Welcome! On this space, I will be writing about music and piano study with a bit of tech and productivity mixed in.
When it comes to playing piano for others, how you play often matters more than what you play.
Once you can play a particular piece with accurate notes and rhythms, you'll want to focus on the quality of your playing.
Here are 4 tips to bring your piano music to the next level and improve the general perception of your playing.
Make sure your wrists are free. Allow your wrists to move up and down to bring a sense of weight to your playing. Side to side motion brings support from the arm to the lowest and highest notes in each hand. With mobile wrists, you'll be able to play more smoothly and evenly.
Taper the ends of your phrases. The end of each musical statement in a piece is a great opportunity to slow down and decrease in volume slightly. This effect should be more pronounced at the end of sections or the final end of a piece. This is a low effort and high reward tip that conveys a real sense of polish.
Separate the melody from the harmony. Most piano music consists of a melody and an accompaniment. Your melody should be significantly more prominent than your accompaniment. This brings depth to your music and draws attention to the most important parts.
Don't be afraid of silence. There exist many instances of silence in music, which can convey a sense of repose. As you move on from each musical idea or section, allow for tasteful amounts of silence. This helps your music to sound confident rather than anxious.
Implement these 4 tips in your playing and you will sound much more confident and musically mature.