The transition between playing the piano and enjoying the piano happens when you start hearing the music. Asking yourself where the phrase is going, or which note you are arriving at will help you become a better listener. Going into college I listened to a lot of professional classical musicians. My favorites were Barenboim, Hamelin, Van Cliburn, but I also listened to certain classmates who were far better than me. I knew their sound had a higher quality than mine, but I was confused on how to improve my sound.
The first piece I played for my college professor was Bach’s Italian Concerto. For me it was just another piece and Baroque was just another style. I was immediately forced to play with my hands separate, not because I didn’t know the notes, but because I wasn’t hearing them. With the Bach, the left hand carried the melody just as much as the right. We went over which notes to highlight, which ones were heavy, and which ones were light. Then we repeated the process with the right hand. I had to sing the phrases of each hand, always arriving on the note at the end of the phrase. One passage was supposed to sound like violins, the next one served as a backdrop for a dance. When I put both hands together the next week, the piece came alive. It became fun to play, as I was hearing the voices of both hands. Even today I still play the Bach, enjoying the new dimensions I had discovered.
The same questions were asked for every new piece I played. What emotion does this passage evoke? Where is the phrase going? What scenery do I see when I play that passage? I learned that chords can feel like ice, or they can feel like a drop in the pond. Passages can feel foreboding, like a calm before a storm, or seductive, like Mephisto luring the villagers into the forest. The imagery in my head made all the difference. I could hear how my touch affected tone and texture. My awareness of the subtleties of a piece allowed me to better understand what Barenboim, Hamelin, Van Cliburn, and others were trying to convey. That’s why I continued to play the piano after high school. There is always something new to discover. Each piece is a story, and within it are characters, motifs, themes, etc. Playing a new piece is like reading a new book. I am forever grateful to Juliana for mentoring me in piano, and for developing my passion for music. Without her I would have quit long before high school ended, not having the capacity to continue learning about music. I wish her a successful transition to her new home, and hope she continues to inspire students there as she has here.
