, and don’t say I didn’t warn you (especially if you have a big-headed pianist in the family!)…that pianists’ brains are different than everyone else’s. Here’s how:

Piano players are more balanced

This stands to reason. Pianists are born (like all of us) with one side of the brain being favored more than the other. This is not unusual; everyone has a natural preference for which hand we prefer holding our pen in or eating our cereal with (from a young age). The difference here is that pianists begin practicing using both parts of the brain when mastering the use of each hand whilst playing.

If one hand were to be weaker than the other, playing the piano would not work. Without skill in both it can end up sounding clunky and unbalanced, at best. This necessity to practice and to master both hands means that the brain effectively evens itself out ^[2]. With practice, despite each player having a naturally stronger hand when they begin, by the time they have become an expert, the weaker hand is strengthened to the same degree as the stronger one.

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Piano players are more logical multitaskers

A piano player also more easily creates a link between their frontal lobes. But what does this mean?

Basically, this handy part of the brain contains control of emotional responses, social behaviors and even impulses, so it’s handy if you have easier access to it than most.

This also means that pianists are likely to have stronger problem solving and multi-tasking skills and be able to tap into their creativity with greater ease, too.

Piano players are more free to express their authentic selves

One study by Dr. Ana Pinho^[3] found that when playing, the well practiced players would turn off the part of the brain that offers stereotypical brain responses. This allows them to play the true expression of who they are and what they want to ‘say’ with their music, rather than some copycat phrasing. (This could be a very useful skill if transferred to life and everyday situations, where the advice of ‘just be yourself’ might work with these dexterously fingered individuals.)

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Piano players are able to use their brain’s energy more effectively

Less energy is used in the motor skills section of the brain. It seems once you have mastered your craft, your brain simply needs less blood and oxygen sent to this section, thus freeing up energy for other parts of playing, like phrasing and emotional connection to the song.

Piano players are well practised at conversing (though not in a language we are used to using everyday)

In the study by Dr. Charles Limb^[4], when pianists improvise, it was found that the parts of the brain containing the language center lit up unexpectedly. Despite being a motor skill, when riffing in a call and response style, players are actually talking to each other!

So, that’s it! Basically, pianists are awesome! And I would encourage anyone to try out just five minutes a day of playing if you ever have a piano or keyboard near you. Who knows, you might become the next Rachmaninov, or even Chopin. Or you might simply remember where you put your car keys.

Learning to Play the Piano- A Traditional Teacher or the Modern Way?

admin Keyboard Technique June 23, 2011April 12, 2020Absolute, Benefit, Concert Pianist, Electronic Tutorials, Grade 8, Guidance, Learning Piano, Learning To Play The Piano, Music School, Nbsp, Own Time, Piano Course, Piano Teacher, Play Piano, Play The Piano, Pupils, Traditional Music, Traditional Teacher, Weather

I think to best answer this question, you need to ask yourself what you wish to achieve?

If you are looking at concert pianist status, I think I can comfortably suggest a traditional teacher and music school is the way to go.

On the other hand, if you are just interested in playing for pleasurem, then you could go either the traditional way, or the modern, online style of course.

The main benefit in online courses is that you can study when it suits you, even if it is two in the morning. I don’t know of too many teachers that are happy to accept pupils at two am.

However, even though some online courses are very good, it is difficult without the absolute guidance of a professional.

However, \the Rocket Piano course is probably the next best thing, if you can’t afford a teacher or have access to one for that matter. The courses are delivered online by download, so you can review the material in your own time, and that is very flexible.

Now the case with Rocket piano is that the team who have developed it are all at Grade 8 level, so they’ve been around for a while.They have knowledge in all genera’s of piano . The system comprises of three book sof information as well as electronic tutorials.

The lessons have also been created to cater for all levels of player, regardless of weather you have just begun, or are at a much more advanced level.

To Learn More about this course, please head over to Rocket Piano.

Piano Techniques A Few Techniques That Helps

admin Keyboard Technique June 22, 2010Age Piano, Bass Note, Beautiful Music, C Major, Chord Piano, Dedication, Learning Piano, Left Hand, Melody, New Age, Open Position, Ostinato, Pianist, Pianists, Piano Music, Piano Player, Piano Technique, Staccato Sound, Triad, Yoke Wong

Piano Techniques A Few Techniques That Help

by: Yoke Wong

The piano is an interesting instrument to learn. With commitment and dedication, it is hopeful to master the art of playing on a piano. Pianists use different piano techniques, to play piano. A person, interested in learning piano can choose a technique that he/she is comfortable, from an array of piano techniques.

Broken chord
Broken chord piano technique is a technique that can be learned with ease. In this technique, a chord is broken up into notes. All the tones, involved are heard in the same instant. This is called solid chord. If a pianist is using his/her finger and playing a C major triad, then he/she can break it up into three notes and can playing them one after the other, this is called broken chord. Broken chord technique is used commonly, in the New age piano music. It is enthralling to listen to the music, when a piano player plays the notes of a particular chord, in the broken style. The sound of the piano is fuller and the music sounds wonderful.

Ostinato
This technique allows a pianist to generate music that is fuller. The specialty of the technique is that there is repeating pattern, which is present, frequently in every kind of music. The repeating pattern is called ‘ostinato’. Ostinato gives this technique its charm and depth. The Ostinatos can be utilized, in the creation of staccato sound. Two chords are used to produce harmonic background.

These two chords are created by the left hand and the right hand invents melody. Even a repeating bass note can be used to create the ‘ostinato’ pattern. This technique also stresses on melody, which makes the music created through the application of this technique, alluring! The Ostinatos, quickly provide you the complete background and keeps the mood of the piece, intact. Then the melody can be introduced into this background to create beautiful music!

Open position chord
The open position chord technique is a technique that covers the two octaves of a keyboard and a person has to make use of both the hands, while playing. The open position chord is not an easy technique to master. Once a person familiarizes himself/herself with the chord structure, then it is easy to apply this technique. This technique allows one to create better sounds that the closed position chords.

Crossover
The crossover technique is used in the New age pianos and it spans one octave or more. The pianist, while applying this technique on the piano uses the left hand and produces a cascading pattern of notes. These notes ascend and descend, according to the way it is played. In some musical compositions, which can be played using this technique, a few chords are broken up into arpeggios. This generates a beautiful harmony loop. The chords are broken up with the left hand and the right hand polishes the melody, in the composition. While learning this technique, one has to master the left-hand crossover and then one has to learn to add melody, with the right hand.

All kinds of piano styles have their own share of techniques and risks. A particular technique suits a specific style. Some techniques prove to be very useful than other techniques. While playing on a piano, a pianist has to adopt a particular technique that suits the style of the music and the pianist himself. Learning new techniques makes a person play on a piano efficiently and create music that mesmerizes the listeners!

Tags: piano lessons, piano tips, learn piano, music teacher, learn free piano

About The Author

This article is written by Yoke Wong . She has published a series of piano courses , free piano lessons, piano sheet music , and many piano playing articles.

Article Source: Piano Techniques A Few Techniques That Helps

Piano Basics- Scales and Arpeggios

admin Keyboard Technique May 9, 2010May 7, 2010Bowman, Eve, Fingers, Grief, Joints, Magic Touch, Note Patterns, Paint, Pianist, Pianists, Piano Basics, Piano Scales, Piano Teachers, Scales And Arpeggios, Simple Steps, Simplicity, Solid Foundation, Suitable Manner, Tate, Tendons, Ups, Warm Up Exercises, Warm Ups

I am well aware that for many people, the idea of playing scales, and other warm up exercises is about as exciting as watching paint dry. However, there can be no substitute for technique and good playing basics, like ensuring that scales and arpeggios are played correctly, and in a suitable manner as to ensure correct warm up of the hands, fingers, and joints. Many pianists have come to grief, by simply sitting down at the piano, and getting straight into a full routine to play a complex work, without the former warm ups suggested.

Now, the pianist may well get away with this for quite some time, even possibly years. although more likely than not, they will experience quite debilitating injuries in due course.

The tendons of the hands are placed under considerable strain when complex works are played, and the problem is exacerbated by people with small hand spans, as they need to stretch more to play the more complex works.

Particularly with beginners, by laying a solid foundation, and understanding the scale and note patterns, the student will be able to appreciate the more complex playing techniques in later years, and tackle them with greater ease as well. Many great piano teachers have spoken about the piano being about simplicity, in that even complex processes are made up of simple steps, often joined together by rapid playing. Whilst this is simple in its own right, it will become even simpler when attempted and done after a suitable warm up, every time.

Scales and Arpeggios are also mentioned in Wallace Tate's Magic Touch Piano Manual, describing the Bowman Method.

Tendonitis and Piano Playing – How Can Tendonitis For Pianists Be Resolved or Dealt With Appropriately?

admin Injury Management, Keyboard Technique, Overcoming Adversity, Piano Method, Tendonitis May 8, 2010May 7, 2010Beethoven, Cessation, Fingers, Joints, Muscles Of The Arm, Nbsp, Period Of Time, Physiotherapy Clinics, Pianist, Piano Playing, Possibilities, Professional Pianists, Regimen, Repetitive Strain Injury, Scales And Arpeggios, Seven Hours, Sonata, Tendonitis, Tendons, Tique

It is no secret to just about any long term pianist that occasional pain and muscular discomfort may occur from time to time, during their playing careers. Effectively, this is the result of repetitive strain injury. Many serious or professional pianists will typically practice for around seven hours a day, and over a period of a number of years, will add up to a long term pressure on the joints and muscles of the arm, hand and wrist.

As with any sporting activity, it is encouraged to ensure that a thorough warm up session be undertaken first, and then too, a cool down session, to slowly relax the body prior to the cessation of exercise. The same can be applied for pianists, as this will contribute to less chance of injury. Now, I am not going to suggest that playing scales and arpeggios before you launch into the Beethoven Pathétique Sonata is going to cover you against all and sundry injuries. However, it certainly is an important part of your playing regimen.

However, let's consider the actual forces and strain that are going on with the arm, and hands, let alone the wrist and fingers. As far as the arm is concerned, many pianists extend the arm in such a way as to apply considerable force to the wrists ad tendons, as they play, and this can certainly be sustained for a period of time,. However, given the nature of the work in question, some pianists will start to notice pain if they are stretching their fingers considerably (when the hands are small, and the notes spread widely over the keyboard). The preceding example is by no means the only possible scenario, but certainly a common one, amongst others.

There are a number of possibilities to undertake to resolve the problem, and for some, that includes attending physiotherapy clinics. They certainly have their place, and some are undoubtedly very good. In fact, some have an excellent reputation. A question that I would ask however, is to perhaps see if we can find a way to eliminate the problem form developing in the first place. Is such an option available to pianists? The short answer is yes, although it is dependent on the teacher, and student adopting a different method of playing, which like any new endeavour, will take time to master, but ultimately, bring forth greater rewards to the pianist, as well as the pleasure of an improved sound. You might well ask, "How can dealing with tendonitis improve the sound?"

The sound itself, is the result of the quality of the playing. When a pianist is able to play with less fear due to a greater relaxation at the keyboard, and a technique that allows a greater freedom of movement in the hand and fingers, as well as positioning relative to the keyboard, the strain can be greatly minimised on the tendons. Whilst some people may try to convince you that you can cure the problem in a few days, I personally believe that to be irresponsible, and dangerous. If you play on through a damaged tendon, you will likely do more damage. You are better off resting the injury till it heals, and then applying a technique that has been proven, like the Bowman method.

Next, are you experiencing or dealing with overcoming piano injury, for the long term?

You will also gain an enhanced comfort and improvement in your playing, with less stress and injury. To learn more, see the therapeutic techniques that are possible for classical pianists.

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