How to Play Piano with Feeling: Part 1
As a person progresses beyond beginner level in piano performance, the wondering may start: how can I play piano with feeling; how can my music sound more artistic and meaningful? First, you have to want it enough to veer a bit from what you have been taught.
Bend the Rules: Change Your Mindset
I can remember the decade during which I really changed my mindset about playing piano. It became more of a conscious awareness of playing with a freedom to go beyond the strict rules of performance to playing the way I wanted – still correctly – but with many bends and swellings. These swayings off the strict path of black-and-white precise performance gave me freedom to express what I thought was set in a particular section of written music, phrase by phrase, until the whole piece was a blossom of emotion that touched the listener.
When a person begins to play piano with feeling, the listener may first have a little ping of connection – a slight tug on the heart. Like fireworks that start small and distant, the music builds and then soars – perhaps in short waves that broaden into a sweep of beauty that excites and energizes or sweetens into a bliss. I was once in an Italian restaurant and music began playing that was so tender and touching, I began to feel homesick. (Not what I wanted that day.) Sound – music – music from your piano has the potential to strongly affect the emotions of those who listen.
Dynamics
Perhaps the easiest artistic skill to develop is the playing of dynamics in order to play piano with feeling. As a simple definition, dynamics are written directions from the composer as to how the note or the section of notes are to be played in terms of volume and speed. Starting with volume, here are the most common directional terms you may encounter, which are always written in Italian:
pp – pianissimo – very quiet/soft
mp – mezz-forte – moderately quiet/soft
p – piano – quiet/soft
mf – mezzo-forte – moderately loud/strong
f – forte – loud/strong
ff – fortissimo – very loud/strong
There are other directional signs, but these are plenty to begin using to start to play piano with feeling. Just giving attention to how hard or light is your touch on the keys will automatically create sound that seems to be from a more experienced pianist. Going beyond just hitting the correct key produces a subtle difference of expression and is immediately more appealing to the listener. Performing with shades of volumes creates the beginning of expressive feeling to the interpretation of the music.
These directional signs are placed at the beginning of the notes or section of notes they are to affect. Your playing may begin pianissimo, with pp – but end with fortissimo ff – a very loud and strong finish. Or you could encounter any combination of these, as the composer desired. Before playing, notice these signs and perhaps even highlight them to catch your attention.
Two other directional signs you will often see are the:
crescendo < lines which mean to play gradually louder/stronger, and
decrescendo > lines which mean to play gradually softer/more quiet
The farther apart the lines, the louder you should play. The closer together the lines, the softer you should play.
Here’s a youtube demonstration of playing crescendo and decrescendo. I was going to suggest using them first as you play a scale, and this is shown very well.
In this portion of a line, the first measure starts soft and gradually builds in volume to strong/loud at the second measure. The it gradually goes soft again.
How soft is soft? How loud is loud? This is up to you as the pianist. “Loud” in one passage or a different piece may not be the “same loud” volume as another. Same with soft/quiet. It’s up to you – just play showing the differences.
Next, we will look at tempo – the speed of your playing – and how to bend it to your will!
Leslie Young is the author/composer of the Revolutionary Piano Method. She co-founded a K-12th grade charter school in Texas and has been a piano teacher for about 40 years. She has had experience teaching a variety of students tackling piano for the first time or as returning student
She states: “In teaching piano to students of varying ages, what also varies is a commitment of time and the amount of dedication. Children of certain ages may do very well with a parent as teacher; others may need someone who is not family to instruct them. Some older children and adults prefer to make progress on their own, and this method is designed to act as a meticulous guide through new material. Some adults and teens insist on professional teachers, which also encourages continuity. Because these books are self-explanatory, a new or experienced professional teacher will have no trouble using the Revolutionary Piano Method with students. It is an easy way to learn piano.”
Leslie believes that “learning to play the piano is more about diligence and perseverance” – but would add that just as critical to success is the method that is used, the encouragement of critical thinking, and the instructional principles that promote immediate success.
What Would the First Lesson for a Young Student Look Like?
What Would the First Lesson for a 6 to Teen Look Like (video)?
View sample pages of all the books for students
ages 6 to teen:
View sample pages of all the books for students
4 to 5 years old:
View sample pages of all the books for older
teens and adults:
View the books on Amazon:
